Changing Places enable Victorians with high support needs to participate in their local community and access recreational and tourist attractions, parks, community spaces, entertainment and sporting venues.
Changing Places facilities are larger than standard accessible toilets, with extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with a disability and their carers. Each facility has a height adjustable, adult-sized changing bench, a tracking hoist system, and space for two people either side of a peninsula toilet.
To be called a Changing Places toilet, the facility must meet the design specifications as outlined in the Changing Places Design Specification 2020.
Creating communities that are welcoming and inclusive underpins the Victorian Government’s State Disability Plan. Changing Places are a key component of Victoria’s Universal Design approach to ensure the built environment is accessible for all Victorians and so far, 33 Changing Places have been funded across Victoria.
|
Project Name |
Funded Organisation |
|---|---|
|
Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) |
Melbourne Cricket Ground |
|
Melbourne Zoo |
Zoos Victoria |
|
St Kilda Life Saving Club |
City of Port Phillip |
|
Fraser Street Toilet Block |
Greater Shepparton City Council |
|
Victoria Park Ballarat (Livvi's Place) |
City of Ballarat |
|
Maroondah Marveloo |
Maroondah City Council |
|
Hamer Hall, Arts Centre Melbourne |
Arts Centre Melbourne |
|
Hargreaves Street Carpark, Bendigo |
Greater Bendigo City Council |
|
Royal Geelong Yacht Club, Geelong* |
City of Greater Geelong |
|
Healesville Sanctuary |
Zoos Victoria |
|
Werribee Open Range Zoo |
Zoos Victoria |
|
Cowes Transit Centre |
Bass Coast Shire Council |
|
Ballarat Marveloo |
City of Ballarat |
|
Preston Central |
City of Darebin |
|
Bicentennial Park, Chelsea |
City of Kingston |
|
Whittlesea, Banyule & Nillumbik Marveloo |
City of Whittlesea |
|
Alpine Access Centre |
Disabled Winter Sport Australia Inc |
|
Portland Foreshore |
Glenelg Shire Council |
|
Wally Tew Reserve |
Knox City Council |
|
Gisborne Adventure Playground |
Macedon Ranges Shire Council |
|
Finns Reserve, Templestowe Lower |
Manningham City Council |
|
Croydon Town Centre |
Maroondah City Council |
|
Melton Waves Leisure Centre |
Melton City Council |
|
Hadfield Park Wallan |
Mitchell Shire Council |
|
Yarrawonga Foreshore |
Moira Shire Council |
|
Moorabool Marveloo |
Moorabool Shire Council |
|
High St Carpark, Echuca |
Campaspe Shire Council |
|
Great Ocean Road, Angelsea |
Surf Coast Shire |
|
Winchelsea Tearooms |
Surf Coast Shire |
|
Melbourne Showgrounds |
Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria |
|
Lake Pertobe, Warrnambool |
Warrnambool City Council |
|
Tarneit Community Learning Centre |
Wyndham City Council |
|
Botanic Gardens Melbourne* |
Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria |
* Not yet open
History of Changing Places
Originating in the United Kingdom in 2006, the Changing Places concept has now spread internationally, with Changing Places opening in a number of countries including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada, USA and Germany.
The first Australian Changing Place opened at Ringwood Lake in Victoria in 2014. For a current list of locations across Australia see the Changing Places website.
Changing Places Design Specifications
The Changing Places design specifications 2020 provide all the information needed to build a Changing Places facility including a choice of four design options and estimated costs.
National Construction Code and Changing Places
Australia is the first country in the world to regulate for public toilets based on the Changing Places design. The National Construction Code 2019 released by the Australian Building Code Board requires a new class of toilet called Accessible Adult Change Facilities, based on the Changing Places design, to be included in certain classes of public buildings.
From 1 May 2019, one unisex Accessible Adult Change Facility must be provided in:
- Class 6 buildings: shopping centres with a design occupancy of not less than 3,500;
- Museum or art gallery (or similar buildings with a design occupancy of not less than 1,500;
- Class 9b sports venues – with a design occupancy of not less than 35,000 or which contain a swimming pool that has a perimeter of not less than 70m.
- Theatre and entertainment venues having a design occupancy of not less than 1,500 patrons.
- Domestic and international passenger airports.
Toilets built according to the Changing Places design standards will generally meet the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions of the National Construction Code.
Latest news
2021 Funding Round Successful Applicants
The Victorian Government has announced 18 more Changing Places to be built across Victoria, in both Metropolitan and Regional areas.
Locations have been selected from Mildura to Apollo Bay, including Tourist destinations, Play Spaces and Community Hubs.
The successful recipients will receive up to $110,000 to construct a Changing Places facility in their local community within the next 18 months.
A full list of the new locations is below:
|
Project name |
Grant organisation |
Proposed Location |
|---|---|---|
|
Bancoora Surf Life Saving Club Changing Places |
Bancoora Surf Life Saving Club |
101 Surf Club Lane Breamlea VIC 3227 |
|
Warragul Leisure Centre Changing Places |
Baw Baw Shire Council |
21 Burke Street Warragul VIC 3820 |
|
Half Moon Bay Changing Places |
Bayside City Council |
Cerberus Way Black Rock VIC 3193 |
|
Canterbury Community Precinct Changing Places |
Boroondara City Council |
2 Kendall Street Canterbury VIC 3126 |
|
Kew Recreation Centre Changing Places |
Boroondara City Council |
383 High Street Kew VIC 3101 |
|
Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre (BAWC) - Changing Places |
Brimbank City Council |
90 Taylors Road Keilor Downs VIC 3038 |
|
Carnegie Memorial Swimming Pool – Changing Places |
Glen Eira City Council |
Koornang Park, Moira Avenue, Carnegie Victoria 3163 |
|
Apollo Bay Camping Uplift - Changing Places |
Great Ocean Road Coast and Parks Authority |
70 Great Ocean Road Apollo Bay VIC 3233 |
|
Elmore Toilet Redevelopment Changing Places |
Greater Bendigo City Council |
85 Railway Road Elmore VIC 3558 |
|
Rippleside Inclusive Playspace Changing Places |
Greater Geelong City Council |
Rippleside Park, 42 Bell Parade Rippleside VIC 3215 |
|
Indigo Shire Changing Places |
Indigo Shire Council |
Isaacs Avenue Yackandandah VIC 3749 |
|
Apex Park Moe - All Abilities Play Space |
Latrobe City Council |
Waterloo Road Moe VIC 3825 |
|
Kensington Community Recreation Centre Redevelopment Changing Places |
Melbourne City Council |
111 Altona Street Kensington VIC 3031 |
|
Caroline Springs Leisure Centre Changing Places |
Melton City Council |
9-19 The Parade Caroline Springs VIC 3023 |
|
Life Changing Places - Mildura |
Mildura Rural City Council |
118 Hugh King Drive Mildura VIC 3500 |
|
Ascot Vale Leisure Centre Changing Places |
Moonee Valley City Council |
Corner Langs and Epsom Road Ascot Vale VIC 3032 |
|
Flinders Community Hub Changing Places |
Mornington Peninsula Shire Council |
54-56 Cook Street Flinders VIC 3929 |
|
Point Leo Main Beach Changing Places |
Point Leo Foreshore Committee of Management |
51 Western Parade Point Leo VIC 3916 |
Further Information
Key documents available for download.
- Changing Places 2021 Funding Round Guidelines - accessible (Word)
- Changing Places 2021 Funding Round Guidelines (pdf)
- Changing Places design specifications 2020
- Changing Places Survey 2016
- Changing Places Survey 2019