New, fully accessible public toilets in Mornington, Victoria, are home to the first Exceloo Changing Places facility in the country.
The new facilities are designed to cater for people who require additional equipment and replace an existing, poor condition toilet block.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, around 200,000 Australians with a disability require assistance to use the toilet.
The new cubicles include a Changing Places toilet as part of the Changing Places Australia project
As part of its Disability Inclusion Plan, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council is committed to increasing opportunities for inclusion and participation and ensuring people with disability have equal access to services and facilities.
Mayor, David Gill, said, “We’re taking the lead on public accessibility and it’s fantastic to have Australia’s first Exceloo Changing Places facility right here on the Peninsula.
“Standard wheelchair accessible toilets are designed for independent use and don’t cater to the needs of people who require a hoist and/or adjustable change table.
“This new facility will make it easier for people with a disability to get out in their community and enjoy social activities”.
The Shire’s Disability Advisory Committee has developed a handy Changing Places fact sheet.
The new facility also includes a regular accessible, ambulant and standard unisex cubicle as well as a parents’ cubicle.
This project has been supported through $552,000 from the Shire and a $100,000 grant from the state government’s Growing Suburbs Fund.
