Changing Places

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.

"Labelled Changing Places"

Changing Places facilities are larger than standard accessible toilets, with extra features and more space to meet the needs of people with 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, 70 Changing Places have been funded across Victoria.

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.

2023 Funding Round now open

The 2023 Changing Places funding will support the construction of additional Changing Places facilities across Victoria. The funding round will provide up to $180,000 for Changing Places in local communities and at popular tourism destinations to grow the Victorian accessible tourism economy.

Local Government Authorities (Victorian), community not for profit organisations and popular tourism destinations are eligible to apply.

Changing Places must be built in accordance with the Changing Places Design Specifications 2020 and must be accredited as a Changing Places facility and listed on the Changing Places website and the National Public Toilet Map.

The funding round opens on 17 March 2023 and closes 14 April 2023.

Applications must be submitted through smarty grants.

For more details visit the 2023 Changing Places funding round webpage.

Further Information

Funding Round information Session

An on-line information session will be held 

  • Time: 10.00am - 11.30am
  • Date: 23 March 2023

Register via Eventbrite for the 2023 Victorian Changing Places Funding Round or to find out more about the 2023 Changing Places funding round email changingplaces@dffh.vic.gov.au.

Key documents available for download.

Changing Places funded projects

  • 2022 - Funded Facilities

    Project name Grant organisation Proposed location
    Colac Otway Shire Council Memorial Square Public Toilets 127 Murray St  Colac VIC 3250
    Indigo Shire Council Martins Park Changing Place Facility Project 31 Main St  Chiltern VIC 3683
    Mildura Shire Council Changing Places Fit Out - Mildura Sporting Precinct 108-116 Madden Ave  Mildura VIC 3500
    City of Melbourne Munro Library and Community Hub 456 Queen St  Melbourne VIC 3000
    Hobsons Bay City Council Bruce Comben Reserve Community Area and All Abilities Play Space Henry Dr  Altona Meadows VIC 3028
    Southern Grampians Changing Places in Hamilton 19 Thompson St  Hamilton VIC 3300
    Wodonga City Council Junction Square Bike Hub & Changing Place 34 Elgin Blvd  Wodonga VIC 3690
    Nillumbik Shire Council Alistair Knox Park 829 Main Rd  Eltham VIC 3095
    Bendigo City Council Heathcote Changing Place Barrack St  Heathcote VIC 3523
    East Gippsland Council Lakes Entrance Changing Places Facility Myer St  Lakes Entrance VIC 3909
    Bellarine Bayside Foreshore Com of Management Portarlington Main Beach Public Amenity Pier St  Portarlington VIC 3223
    Barwon Coast Ocean Grove Main Beach Changing Places Facility Surf Beach Rd  Ocean Grove VIC 3226
    Falls Creek Resorts Falls Creek Foreshore Facilities Upgrade 28 Lower Lake Road  Falls Creek VIC 3699
    Murrindindi Shire Council Absolutely Everyone changes at the Eildon Splash and Play Park 24 Main St  Eildon VIC 3713
    Maroondah City Council Jubilee Park Recreation Precinct Ringwood 41 Reilly St  Ringwood VIC 3134
    Bayside City Council Beaumaris Art Studios Changing Places 88 Reserve Rd  Beaumaris VIC 3193
    Rural City of Wangaratta Apex Park Changing Places Clements St  Wangaratta VIC 3677
    Banyule City Council Changing Places - WaterMarc 1 Flintoff St  Greensborough VIC 3088
    Darebin City Council Northcote Aquatic and Recreation Centre 180 Victoria Rd  Northcote VIC 3070
  • 2021 – Funded Facilities

     

    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

  • 2020 – Funded Facilities

    Project Name Funded organisations
    Botanic Gardens Melbourne* Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria

    *Not yet open

  • 2017 – Funded Facilities

    Project name Funded organisation

    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

     

    *Not open yet

  • 2014 – Funded Facilities

    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