Accessibility

• The parking lot right outside our building has five car spaces marked for accessible parking permit holders.
• There are three near our front entrance which are side by side with raised kerbs on the outsides. These spaces are 3.1m wide and there is no designated clearance space beside them.
• There are two more on the opposite side of the car park near the corner of Puckey Avenue and Squires Way which are also side by side. They are 3.6m wide and on the other side of one is a standard parking spot, and beside the other is a narrow clearance area to maintain access to the footpath.
• Between these spaces and our front door there are sections of kerb that are sloped for access with mobility aids and a ramp up to our main entry door.

Building access & navigation

• Our front doors are automatic double doors.
• Our reception and shop counters are 90cm tall at the parts where you will be served.
• We have an elevator on the same wall of the building as the front door, but at the opposite end.
• The elevator has an opening of 89cm and an internal depth of 195cm.
• The internal doors to all publicly accessible areas are double doors, except the bathrooms.
• The doors to our courtyard and outdoor eating area are manual push doors.
• We do not currently have any tactile flooring, braille signage, or audio tours.

Bathrooms

• The door to enter the accessible bathroom is a manual push door with a width of 84cm.
• The bathroom contains support bars that are fixed in place to the wall.
• The lock is 97cm from the floor.
• The sink is 90cm from the floor.
• The paper towel dispenser is 99cm from the floor.
• There is a fold down change table that is rated for children up to 3.5 years and under 22.7kg. The area in which the child can be placed is 60cm x 82cm, the upper edge of the table is 76cm from the floor and there is 68cm of clearance underneath it.
• There are no shower facilities in our public areas.

Exhibits

• Our exhibits are positioned at a variety of heights, with varying control mechanisms, and with different senses being engaged.
• Our signage on exhibits is only available in English.
• Our exhibition space is typically very loud and many parts of it are very bright.
• Weekday afternoons during school term are usually quieter, and ear muffs are available to borrow from the front counter if needed.

Theatre

• Access is through double doors which are opened by our staff.
• Up to six seats can be removed from the front of the theatre to make space for wheelchairs, powerchairs, prams, or mobility scooters.
• Theatre shows vary, but may include loud sounds and periods of low lighting. Our staff are trained to provide warnings for these things and make every effort to ensure they do.

Planetarium

• Space for 3 prams, wheelchairs, power chairs, or mobility scooters.
• We have a single personalised hearing loop headset. Please ask your planetarium presenter at the start of the show for access. Then just place the loop over your head and switch you hearing device to the relative setting.
• We don’t have captioned shows currently.
• There is low lighting, dark flooring with no contrast, and no floor illumination.

• There are no dedicated parents spaces. A private space may be available upon request for feeding.
• There is a fold down change table that is rated for children up to 3.5 years and under 22.7kg. The area in which the child can be placed is 60cm x 82cm.
• Exhibition floors are pram accessible, there are limited pram spaces in planetarium, theatre, and mini Monday spaces.
• Microwave/hot water available upon request to heat baby food.
• General admission is free to those who hold a Companion Card and are assisting as a carer.