Accessibility Action Plan
Victorian Convention and Event Trust FY25 - 27
Statement of Intent
My name is Natalie O’Brien. I am the Chief Executive of the Victorian Convention and Event Trust (VCET). VCET operates Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). I am pleased to share our first Accessibility Action Plan.
Our Accessibility Action Plan has four main goals that match our business strategy and the aims of the Victorian Disability Act 2006.
This plan will make both Nyaal Banyul and MCEC more welcoming to people with disabilities. It aims to tackle current obstacles. This will enable improved access and full participation. This is for customers, visitors, and employees.
In this plan, we’re looking at the challenges faced by people with all types of disabilities. These can be physical, cognitive, intellectual, or hidden. We want to make things easier for them. We’ll do this by improving our processes, systems, and surroundings. We’ll also tackle discriminatory attitudes and practices. We’re putting people with disabilities in all their diversity at the heart of our planning. We’re involving them so we can make better decisions.
As we put this plan into action, we see that we need to change the physical environment, attitudes, communication, and social settings. This is so that people with disabilities can fully participate in society like everyone else.
We’ll check the progress of our actions every quarter. An action in our first year is to establish an Accessibility Advisory Group and report to it regularly. VCET’s Annual Report and Impact Report will also include these updates.
Goal 1
Make it easier for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs
Action 1.1
Use hiring methods that make it easier for people with disabilities to apply for and get jobs.
Deliverable: Find ways to help people apply for jobs more easily and increase their chances of being chosen.
Target or measure: Review all processes and find areas for improvement.
Responsibility: People Support and Services
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Speak well about hiring people with disabilities. Correct any wrong ideas.
Target or measure: Send updates to all employees every three months.
Responsibility: Organisational Development, Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: Quarterly
Deliverable: Add a statement on the website and job ads, that encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, to apply.
Target or measure: Add statement to MCEC and Nyaal Banyul websites.
Responsibility: People Support and Services, Marketing
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Provide job descriptions and all related materials on our hiring portal in Word format or accessible PDFs.
Target or measure: Every month, ensure that accessible versions of job descriptions are created.
Responsibility: People Support and Services
Timeline: Ongoing
Goal 1
Make it easier for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs
Action 1.1
Use hiring methods that make it easier for people with disabilities to apply for and get jobs.
Deliverable: Find ways to help people apply for jobs more easily and increase their chances of being chosen.
Target or measure: Review all processes and find areas for improvement.
Responsibility: People Support and Services
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Speak well about hiring people with disabilities. Correct any wrong ideas.
Target or measure: Send updates to all employees every three months.
Responsibility: Organisational Development, Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: Quarterly
Deliverable: Add a statement on the website and job ads, that encourages applications from people with diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities, to apply.
Target or measure: Add statement to MCEC and Nyaal Banyul websites.
Responsibility: People Support and Services, Marketing
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Provide job descriptions and all related materials on our hiring portal in Word format or accessible PDFs.
Target or measure: Every month, ensure that accessible versions of job descriptions are created.
Responsibility: People Support and Services
Timeline: Ongoing
Make it easier for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs
Action 1.2
Make it easier for people with disabilities to start their careers.
Deliverable: Where possible help people with disabilities get work experience through community programs.
Target or measure: Talk to a community partner every 6 months. They can help to find job opportunities for people with disabilities.
Responsibility: People Support and Services, Customer Service
Timeline: Ongoing
Make it easier for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs
Action 1.3
Help employees with disabilities at work.
Deliverable: Make sure there is a written process to review requests for flexible work. This process must go beyond Fair Work requirements.
Target or measure: Process is written down and approved.
Responsibility: People Support and Services
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: A Healthy Day is available for all full-time and part-time employees to recharge, reset, and maintain their wellbeing.
Target or measure: Give permanent employees one day off per financial year.
Responsibility: People Support and Services
Timeline: Ongoing
Make it easier for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs
Action 1.4
Make sure all policies consider accessibility in design and implementation.
Deliverable: Make a checklist to check policies for accessibility. Do this when they are approved or renewed.
Target or measure: Checklist made and approved
Responsibility: People Support and Services, Safety and Security, Policy owners
Timeline: FY 25
Make it easier for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs
Action 1.5
Give employees accessible information.
Deliverable: Check if VCET’s internal website follows WCAG 2.2 standards. Then, make a plan to fix any problems. Start with the most important ones.
