Accessibility: Accessibility refers to services, programs, facilities and places should be made available and easy to reach for all people in the community.

Access and inclusion: Access can be defined as the availability of physical features in the built environment that reduce barriers for people to participate in their community. Inclusion can be defined as fostering a culture that is open minded, unbiased and welcoming; a culture where everyone feels valued and part of the greater whole.

City: The City of Greater Geelong organisation, led by the CEO.

Council: The City of Greater Geelong Council comprised of elected councillors and led by the Mayor.

Diversity: Diversity refers to the visible and invisible differences that exist between people including (but not limited to) disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture, physical impairment and relationship and parental status. Diversity also encompasses the ways people differ in terms of their educational background, life and working experiences, carer responsibilities, socio-economic background and geographical location [1].

Engagement: A process for improved decision-making that invites the feedback from, and incorporates the insights, wisdom and concerns of, affected stakeholders and also meets the needs of the decision-making body.

Equality: Equality affirms that all human beings are born free and equal, having the same rights and are entitled to the same level of respect, treatment or prosperity regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, age, ability or religion.

Equity: Equity is a concept based on the human-rights principles of justice and fairness in the distribution of services, resources, benefits and responsibilities on the basis of people’s current opportunities and barriers. It recognises that people have different needs, life experiences, levels of power and access to decision-making and that these differences should be identified and addressed in a manner that rectifies imbalances, in order to provide equitable outcomes for all.

Gender equality: Gender equality is the equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women, men and trans and gender diverse people. Equality does not mean that women, men and trans and gender diverse people will become the same, rather their rights, responsibilities and opportunities will not depend on their gender.

Human rights: Human rights are often defined in different ways, these include:

• The recognition and respect of peoples’ dignity
• A set of moral and legal guidelines that promote and protect a recognition of our values, our identity and ability to ensure an adequate standard of living
• The basic standards by which we can identify and measure inequality and fairness
• Those rights associated with the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights [2]

Social inclusion: Social inclusion acknowledges that every person has strengths, resources and skills and when these are contributed to a community, they add value, enhance resilience, contribute to solutions and exponentially benefit everyone. It presupposes that a society is less than it could be when parts of the community are excluded [3].

It is a philosophy, that creates products, services, places, environments and experiences that are usable for everyone, and accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of a person’s age, level of ability, cultural background, or any other factors that contribute to the diversity of our communities.

Social justice: Social Justice is based on principles of human-rights and fairness. It recognises the systemic causes of disadvantage. It seeks to remove barriers to enable every individual to fully and equally participate in society, regardless of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability.

Participation: Community participation is an active process whereby beneficiaries influence the direction and implementation of initiatives that affect their lives. This is done through meaningful engagement, consultation and having the community involved in decision making to enable people from all backgrounds and experiences to genuinely be a part of shaping their own community, environment and future.

Participatory Engagement: Participatory engagement involves one-way information exchange either from Council to community or community to Council. Participatory engagement typically occurs when feedback is invited on service satisfaction, ideas, alternatives or draft documents.