What have we achieved to date? In recent years, Parks Victoria has undertaken significant foundation work to help make parks more accessible and inclusive: Provision of mobility equipment Parks Victoria has provided 12 TrailRider all-terrain wheelchairs and 10 beach wheelchairs in parks for visitors to borrow free of charge. These chairs have made it possible for visitors to explore walking trails and coastal beaches. A special ‘Stair-climber’ chair at Buchan Caves Reserve enables visitors with limited mobility to explore Fairy Cave. Improved park access information Comprehensive online park access information has been provided for 38 of Victoria’s most visited parks. A dedicated park access webpage has been created on the Parks Victoria website to better assist visitors to plan their park visit. Provision of accessible visitor facilities Parks Victoria has provided special equipment in its accessible accommodation at Wilsons Promontory National Park and Cape Conran Coastal Park to help make the visitors’ stay more comfortable. A Changing Places facility, to provide people with severe disabilities access to a public toilet, was constructed at Arthurs Seat State Park near the Eagle Skylift. New recreational facilities and activities Parks Victoria has installed a range of new recreational facilities in parks including an accessible launcher at Kings Billabong Reserve in Mildura and an accessible fishing platform and boardwalk at Tidal River. An inclusive and interactive playscape for children of all abilities has been constructed at Brimbank Park. Special online resources have been developed for this park and Serendip Sanctuary to assist families with children on the autism spectrum and other cognitive disabilities. In partnership with Blind Sports Victoria, Parks Victoria has also developed a bushwalking program for blind and vision impaired visitors in selected parks. Improved opportunities for volunteering and training in More opportunities have been made available for people with disabilities to volunteer and undertake vocational training in parks including Werribee Park, Braeside Park and Serendip Sanctuary, enabling them to actively contribute to parks while developing their skills. Inclusive tourism in Parks Victoria has been a leader in offering inclusive tourism experiences in nature. Parks Victoria presented on inclusive tourism at the UN sponsored 2014 Destinations for All World Summit in Montreal, the 2014 IUCN World Parks Congress in Sydney and at the 2015 Victorian Tourism Industry Conference (VTIC). Parks Victoria will continue to build on its achievements to make parks more accessible and inclusive for people of all abilities.
What Parks Victoria will do in the 2017-2020 Disability Action Plan The Parks Victoria Disability Action Plan closely aligns with the vision, priorities and actions of the Victorian Disability State Plan 2017- 2020 and identifies five priority areas for action. Our commitments Parks Victoria is committed to creating an inclusive environment that enables visitors with a disability, their families and carers to obtain the health and wellbeing benefits from visiting a park. Parks are to be places for connecting with nature, enjoyment and fun for everyone. To achieve this, Parks Victoria will work towards improving the level of access to parks and park participation for visitors with a disability, through engagement and consultation with the disability community and the adoption of the principles of universal design. Parks Victoria is also committed to providing organisational excellence in the provision of opportunities for employment, training and volunteering that supports people with a disability to live satisfying lives. Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. Centre for Excellence in Universal Design, National Disability Authority