Ian J Cooper Access & Inclusion Awards

The Ian J. Cooper Awards for Access and Inclusion are named after Ian J. Cooper, a local pioneer of disability access awareness and a founding member of the Bellingen Shire Access Committee. Held every two years, these awards recognise and acknowledge individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses building and promoting an accessible an inclusive community.

International Day of People with a Disability is a United Nations sanctioned day that aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrates the achievements and contributions of people with a disability.

To find out more about the meaning of the day visit the website www.idpwd.com.au

An Accessible Community

An accessible and inclusive community means creating possibilities.

• It means being able to physically move around our community and feel included.
• It means access to buildings, festivals, events and open space such as streetscapes and parks.
• It means inclusion in arts and culture, leisure, sports, education, employment and social life

Nominations for the 2024 Awards have now closed. For more details about the celebrations for International Day of People with Disability and the Awards presentation visit 

For more info contact Councils Community Planning Officer, on 6655 7300 or email: council@bellingen.nsw.gov.au

Award recipients