Australia’s Push Towards Inclusive Events

Australia is making significant progress towards promoting accessibility and inclusion in the business events and tourism industry, recognising the importance of ensuring inclusivity for the estimated 4.4 million people - comprising roughly 18% of the population - who live with a disability, as a crucial part of its commitment to building a more inclusive society.

Moreover, our country is taking steps to accommodate overseas delegates with disabilities by providing accessible transportation and accommodation, as well as ensuring that events and venues meet the highest possible accessibility standards.

Major airports across Australia have committed to providing comprehensive infrastructure, disability and accessibility services in terminals, car parks and hospitality outlets. This commitment guarantees that individuals with disabilities can travel with ease to and from events. Many venues and tour operators also recognise the ‘Sunflower Lanyard Scheme’, a simple tool to voluntarily share that an individual has a disability, and this alerts those around them that a helping hand may be required.

Australia is renowned for its accessible and distinctive destinations, providing equal opportunities for everyone to enjoy them. The Sydney Opera House, one of the most iconic event venues in the world, offers sign language interpretation, captioning, sensory and Autism-friendly talks, events, and performances. Meanwhile, west of Sydney, the Cableway and Skyway adventure experiences in the Blue Mountains offer

wheelchair accessibility, allowing visitors to enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains while suspended in the air. Outback Tour Services, located in the Northern Territory, offers accessible camping safaris with their purpose-built vehicle and an off-road wheelchair, allowing participants to enjoy the riverbeds and rough terrain and swim in one of the outback waterholes.

Even the famous UNESCO World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef is fully accessible with cruise operator QuickSilver, who have a platform with a lift to access snorkelling. Moreover, the Cairns and Great Barrier Reef destination website now hosts an Accessibility Hub to assist travellers with mobility impairment to select appropriate activities throughout the region.

This commitment to inclusion extends to Australia's diverse selection of event venues with major convention centres in particular catering to a wide range of accessibility needs.

The Adelaide Convention Centre’s (ACC) Access and Inclusion Plan provides for complete accessibility with lifts and escalators to all three levels. Similarly, the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre (PCEC) has equipped its premises with ramps, elevators, dedicated drop-off, wheelchair seating zones and accessible baby change facilities.

The International Convention Centre, Sydney (ICC, Sydney) provides step-free access to every conference, exhibition, and entertainment venue, and offers free wheelchair and assisted

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hearing services, with braille included on all rooms and fixed signage. The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC) and Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) provide wheelchairs and hearing loops for hire, along with other accessibility features such as braille. Just south of Brisbane, the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (GCCEC) offers dedicated sensory rooms for guests with sensory processing difficulties.

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what Australia’s event venues and tourism attractions are doing to improve accessibility and inclusion. It's exciting to think about what other changes we'll see in the near future.

Inclusivity in Practice: Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference

Inclusivity and accessibility encompass more than just catering to physical, cognitive and sensory needs - it's also about making people from diverse groups feel welcomed and valued.

In March 2023, The Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference marked a significant milestone as the largest LGBTQIA+ Human Rights Conference ever hosted in the Southern Hemisphere. Arinex played a key role as the principal event manager, ensuring the seamless planning and onsite delivery of the event.

From the outset, Arinex understood Sydney WorldPride’s creative vision of keeping sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion at the forefront of planning. This required a highly coordinated approach working with various stakeholders, including the Sydney WorldPride inclusion and accessibility team, to ensure that the diverse groups that make up the LGBTQIA+ community were all made to feel welcome.

To achieve the desired outcomes, we proposed and collaborated with specific suppliers whose expertise aligned with the primary event objectives, and we worked closely with them on highly specific delivery briefs for certain components.

To prepare for the diverse accessibility needs of attendees, the Arinex team gathered information in advance through the registration form and implemented online wellness facilities such as the Wellness Lounge, the Spiritual Lounge and the First Nations Lounge. Additionally, we collaborated closely with the Sydney WorldPride inclusion and accessibility team to conduct regular cross-checks of signage, session slides and all onsite accessibility measures, ensuring a seamless and inclusive experience for all attendees. Following feedback from the LGBTQIA+ community, Equity Australia created a comprehensive program covering diverse topics and addressing various accessibility needs beyond the physical, including appropriate techniques for neurodivergent delegates. Arinex collaborated closely with the team to ensure that the room setups and audio-visuals supported the delivery format and achieved each session's goals.

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The conference was a resounding success, with over 1,600 in-person attendees and 1,200 virtual registrations. The feedback from event stakeholders and delegates was hugely positive and the atmosphere onsite was incredible.

The Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference exemplifies how, through the collective efforts of all event stakeholders, diversity, equity and inclusion can be woven throughout all aspects of an event. The result being an accessible and inclusive experience for all.

Nicole Walker, Managing Director, Arinex

Cover Photo: HRC-Koori Wirguls Dancers-@MajaBaska Photos