Target or measure: Action Plan completed and Improvement Plan completed.
Responsibility: Information and Communication Technology, Corporate Communications
Timeline: Action Plan FY 25 and Improvement Plan FY 26
Deliverable: Set up a central place on VCET's internal website. Employees can find resources and help there. It’s all related to accessibility.
Target or measure: Central place created
Responsibility: Corporate Communications
Timeline: FY 25
Make it easier for people with disabilities to get and keep jobs
Action 1.6
Make employee office spaces easier to use for everyone.
Deliverable: Improve the signs, paths, and lighting. Do this in the main areas we have identified, where employees work behind the scenes.
Target or measure: Entirely finished
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Look into adding toilets that are easy to use. They are for people who can walk but may have mobility challenges. They would go in the level 3 office of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
Target or measure: Completion depends on whether the building design requirements make it possible.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Any furniture changes should consider adjustable heights. They should also include backrests and armrests.
Target or measure: Review all purchases to make sure they meet accessibility guidelines.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: Ongoing
Goal 2
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.1
Make sure Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is built to follow Universal Design.
Deliverable: Make sure the building design and construction follow the newest accessibility recommendations.
Target or measure: Meets all requirements.
Responsibility: Nyaal Banyul Project
Timeline: FY 26
Goal 2
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.1
Make sure Nyaal Banyul Geelong Convention and Event Centre is built to follow Universal Design.
Deliverable: Make sure the building design and construction follow the newest accessibility recommendations.
Target or measure: Meets all requirements.
Responsibility: Nyaal Banyul Project
Timeline: FY 26
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.2
Tell people about the accessibility features at the venues. These features help visitors and event attendees.
Deliverable: Create and share easy-to-read accessibility information on the MCEC websites. Organise it by different features to make it simple to find.
Target or measure: Put on the website.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities, Marketing
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Create and share easy-to-read accessibility information on the Nyaal Banyul websites. Organise it by different features to make it simple to find.
Target or measure: Put on the website.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities, Marketing
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Mark on visitor maps where you can find power outlets to charge mobility devices.
Target or measure: Put on visitor maps.
Responsibility: Marketing
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Look into installing chargers for mobility aids at customer service desks. Target or measure: Chargers purchased.
Responsibility: Customer service
Timeline: FY 25
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at MCEC and Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.3
Make sure that all marketing materials and public information are easy to understand by everyone.
Deliverable: Keep the MCEC website in line with W3C Guidelines.
Target or measure: Any new parts we add to the website follow the guidelines.
Responsibility: Marketing, Information and Communication Technology
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Make sure Nyaal Banyul's website is in line the W3C Guidelines.
Target or measure: Any new parts we add to the website follow the rules guidelines.
Responsibility: Marketing, Information and Communication Technology
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Create guidelines for making all marketing materials easy to use. This includes thinking about different ways people might need the information. This can mean using different fonts, sizes, and colours.
Target or measure: Guidelines created and put into action.
Responsibility: Marketing
Timeline: FY 26
Deliverable: Check all PDF marketing materials for accessibility. Do this before sending them out.
Target or measure: Full compliance achieved.
Responsibility: Marketing
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Add written captions to videos on social media and the website.
Target or measure: Full compliance achieved.
Responsibility: Marketing
Timeline: Ongoing
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at MCEC and Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.4
Make the public toilets and other facilities at MCEC easier to use for everyone.
Deliverable: Install a Changing Places facility.
Target or measure: The facility is completed.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Make toilets more accessible. Create a plan to add toilet lids, backrests, and clothing hooks.
Target or measure: We'll finish checking if it's possible. If it is, we'll go ahead with the upgrades.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Look into adding more signs for ambulant toilets all around MCEC.
Target or measure: All toilets with signs.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Check the mobile toilet cubicles in the Exhibition Centre bathrooms. Make sure they meet modern standards.
Target or measure: We'll finish checking if it's possible. If it is, we'll go ahead if approved.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Look into adding bathrooms for people of any gender at MCEC.
Target or measure: We'll finish checking if it's possible. If it is, we'll go ahead if approved.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at MCEC and Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.5
Make it easier for everyone to find their way around MCEC.
Deliverable: Look into a mobile option to help people find their way around MCEC. It should be easy for everyone to use.
Target or measure: We’ll check if it is possible to launch a mobile option to help people find their way around. If it is, we’ll go ahead if approved.
