Posts Tagged ‘mobility’
The Recharge Scheme: Improving Mobility Access
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on September 7th, 2011
The RECHARGE Scheme™ is about encouraging local businesses and organisations to provide a power point so you can recharge the battery on your electric wheelchair or scooter, if required. The Scheme was first developed in the Shire of Nillumbik. It is a Disability Services Community Building Program initiative (Metro, Rural and DeafAccess), supported by the Victorian Department of Human Services, in partnership with Local Government. Thousands of organisations and businesses are also proud program partners.
RECHARGE was developed in response to the increasing number of people in Nillumbik with restricted mobility using electric scooters or wheelchairs as a means of transportation. Negotiating the steep roads and footpaths of the area however means that batteries run low more quickly and deter people from travelling longer distances. Through the MetroAccess initiative, we have been able to respond to these needs and draw on the strengths of Local Government and the Community to ensure people who use an electric scooter or wheelchair have more opportunities to participate in their communities.
Based on the community need and subsequent success of the Scheme, many other Victorian councils are joining forces to encourage local businesses and organisations in their area to participate. In November 2010, the RECHARGE Scheme™ received a Commendation by The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI), as part of its ‘Bold Ideas, Better Lives Challenge’ for a proposed national roll out plan. This is the first significant step towards securing an appropriate Sponsor to fund the national roll out. Pending funding, the Scheme would rolled out Australiawide from 2012.
RECHARGE stickers are displayed on the windows of participating businesses so you can easily find them. There are also RECHARGE stickers placed above or near power points so you can quickly ascertain which power point has been designated for your use. The RECHARGE website also maintains a list of accessibility resources, and the RECHARGE finder lists recharge points in greater Melbourne.
http://www.rechargescheme.org.au/
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Employment, Mobility and Living in a Growing City: Melbourne Conversations
Posted in Events, Opinion by Kate Archdeacon on March 29th, 2011
| 30 March , 2011 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 7:30 pm |
Image: Hammarby Sjostad by La Citta Vita via flickr CC
Melbourne is expanding to the inner north and west and the notion and dominance of a CBD is changing. What type and proportions of living, working and playing places should be provided, and how will mobility in these renewed areas be facilitated? How do comparable cities cope and thrive? Join the conversation about jobs, dwellings, services, planning, and improved public transport, walking and cycling.
6.00pm to 7.30pm, entry from 5.30pm Wednesday 30 March 2011
BMW Edge, Federation Square, Corner Swanston and Flinders Streets, Melbourne
More details: http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/conversations
Panellists:
- Professor Graham Currie – Chair in Public Transport, Monash University
- Halvard Dalheim – Director State Strategy, Department of Planning & Community Development, Melbourne
- Professor Moura Quayle – UBC Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, Canada
- Dr Marcus Spiller – Director SGS Economics, Melbourne
Moderator: Peter Mares – Journalist and Presenter ABC Radio National.
Discussant: Dr Ruth Fincher – Professor of Geography University of Melbourne
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Environmentally, Socially and Economically Sustainable Mobility: Seminar
Posted in Research by Tahl.Kestin on June 3rd, 2010
You are invited to hear Dr Janet Stanley present some of the preliminary findings from Monash-led research that looks at the links between transport, social inclusion and sustainability. The findings touch on issues such as the value of mobility, the role of mobility in facilitating social inclusion and improving wellbeing, how people adjust when they have poor mobility options, and policy needed to reduce the transport emissions footprint. The research, which has been mostly funded under an ARC project, has brought together a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from transport planning, economics, geography, social policy and psychology, as well as researchers at two levels of government.
About the speaker
Janet Stanley is a Chief Research Officer at the Monash Sustainability Institute. Prior to her current role, Janet was Senior Manager, Research and Policy at the Brotherhood of St. Laurence. Janet’s current research interests are in relation to social policy, transport, equity and policy on climate change, bushfire arson, social exclusion, social capital and community development, and project evaluation. Janet is a member on the Ministerial Advisory Council for the Victorian Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Innovation. Janet has many publications and speaks widely in Australia and internationally. Books include: Currie, G., Stanley, J., Stanley, J., (eds) (2007) No Way to Go: Transport and Social Disadvantage in Australian Communities.
For further information see the MSI Seminars & Events webpage.
Date: Thursday, 10th June, 2010
Time: 1:00–2:00 pm
Venue: Monash Sustainability Institute, Building 74, Clayton
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Have you heard of walking meetings?
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on April 14th, 2010
Source: Victoria Walks
“Have you heard of walking meetings?” from Victoria Walks:
Philip Moran is the CEO of Merri Community Health Services (MCHS). As CEO of a large community health service, Philip traditionally spent much of his time sitting in his office, sitting in various meetings, and sitting in traffic getting to and from meetings. Like many people working in an office environment, it was common for him to spend more than 8 hours a day being mostly sedentary. 6 years ago, Philip decided to become healthier and more physically active in his daily life. He changed his diet and started exercising more. He wore a pedometer and walked 10,000 steps a day. He then decided to combine walking with some of his meetings as well. Noticing that he could become more physically active at work, Philip began to take other managers and staff for a wander during supervision meetings and catch-up discussions.
Grid, Corridor & Field: Exhibition of proposals for a sustainable Melbourne
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on June 22nd, 2009
Ninety percent of the infrastructure that will exist in 2020 is already built. As measures to combat global warming are debated in parliaments around the world, three Masters of Architecture design studios from the University of Melbourne have interrogated what roles our existing cities and buildings may play in a low-carbon future.
Opening Night – Tuesday 23 June 2009 @ 6pm
Two leaders in the fields of Architecture and Urban Design will open the exhibition; Prof. Rob Adams, Director of Design and Urban Environment at the City of Melbourne and Prof. Tom Kvan, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building & Planning at the University of Melbourne.