The Changing Places program aims to achieve the following benefits:
Quality of life
It is a basic human right to be able to access a clean, safe and private rest room.
More than one million Victorians have a disability, but standard accessible toilets don’t include change tables and tracking hoists, which people with high support needs require. This means that some people with a disability choose to stay home. When they go out, standard accessible public toilets are often not large enough or not equipped to meet their needs.
The extra features of Changing Places facilities can support people with disabilities, their families and carers, to enjoy the things that many of us take for granted – such as going to work or school or attending social, sporting, and cultural events.
More accessible facilities
The network of Changing Places facilities makes popular tourist, sporting and cultural facilities more accessible, so that more people can enjoy what Victoria has to offer.
This helps to create inclusive and welcoming communities, which is a key priority in the Victorian Infrastructure Plan and underpins the Victorian Government’s Absolutely everyone – state disability plan 2017–2020.
Economic participation
Increasing the number of Changing Places facilities across the state can help improve economic participation, as more workplace, shopping centres and tourist locations become fully accessible.