Responsibility: Marketing
Timeline: FY 26
Deliverable: Show the important accessibility features of the venue on the MCEC maps. For example, show where you can charge motorised mobility aids.
Target or measure: Changes completed.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities, Marketing
Timeline: FY 26
Deliverable: Check how people are using the hearing loops and use that information to improve the signs at MCEC.
Target or measure: User feedback completed.
Responsibility: Information Communication Technology, Customer Service, Marketing
Timeline: FY 26
Deliverable: Create a plan for how to help people find their way better in the long term, to ensure it's easy for everyone to use.
Target or measure: Decide whether to approve or reject the strategy exploration.
Responsibility: Marketing, Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at MCEC and Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.6
Make safety features at MCEC easier to use for everyone.
Deliverable: Plan to install Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs). Put them in key areas of the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
Target or measure: Half of the TGSI upgrade has been completed.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 26
Deliverable: Plan the installation of visual indicator strips on glass windows and doors.
Target or measure: We have installed all visual indicator strips.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Look into adding 30% luminance contrast to solid colour doors.
Target or measure: Half of the luminance contrast has been completed.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Make sure all furniture, fixtures, and equipment bought for public areas at MCEC are accessible.
Target or measure: Review all purchases to make sure they meet accessibility guidelines.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: Ongoing
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at MCEC and Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.7
Make the ramps and doors at MCEC more accessible.
Deliverable: Consider buying more portable ramps and wheelchair risers for events. They are available to customers for free.
Target or measure: Purchase made, with free use for customers.
Responsibility: Technology Services
Timeline: FY 27
Deliverable: Check that you can open all manual doors with no more than 2kg of force.
Target or measure: We’ll make adjustments to the doors that do not need to be replacement.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 26
Make it easier for people with disabilities to use the goods, services, and facilities at MCEC and Nyaal Banyul.
Action 2.8
Make customer service better for people with disabilities.
Deliverable: Starting the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program.
Target or measure: Choose whether to go ahead with the program or not.
Responsibility: Customer Service, Organisational Development
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Think about and provide accessibility training for all team members and contractors who work directly with customers. If it's a good idea, go ahead and do it.
Target or measure: Program suggested and approved.
Responsibility: Organisational Development
Timeline: FY 26
Goal 3
Work with event organisers. The goal is to ensure people with disabilities can join and take part in events at MCEC or Nyaal Banyul.
Action 3.1
Encourage more people with disabilities to take part in events.
Deliverable: Tell event organisers about Travellers Aid services.
Target or measure: Include in Positive Impact Guide
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Encourage event organisers to use Alkira’s Independent Me program for volunteer opportunities.
Target or measure: Include in Positive Impact Guide.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Look into creating sensory spaces at MCEC.
Target or measure: We'll finish checking if it's possible. If it is, we'll go ahead if approved.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Goal 3
Work with event organisers. The goal is to ensure people with disabilities can join and take part in events at MCEC or Nyaal Banyul.
Action 3.1
Encourage more people with disabilities to take part in events.
Deliverable: Tell event organisers about Travellers Aid services.
Target or measure: Include in Positive Impact Guide
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Encourage event organisers to use Alkira’s Independent Me program for volunteer opportunities.
Target or measure: Include in Positive Impact Guide.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: Ongoing
Deliverable: Look into creating sensory spaces at MCEC.
Target or measure: We'll finish checking if it's possible. If it is, we'll go ahead if approved.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities
Timeline: FY 27
Work with event organisers. The goal is to ensure people with disabilities can join and take part in events at MCEC or Nyaal Banyul.
Action 3.2
Help event organisers make their events accessible.
Deliverable: Revise the Accessible Features Guide. Add the new features and make it match the current brand and accessibility policy.
Target or measure: Developed as a webpage.
Responsibility: Infrastructure and Facilities, Marketing
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Consider requiring event organisers to accept Companion Cards. They must do so according to MCEC's licence terms and conditions.
Target or measure: Suggestion based on advice about contract law.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation, Sales
Timeline: July 2025
Deliverable: Look into whether it's possible and if we can get them, provide sensory bags for event attendees. They can pick them up for free at the customer service desk.
Target or measure: Sensory bags approved and made available.
Responsibility: Customer Service
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Create a checklist for event organisers to make their events accessible.
Target or measure: Include in Positive Impact Guide.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: July 2025
Deliverable: Create and advertise menus for events that are easy for everyone to use.
Target or measure: Use accessible menus for events at MCEC.
