Local governments are often the most visible point of contact for people experiencing housing stress, homelessness and social isolation. While councils do not control these systems, they play a critical role in shaping local responses and supporting inclusive communities. This practical webinar will explore three key challenges facing councils today: Accessible and affordable housing for people with disability Clarifying roles in responding to and preventing homelessness Strengthening inclusive community supports and “third places” that enable connection, participation and wellbeing Across all three challenges, the session will focus on practical actions councils can take to clarify their role, strengthen partnerships and move from response to prevention within existing constraints, with a strong focus on inclusion and intersectionality. Join us to explore how local government can support dignity, inclusion and community wellbeing, while creating more resilient and connected communities for all.

Local governments are uniquely placed to drive disability inclusion through safety, justice, gender equality and emergency management. People with disability are residents, ratepayers, employees and active community members who interact with council services every day. Watch the webinar Slideshows and links However, navigating this responsibility is not always straightforward. Ambiguous roles, inconsistent frameworks and limited resources can create barriers to meaningful inclusion. This webinar will explore three key challenges councils face in advancing safety, justice, gender equality and emergency preparedness for people with disability. This practical session will examine how councils can move from intent to impact across three priority areas: Challenge 1: Safety and justice Across Australia, councils are grappling with an unclear and inconsistent understanding of their role in disability inclusion. This lack of clarity can lead to duplicated work, inefficiencies and missed opportunities to support autonomous decision making, allocate resources effectively and build strong relationships with communities. The impacts are especially significant for children and young people with disability, neurodivergent people, people with intellectual disability and First Nations communities. The session will explore what is needed to clarify responsibilities and create coordinated pathways forward. Challenge 2: Gender Equality and Intersectionality Gender Impact Assessments (GIAs) are mandatory for councils in Victoria but remain inconsistent or absent in many other jurisdictions. We will discuss how GIAs support community wellbeing, why consistent intersectional analysis matters and how councils across Australia can strengthen gender‑responsive planning, policy and service delivery. Challenge 3: Emergency Management Clear, accessible communication before and during emergencies is essential for people with disability to make informed choices and stay safe. This need is even more critical in regional and remote communities. The session will focus on improving partnerships, strengthening communication channels and ensuring people are aware of the facilities and supports available in emergency situations. Across all three challenges, the webinar will highlight practical actions councils can take to clarify their roles, maximise impact within budget constraints and lead confident, community‑wide approaches to disability inclusion. Join us to explore how local government can turn responsibility into leadership and create more inclusive, equitable and resilient communities for all.

In November 2025, Parliament passed significant reforms to Australia’s national environmental law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These reforms introduce new national environmental standards, new institutions and changes to how environmental assessments and approvals operate. Watch the webinar recording This webinar provides an opportunity for participants to ask questions directly of officials from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) about the EPBC Act reforms and what they mean in practice. This is a Q&A-focused session. Participants are required to watch DCCEEW’s short video explainer on the environmental law reforms before attending. The webinar will not provide a general overview of the reforms and will focus almost exclusively on answering participant questions. The video explainer outlines: · how Australia’s environmental laws work · what has changed under the EPBC Act reforms · the role of new national institutions and standards · when changes will commence and where to find further information. 👉 Watch the video explainer before the webinar: Environmental law reforms: video explainer – DCCEEW This webinar is intended for practitioners, policy officers and stakeholders who have already familiarised themselves with the reforms and are seeking clarification on specific aspects of implementation, timing and implications.