Victorians with disability and their carers are set to benefit from the newest Changing Places facility now open in Ringwood – the 300th to be built Australia.
Minister for Disability, Lizzie Blandthorn, officially opened the new facility at Jubilee Park in Ringwood last week.
The Minister said Victoria leads the charge in making Australia a more accessible place, with 135 out of 300 Changing Places nationally located in Victoria.
Changing Places are larger than standard accessible toilets with extra features, such as a tracking hoist and additional space for two or more carers to support a person with high support needs to use a bathroom safely and with dignity.
“Accessible facilities are essential to creating an inclusive community for all Victorians and visitors, and we’re proud to support the establishment of another Changing Places site,” said Minister Blandthorn.
The Victorian Budget 2022/23 allocated $2.5 million to provide grants for local councils and not-for-profit organisations to build Changing Places across the state.
This is on top of the $11.4 million that the Government has invested in Changing Places initiatives since 2015, building facilities across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria.
Maroondah City Council received $180,000 in funding to build the Changing Places facility at Jubilee Park.
“It’s exciting to see that with the addition of the Changing Facility at Jubilee Park in Maroondah, we now have 300 facilities across Australia – it’s come a long way from the very first one at Ringwood Lake in 2014 and we hope to see a lot more,” said Council Community Access and Inclusion Facilitator, Jack Mulholland.
Learn more about Changing Places and find facilities located across Victoria at changingplaces.org.au.
