Gold Coast Access Tour brings accessibility information to the coast

An exciting new initiative being piloted by Carers Queensland is helping people with disabilities safely access all that the Gold Coast has to offer.

Launched during Disability Action Week, a free and accessible tour of the region’s key services will help people with disabilities navigate their local area using public transport, in order to take advantage of the amenities and resources available to them.

Adam Sheppard is a former wheelchair athlete and has been advocating for the inclusion of people with disabilities on the coast for over 10 years.

He says the tours provide invaluable, area specific access information for people with mobility issues.

“Accessibility on the Gold Coast has made some small milestones over the years. I am 37 years old and have lived on the beautiful Gold Coast my entire life. We do still have a long way to go before we can say the piece of paradise we call home, is completely inclusive and accessible.

“Whilst we do accessibility and inclusion reasonably well, the problem we face is getting the information about what is and what isn’t accessible to the community of people with a disability on the Gold Coast.

“That’s why tours such as this are so vital for us. We have so many hidden gems here but very little easily accessible information on how we as a community can access them. As a father of a two and a half year old now, the issue is even more important. I want to be able to take my son and do everything that a father without a disability can easily access,” he said.

Julie Marsh, Area Manager of Carers Queensland’s Local Area Coordination Partners in the Community program, said the day was a great opportunity for people with disability to connect with their local area.

“The aim is inviting people that are new to the Gold Coast who are living with a disability or mobility challenge to join the tour and show them some of the incredible resources and services we have available to us here on the Gold Coast.

“With our first tour being launched today during Disability Action Week, we had seven people with physical disabilities joining the tour. This is an exciting initiative that encourages people living with a disability to explore and access some of the services and facilities Gold Coast has to offer, working towards the Gold Coast being the most inclusive city to live in and visit,” she said.

Dawn Critchlow OAM, Councillor for Division 6, said the tours could open doors for people with disability.

“I feel it is a fantastic idea for people with disabilities to have the opportunity to be accompanied to various tram stops across the city so they can gain the confidence to get out and about by themselves. This gives them more independence and opens up a world of opportunities.”

The pilot tour travelled through the Southport district, visiting essential services and points of interest such as the hospital, library, police station, local restaurants and the Southport Broadwater Parklands.

The day included a talk from Gold Coast City Council about accessibility in the city as well as a tour of the libraries’ facilities and programs.

The initiative is running in collaboration with Gold Coast City Council, Gold Coast University Hospital, Volunteering Gold Coast and the Queensland Police Cultural Liaison Unit.

For more information about Carers Queensland and the Gold Coast Access Tours, please contact the Carers Queensland Local Area Coordination office on 07 5671 7600.

Carers Queensland can support you to find out more about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), to apply for access and to help you get started using your NDIS funding.

If you have a disability but are not eligible for the NDIS, Carers Queensland staff can also help you identify and link to options for support in your local community.

To find out more about how the NDIS and Local Area Coordination program can work for you, visit Carers Queensland NDIS Local Area Coordination Partner in the Community Program for the Gold Coast region, 207 Suite 10, Currumburra Road, Ashmore or call (07) 5671 7600.

You can also contact Carers Queensland on 1300 999 636, or cq.enquiries@ndis.gov.au