Case Studies

MARCIA

Design Feature

Type of Project
Local Government Initiative
State
Western Australia
Location
Regional
The City of Bunbury’s aspiration to create an inclusive and highly accessible built environment has led to a collaboration with their community and Edith Cowan University to deliver the MARCIA project; the partnership has produced a study that has guided Bunbury’s vision to be the Most Accessible Regional City in Australia (MARCIA).
Accessible and inclusive
The MARCIA Project began in 2016, following community consultation that established the need for a holistic and targeted approach to accessibility and inclusivity in the Region.
Led by the (then) Bunbury Community Access Committee, the outcomes of this consultation demonstrated that, to be successful, the project needed to access resources, knowledge and expertise beyond that held by the council. The City partnered with Edith Cowan University (ECU) to conduct a 12-month research project exploring the barriers and facilitators of accessibility and inclusion throughout Bunbury.
The project was The project was led by a PhD Candidate at ECU, who recruited 11 local co-researchers, all of whom were residents with lived experience of disability. An appreciative inquiry approach was adopted: this is a process of facilitating dialogue between stakeholders to identify how current positive practices can be strengthened and further developed. The research methods included:
  • An in-depth discussion and inquiry with Council participants
  • A review of current City of Bunbury policies, plans and procedures (and those of other regional and metropolitan Australian local governments)
  • Discussions with people with disabilities, advocacy organisations and state disability services
  • A review of relevant global, national and state conventions and legislation relating to human rights and disability discrimination
  • A review of other local government disability access and inclusion initiatives nationally and internationally

Through this comprehensive approach, researchers identified that most barriers are introduced at the initial design stage of development - when facilities, services and events are being conceptualised. 
The researchers therefore sought to understand how designers might be better supported and equipped to create spaces that eliminate these barriers, specifically using the principles of inclusive design.
In particular, the researchers looked at the availability of training and technical support for learning inclusive design, and they also considered how co-designing spaces with people experiencing a disability may be facilitated to improve the inclusive qualities of design outcomes.
The MARCIA research outcomes were intended to support enduring and sustainable change to the design of facilities, services and events. These changes to the built environment encourage active ageing and walkability, and promote social inclusion for all community members. The recommendations included:
  • Implement training for inclusive design
  • Increase technical support for inclusive design
  • Improve benchmarks, checklists and accountability for inclusive design
  • Involve people with disabilities as partners in co-design
  • Promote sharing of best practice in inclusive design
  • Retrofit to remove existing barriers to community access and inclusion

Bunbury has championed the findings of the MARCIA movement by creating the City of Bunbury Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2017-2022. This plan incorporates active ageing and walkability measures that go beyond standard statutory requirements. The in-depth participation model adopted by the City is testament to the its commitment to the vision. 
Project team
  • City of Bunbury
  • Edith Cowan University
  • Community members
  • The Regional Capitals Alliance WA (RCAWA) – Sponsor

Project Cost
The potential costs associated with meeting the MARCIA recommendations are estimated at $180,000 annually.
Health Value
  • Improving the design of built environments to be more accessible can increase the rates of walking in the community and overall physical health outcomes.
  • It may additionally increase community connection and engagement, which support social and mental wellbeing.

Economic Value
  • Incorporating active ageing principles into town planning and urban design practice has the potential to make activity centres more appealing to older people and therefore support a broader customer base and economic activity.
  • The training objectives of MARCIA result in the upskilling of planners, designers and other allied development professionals.
  • Advocating for inclusive design and improving benchmarks, checklists and accountability around inclusivity in the design process contributes to the overall value and useability of Bunbury’s built environment.

Environmental Value
Thousands of older Australians living with disabilities may feel shut out from everyday activities in their communities, due to attitudinal and environmental barriers. MARCIA and the City of Bunbury aim to create more inclusive and accessible communities through retrofitting and removing existing barriers to community access and inclusion. Additionally, the increase of technical support for inclusive design environments will also promote best practice inclusive design outcomes
Social Value
  • The City of Bunbury involved people with disabilities as partners in the research that informed the recommendations for change.
  • The MARCIA study highlights that urban environments can be designed to facilitate social inclusion. It allows people to be involved in the day-to-day life of the community, and to contribute to society on an equal basis. By removing barriers and enabling disability access, the value of social participation for older people with disabilities is enhanced.

Use Value
Findings from the MARCIA Project provide guidance to support the implementation of built spaces that facilitate the needs of older Australians, in the context of access and inclusion.

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