Bendigo police revealed they were appealing for witnesses to the incident, which saw two women verbally assault a woman in front of her two children and threaten to tip her out of her chair. 

But local mum Paige Moore said the attack – which was loudly decried on social media as “disgusting” and “disgraceful” – would not deter her daughter from engaging in social activities with the public.

"Just because there are people like this I’m not going to hide her away,” Ms Moore said. 

“If we don't include people with disabilities this is just going to get worse. We need inclusion into the community.”

She said she did hold some fears for the future of her two-year-old daughter Charlie, who has down syndrome.

“People don't treat adults with disabilities the same way they treat children with disabilities, but really it's the same person – they're just older,” she said. 

“More job opportunities for people with disabilities would be amazing. My dream for Charlie would be that she grows up as independent as anyone else and able to have an opportunity to work within the community.”

Radius Disability Service CEO Cath McDonald agreed jobs were key. She questioned how many workplaces in Bendigo currently hired people with disabilities. 

“What we're after is inclusive Bendigo,” she said. 

She said Bendigo was a supportive place and Radius was currently working with the city and the shires of Loddon and Campaspe on a five-year inclusion plan. 

“It will involve education, some structural changes and mindset changes,” she said. 

“With this plan, we are leading the way nationally. No other community has a plan like this.”

She quoted NDIS chair Bruce Bonyhady when asked about safety and inclusion. 

“What most of us want from community is a combination of emotional security and physical safety that allows us to say: ‘I feel as if I belong here’.”