Arts Access Australia (AAA) promotes a human rights approach to access and inclusion and is committed to creating a space that respects rights and responsibilities.
We believe that there is a shared responsibility for creating access and inclusion, and this starts with acknowledging our personal rights and responsibilities and respecting the rights and responsibility of others.
Following is an outline of the access available at Meeting Place 2022, please advise AAA of your access requirements on registration or contact one of our friendly AAA staff at info@artsaccessaustralia.org to discuss your individual requirements
Healthy Environments: AAA aims to create a toxin, chemical and allergy free environment and requests that Meeting Place delegates refrain from wearing scented deodorant and perfumes.
Physical Access: All venues are accessible for wheelchair users and ambulant visitors. Please scroll down for physical access information for individual venues.
Easy Access: A relaxed program is offered with later morning starts where possible; low noise, low lighting and easy language is used where possible. AAA requests no flash photography.
Visual Access: Audio Description is available in program sessions as required. Large print and Braille programs will be available at Meeting Place upon request.
Audio Access: Auslan interpreting and live captioning will be available for all online sessions. Auslan interpreters will be available for all in-person events, with the exception of the walk n wheel guided tour on Saturday 8 October.
Print Access: Electronic programs and information will be available for download or can be emailed to you prior to the event. Large print and Braille programs will be available at Meeting Place upon request.
Remote Access: The first two days of the program will be fully available online. You can log on from anywhere to view the program as long as you have a stable internet connection.
Financial: Meeting Place offers free registration for companions and carers and discounted registration for people with health care cards, disability pension, or student cards. You may also be able to claim the cost of your Meeting Place ticket against your NDIS plan. Visit our grants & financial support page for more information.
Navigation & Assistance: Ask one of our friendly staff or volunteers to help you navigate the program, or the venue. You can also ask questions or request access assistance via info@artsaccessaustralia.org.
COVID-19: We kindly request that all in-person participants wear a mask if and when possible. Further information about the Wheeler Centre’s COVID-safe policies can be found here.
Meeting Place 2022 will take place online and in-person at The Wheeler Centre in Melbourne, Victoria.
The Wheeler Centre is located at 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.
Go to Google Maps to view the address and directions.
There is limited on-street parking in Little Lonsdale Street. The nearest commercial carpark is at QV, which has vehicular entrances on both Little Lonsdale and Russell Streets.
The nearest train station is Melbourne Central (170 metres from the Wheeler Centre entrance). Access out of the train station is via a lift.
The nearest tram stops are:
The nearest bus stop is located on Russell St, near the corner of Little Lonsdale St. This stop is located 110 metres from the Wheeler Centre entrance.
There are two metered street-side disability parking spaces available on the left-hand side of Little Lonsdale Street – accessible from the Swanston Street end – roughly 25 metres from the Wheeler Centre’s wheelchair access ramp. These spaces are 2 hours between 7.30am-8.30pm, and unlimited outside of these hours.
There are three additional spaces on LaTrobe Street, outside the Mr Tulk cafe.
The footpaths on Little Lonsdale Street are quite narrow, and are on a slight slope, but are flat and well-surfaced. The footpaths are 1.4 metres wide at the narrowest point.
Visit the Wheeler Centre website for a detailed audio description, written description and video of entering and accessing the Wheeler Centre.
A Social Story is used to describe a situation or concept in terms of social cues, perspectives, and common responses, in order to share accurate information in a reassuring manner that can be easily understood by its target audience.
We have provided a Social Story about attending The Wheeler Centre for Meeting Place.
Alter State is a celebration of disability, creativity and culture. Co-presented by Arts Centre Melbourne and Arts Access Victoria, Alter State is a major arts and disability event engaging artists and audiences across Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand).
In partnership with Alter State, we will be providing some events at The Channel at the Arts Centre Melbourne. To travel to this venue, you can catch any southbound tram on Swanston St (routes 1,3,6,16,67) and get off at the Arts Precinct stop (#14).
To travel between these stops is free, and you do not require a ticket as it is within Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone.
The Channel is located within the Hamer Hall venue. Follow St Kilda road back in the opposite direction that the tram traveled, heading back to the round Hamer Hall building. Follow the path around the building past the restaurant, towards the riverbank, where the entrance to The Channel Arts Centre Melbourne can be found.
You can read Alter State’s Access information here.