Over their two-year term, members of the Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, LGBTQIA+ Advisory Committee, Environment and Circular Economy Advisory Committee and Women in Community Life Advisory Committee will harness their specialist knowledge and perspective to provide advice to Council on funding, policy and strategy.

Three of the committees met separately last month to get to know each other, explore current and emerging issues they’re seeing in the community and establish priorities. The Women in Community Life Advisory Committee will meet for the first time later this month.

Councillors chair each meeting to maintain a strong connection between community voices and Council leadership, allowing for emerging issues and solutions to be raised and to inform priorities and initiatives.

The committees’ work will go towards making Greater Geelong more inclusive, sustainable and easier to navigate and encourage more people to participate in community life.

Greater Geelong Mayor Stretch Kontelj OAM 

Each committee will focus on a key area of community life and ensure Council’s decisions are reflective of community needs.

A big thank you to everyone in our new advisory committees for leveraging their experience and expertise to create solutions to the issues affecting residents in Greater Geelong.

Through these committees, we are bringing community voices into decision-making and receiving structured, ongoing advice that will shape more informed outcomes.

Council looks forward to working with the advisory committees - we are listening.

Disability, Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee member Katherine

I put my hand up for this committee because despite having a good experience with local rehab and supports for an acquired brain injury, there's still room for accessibility improvements.

I didn't know what to expect, but I found the committee to be a really positive group of people with disabilities and/or experience in the sector, who had a diverse range of perspectives.

Everyone has a voice and wants the best for our community.

We have the right ingredients to become a leader in this space with so many disability providers and organisations in Geelong. 

If we work together, we’ll be able to come up with some fantastic ideas and goals that will help make Geelong a better place to live.

Council’s advisory committees will meet every two to three months.