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OVERVIEW
- Business Overview
- Bookings
- Emergency Management
- Communications
- Other Information
- Guide Dog and Service Animals
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GENERAL
- Pre-arrival, arrival and reception
- Cognitive Impairment Support
- Car Park and Access amenities
- Displays, exhibits, commentary and live performances
- External Paths
- Steps
- Ramps
- Public Toilets/Adult change facilities
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EVENTS
- Events
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Overview
General
Events
Business Overview
The business has the following products/services available
Event
Our business caters for the following disability types:
Blind or low vision
Deaf or low hearing
Limited mobility
Wheelchairs or mobility scooters
Food allergies or intolerances
Cognitive or people on the Autism Spectrum
Bookings
The business offers the following methods for bookings and enquiries:
Phone
Webportal
Our website supports Screen Readers
Our forms have high contract boxes and submit boxes
Emergency Management
Because the festival is large-scale, open-access, and decentralised, there is no single point of arrival or procedure for briefing every attendee — making the question not applicable in a conventional sense.
Communications
Our business offers the following alternative communication methods
Plain English
Where possible, the festival provides Auslan interpretation and assisted listening devices at selected events and venues.
There is easy to read signage and information (e.g. menus and emergency information)
Other Information
The business accepts the companion card
Guide Dog and Service Animals
The business provides the following services for services animals:
Service animals are welcome at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival. Water bowls are available at all festival information booths, and there are plenty of shaded areas throughout the site to help keep service animals comfortable.
Pre-arrival, arrival and reception
The business has the following in place to support guests during pre-arrival, arrival and reception
Booking information and websites are compatible with screen readers
Information and maps are available in written form
Additional Information from the business
The following steps are in place to ensure that people with fatigue related to their disability are not disadvantaged by long wait times:
As a large-scale, free, and unticketed event spread across multiple indoor and outdoor locations, the Australian Wooden Boat Festival does not have centralised queues or wait times for general access. However, we recognise that some guests may experience fatigue due to disability. To support this, the festival site includes multiple shaded rest areas, seating throughout the precinct, and accessible facilities. For any events or activities that involve queuing, our staff and volunteers are briefed to offer assistance where possible, including prioritising guests with access needs. We encourage guests to speak with festival staff or visit an information booth if support is required.
Cognitive Impairment Support
A space for parents and children on the Autism Spectrum
Car Park and Access amenities
The business has the following Car Park and Access amenities
A drop off zone
Designated disabled parking bays
Level or ramped access from the car park to the entrance
The accessible entrance is clearly signed from the parking bay
Kerb ramps are in place where a pavement or walkway needs to be crossed
Displays, exhibits, commentary and live performances
For displays, exhibits, commentary and live performances the following amenities are in place
Seating
Wheelchair accessible spaces/seating
Hearting loops for live shows and presentations
In addition, the following further information can assist guests
Where possible, assisted listening devices are available at selected venues and events throughout the festival.
External Paths
External paths of travel have the following amenities are in place
Surfaces are concrete, asphalt, smooth paving or hard packed fine gravel (max aggregate size 13mm)
Pathways are wider than 900mm
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival takes place across a variety of public spaces and venues, each with different layouts. While many paths and doorways within the festival footprint are step-free or have ramps, some locations may have steps. Where steps are present, there are generally three or fewer successive steps, and alternative accessible routes are provided whenever possible to ensure access for all guests.
Steps
Steps have the following amenities are in place
There are steps.
In addition, the following further information can assist guests
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is held across many different public and heritage sites. Because of this, not all steps or staircases have modern accessibility features like colour-contrasted edges, enclosed risers, protected undersides, or extended handrails. Also, some locations have more than three steps, reflecting the original design of the site. Due to the nature of the festival footprint and heritage considerations, these features cannot be uniformly updated.
Ramps
Ramps have the following amenities are in place
There are ramps.
Temporary ramps are available
Temporary ramps are in place for the duration of the guests stay
Ramps have a raised edge of at least 100mm
In addition, the following further information can assist guests
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival uses a mix of existing permanent venues and temporary sites. All permanent venues manage their own fixed ramps and accessibility features, including handrails and ramp gradients, according to their own standards. For temporary venues set up by the festival, we provide temporary ramps that remain in place for the duration of the event or the guest’s stay, and these include raised edges where applicable.
Public Toilets/Adult change facilities
Public Toilets/Adult change facilities have the following amenities are in place
There is an accessible toilet for public use
The door is at least 850mm wide
There is a minimum of 850mm beside the toilet
Handrails are fitted
The toilet seat is 460mm above the floor
The toilet seat of a contrasting colour to the floor
The toilet seat is460mm above the floor
In addition, the following further information can assist guests
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival is held across multiple existing public and private venues, each responsible for managing its own accessible toilet facilities. Many of these venues provide accessible toilets that meet local standards, including appropriate door widths, handrails, and clear space requirements. Some venues may also have adult change facilities, but the availability of registered Changing Places facilities, adult change tables, or hoists varies by location and is managed by the individual venue operators.
Events
Events have the following facilities/amenities in place
Accessible toilets are available at the venue
There is clear signage throughout the venue including accessible routes and accessible facilities
Wheelchair designated seating is provided
We cater for a range of seating and viewing options
We cater for varying group sizes
A hearing loop is provided
Speakers/performers are instructed to use the microphones
There is good circulation space with the number of people expected to allow people with a disability to move around freely
The event is outdoors
Portable accessible toilets are available
Seating is at regular intervals
Side shows, activities etc. are accessible
Accessible car parking is available
There are designated drop-off points
There is accessible public transport to the venue
Accessible public transport is detailed in the event information
There is an event map available
The event map shows accessible facilities
The event includes the use of loud noises, fireworks or strobe lighting
Quiet rooms, marquees or spaces are available
In addition, the following further information can assist guests
The Australian Wooden Boat Festival takes place across many existing venues and outdoor sites, with accessibility features managed by individual venues. While most venues offer step-free access, accessible toilets, and clear signage, some heritage or temporary sites may have limitations. As a free event, there is no central ticket office; ticketed events are booked through external venues, which manage their own accessibility. Assisted listening devices and Auslan interpretation are available at selected events where possible. Water bowls for service animals are provided at information booths, and seating is available throughout the festival site. Accessible parking, drop-off points, and public transport serve the area, and event information includes details on accessible routes, facilities, and sensory warnings, with quiet spaces provided in designated areas.