Responsibility: Food and Beverage, Marketing
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Sales proposals should guide customers to find accessibility information on the website.
Target or measure: Update proposals after adding the information to the website.
Responsibility: Sales, Marketing
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Find out the recommended heights for accessible tables, crockery, and utensils. Then, check our inventory to see what we have and what we should need.
Target or measure: Find ways to make the delegate experience better.
Responsibility: Food and Beverage, Set Ups
Timeline: December 2024
Goal 4
To make real changes. It will change how employees, customers, and everyone else treat and includes people with disabilities.
Action 4.1
Ask employees questions to see how they feel about disabilities, compared to before.
Deliverable: Consider making an accessibility survey for employees to take.
Target or measure: We have approved and added at least one question.
Responsibility: Organisational Development
Timeline: FY 25 and ongoing
Goal 4
To make real changes. It will change how employees, customers, and everyone else treat and includes people with disabilities.
Action 4.1
Ask employees questions to see how they feel about disabilities, compared to before.
Deliverable: Consider making an accessibility survey for employees to take.
Target or measure: We have approved and added at least one question.
Responsibility: Organisational Development
Timeline: FY 25 and ongoing
To make real changes. It will change how employees, customers, and everyone else treat and includes people with disabilities.
Action 4.2
Help the industry grow.
Deliverable: Sponsor the 2024 Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference.
Target or measure: $51,000 sponsorship support.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: August 2024
Deliverable: Get and advertise ATIC accreditation.
Target or measure: Accreditation.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: July 2025
To make real changes. It will change how employees, customers, and everyone else treat and includes people with disabilities.
Action 4.3
Keeping track and being responsible.
Deliverable: Include a report on how well we're doing with the Accessibility Action Plan in the Annual Report. Also, include it in the annual Impact Report.
Target or measure: Changes added to the final version.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: Yearly
Deliverable: Tell people inside and outside MCEC why the Accessibility Action Plan is important.
Target or measure: Publish two articles each quarter about accessibility in our Backstage internal newsletter. Keep including accessibility as an important topic in our content.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation, Marketing
Timeline: FY 24 and ongoing
To make real changes. It will change how employees, customers, and everyone else treat and includes people with disabilities.
Action 4.4
Committees.
Deliverable: Set up an outside group called the Accessibility Advisory Committee. It includes people who have experienced disabilities. They'll give us ongoing feedback.
Target or measure: Start in fiscal year 2025 and have one meeting. After that, we meet twice a year.
Responsibility: Advocacy, Impact and Reputation
Timeline: FY 25
Deliverable: Look into creating or joining a network. It’s for MCEC employees with disabilities to connect.
Target or measure: Approved or rejected.
Responsibility: Organisational Development
Timeline: FY 25
Evidence
About 15-20 percent of people in Australia and around the world have a disability. That’s a lot of people. They face barriers that make it hard for them to join in at work and in daily life, such as going to events.
We’re the team behind MCEC. It is known globally. We believe it’s our duty to set the standard for accessibility and inclusion. This affects more than just our local community in Victoria. It also affects visitors from abroad and our peers in the industry worldwide. Our venue in Melbourne already has many features for people with disabilities. But we know there’s room for improvement. Also, we’re excited about the chance to get things right from the start at our new venue, Nyaal Banyul in Geelong. As we plan, we’re making sure that Universal Design is a top priority in building the new venue. It is set to open in 2026.
We made this plan with the help of expert review. We also talked to people with lived experience with disability. They were both employees and a consultant. In early 2024, we asked Philip Chun Building Compliance to review the oldest part of our building. We asked them to find ways to make it more accessible. Their advice has guided the development of our Accessibility Action Plan.
The plan aligns with VCET’s main goals and key parts of the Disability Discrimination Act. The plan also aligns with the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In 2023, we introduced the Positive Impact Guide, a new tool for event organisers using our venue. It offers advice on how to make events better. This includes information on MCEC’s accessibility features and services for people who attend events. Some actions in this plan need funding or need changes to our building. We can only make these changes if they’re approved and funded.
Downloads
Plain Language
Discover our Accessibility Action Plan
We're dedicated to making our information accessible. Our plain-language Accessibility Action Plan is easy to understand and highlights our actions toward better accessibility and inclusion.
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Easy English Version
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Our Easy English version uses simple words and pictures to show you our accessibility action plan.
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Download the Easy English version as a Word document [1.04mb]