WINTER 2015 TOURISM EXCELLENCE 1110 TOURISM EXCELLENCE WINTER 2015

VTICVTIC

Some of Victorias most renowned tourist attractions will be made more accessible to visitors thanks to cutting-edge new bathroom facilities to be installed as part of the Changing Places initiative.Changing Places bathrooms are larger than standard accessible toilets, with extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with a disability and their carers, providing a safer and cleaner environment.

Three VTIC members the Melbourne Cricket Club, Melbourne Zoo and the Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust have each been allocated $110,000 by the Victorian Government to install Changing Places facilities, which consist of an

adult-sized, height-adjustable changing bench, a hoist tracking system and enough space to accommodate the user, a mobility aid and a personal carer.

The MCGs Changing Places bathroom is now in place and Melbourne Zoos facility is expected to be ready for use by summer 2016. A Changing Places bathroom will be constructed at Rod Laver Arena as part of the Victorian Governments $338 million investment in the second stage of the Melbourne Park redevelopment.

Association for Children with a Disability Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth McGarry says that many people mistakenly believe that the readily-available standard disabled toilets in Victoria have the facilities that every person with a disability needs to use the bathroom with dignity.

Unfortunately, this is not the case and it is the reason why the new best-practice Changing

Places fully-accessible toilet design is fast gaining popularity, she says.

Build it and they will come this is exactly what is occurring as more and more Changing Places public toilet facilities are popping up across Australia.

Visit www.changingplaces.org.au to find out how the tourist industry can build these facilities and attract a significant group of potential tourists itching to get out and about.

VTIC is a strong advocate for the need to improve tourism accessibility and has been proud to represent its members as part of the Changing Places Advisory Group.

The State Government has also allocated $80,000 in funding to Maroondah City Council for a mobile Changing Places facility for use at its venues. The location of three additional Changing Places bathrooms is currently being finalised.

Changing Places: improving access to leading Vic attractions

ThE MCGThe MCG is proud to be one of the first venues in Victoria to introduce cutting-edge, accessible bathroom facilities for people with a disability.

The new Changing Places room at the MCG, which was installed prior to the opening round of the 2015 AFL season in April, offers more dignity and comfort for users.

Located on the ground level inside the Gate 3 entrance, the new facility has been warmly welcomed by those MCG visitors who need it and is an important development in the life of the stadium.

Melbourne Cricket Club Communications Manager Shane Brown

ROd LavER aRENaAfter almost 30 years as one of the worlds favourite sports and entertainment venues, Rod Laver Arena is getting a bold new makeover that will ensure it continues to host the best events in Australia.

The comfort and safety of visitors to our site is paramount and the redevelopment project is focusing heavily on improving the accessibility of Rod Laver Arena, so that people of all abilities can enjoy our world-class events.

Our plans include increased disability access, including universal access to the seating bowl, as well as upgraded bathroom facilities with more toilets, including the Changing Places toilet to cater for patrons with disabilities.

Melbourne & Olympic Parks CEO Brian Morris

MELBOURNE ZOOPlanning is underway for the new Changing Places facility; we have appointed a designer and were holding consultations with experts in the accessibility area to get the very best result.

Melbourne Zoo is an asset for the entire community, and it will be wonderful to have a modern facility to assist visitors with these special needs.

We recently built a spacious new Parents Room with a variety of facilities for families with children. It was rated five stars by the Nursing Mothers Association and we will be planning to use this very welcome funding to achieve that level of excellence in the new Changing Places development.

The facility will be located near the Zoos Main Entrance in Elliott Avenue and the plan is to have it ready this by summer, in preparation for our busiest season.

Melbourne Zoo director Kevin Tanner

Changing Places bathrooms are larger than standard accessible toilets, with extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with a disability and their carers.

Brendan McCarthy visits the MCG, which opened a Changing Places facility in 2015.Brendans mother Diane, the Association for Children with a Disabilitys Support Manager, has been passionately involved with the initiative from the beginning.