‘Gamechanger’: People with disabilities to receive more access to nature in new initiative

The Albanese government is set to announce a multi-million dollar investment to help people with disabilities receive easier access to beaches and national parks across Australia.

Disabled woman in the wheelchair at the beach

The Albanese government is set to announce a $17 million investment in a “game changer” to make the country’s natural highlights more easily accessible for people with disabilities.

The Commonwealth Accessible Australia initiative will fund inclusive infrastructure and amenities projects in national parks, beaches and play spaces across states in an effort to make those locations more available to more Australians.

The investment will enable national parks to invest in all-terrain wheelchairs, allowing visitors to access walking trails not accessible with traditional wheelchairs, as well as greater access to walking paths with improved accessibility.

Revamped beach facilities could also include specific beach chairs designed to access sand, gravel and other terrains, and also roll-out mats that provide a steady platform for people with reduced mobility to walk on.

The initiative builds on the government’s existing Changing Places initiative announced in October 2022, which has delivered larger than standard accessible bathrooms for people with disabilities and their carers.

The Federal Government will fund up to 100 per cent of eligible accessible infrastructure for the facilities and up to 50 per cent of the build cost for new fixed Changing Places facilities and play spaces.

The remaining costs are expected to be picked up by the relevant state government.

All states and territories will be encouraged to apply for funding, with the Commonwealth looking to work with the state and territory counterparts to determine which communities and locations will best benefit from the investment.

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Amanda Rishworth describe the move as a “really exciting investment” for the country.

“It will mean visitors to Australia and Australians living with disability can access many of the amazing places and spaces we have to offer,” Ms Rishworth said.

“People with disability have the same rights to be included in our communities, to access the spaces we gather in, and to experience our beautiful natural environment.

“If states or territories have a particular accessible beach, national park or play space they want to see part of the Accessible Australia initiative, they should reach out to the Commonwealth.”

The founder of charity organisation Accessible Beaches Australia, Shane Hryhorec said local communities have been fighting for free beach accessibility for more than 10 years to little effect, but believes things could now change.

“Up until this point, it’s been very grassroots. We’ve even seen local Rotary clubs rattle tins just to get beach wheelchairs and beach matting onto beaches,” he told The Australian.

Mr Hryhorec’s hope is to see every patrol beach “at minimum” become accessible around the country.

“It’s not just people in wheelchairs, it’s our seniors as well. We’ve got a rapidly ageing population … so we’ve got a lot of work to do to be able to roll out inclusion at a scale that’s going to make an impact on the lives of people with disabilities.”

He said the next steps will be up to state and local bodies to take advantage of the investment.

“You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. We don’t want to see three years go by and local governments have not had taken up this amazing opportunity.”

The investment will be delivered from 2024-25 through to 2027-28.