Disability Inclusive Placemaking

The University of Melbourne – Semester 2 2024

Project Description

Designing Disability-inclusive Places

supports the participation of people with disabilities so that they can meaningfully engage in various opportunities at the same level as other people, harnessing their potential to contribute to sustainable growth and development. Disability equity must recognise that inclusion and intersectionality as cross-cutting considerations.

Six interdisciplinary teams

of students enrolled in the subject Placemaking for the Built Environment (ABPL90404) worked closely with Stuart and Sue Colvin, whose garden sanctuary, Mark’s Country Place, became the placemaking site in Semester 2 2024 delivery of this subject.

Where is Mark’s Country Place (MCP)? Mark’s Country Place is located in the Macedon Ranges Shire Council. The Shire is in Central Victoria, with rich native forests, and thriving food and wine. Located in between the cities of Bendigo and Melbourne, a key attraction is the Hanging Rock. It covers an area of 1,748 square kilometres

Methodology

Across twelve weeks, six student teams used placemaking in different ways – as a catalyst for change to address some of the key issues that were uncovered from their early exploration of the site. First, placemaking was used as an analytical thinking tool to identify place-based issues and opportunities, cocreating the “Story of Place”. The Story of Place captured ways of being sensitive to Nature; Listening to and Learning from Country; Analysing Site; and Engaging with diverse stakeholders. Adopting a participatory action research, each team engaged with community members and groups in intentional conversations and to meaningfully come up with a Place Activation Plan to support the shaping of an all-abilities Mark’s Country Place, achieving long-term benefits of place, strengthening the relational outcomes between place, self, community and nature.