Accessible facility opens at Ocean Grove Beach

A NEW Changing Places facility at Ocean Grove Main Beach is set to improve accessibility for people with high support needs and their carers.

The public toilet block has been designed to accommodate for individuals who cannot use standard accessible toilets, enabling them to fully participate in community activities, including enjoying a day at the beach.

The facilities are larger than standard accessible toilets, allowing space for two or more carers to provide assistance, and include an accessible shower, tracking hoist and adult sized change table.

Minister for Disability Lizzie Blandthorn joined Bellarine MP Alison Marchant in Ocean Grove last week to officially open the facility.

“This isn’t just about a toilet and a changing room. It’s about the 382,000 people living with disability in our community, and for their families and carers,” Ms Blandthorn said.

“Anybody who needs to can come here and, with dignity, be able to use the facilities, then be able to access the beach.”

The opening, she shared, held personal significance for her, as her grandfather became a quadriplegic in his mid-30s, and faced barriers to pursuing the activities he loved due to the lack of accessibility facilities at the time.

Ms Marchant said the facility was a “valuable addition” to the Bellarine, one that sent a clear message to the whole community.

“You have every right and chance to be at this beach and be part of your community,” she said.

The project was jointly funded by the Victorian government and Barwon Coast, with the land manager contributing $86,000.

Barwon Coast Committee of Management chair Sandy Gatehouse described the facility as a meaningful step forward in supporting equity, dignity and inclusion.

“Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy our stunning coastline and for people with high support needs and their carers, Changing Places facilities help make that possible.”

She acknowledged the work of the Disabled Surfers Association Ocean Grove, which has been running since 2009 and hosts events annually in February and March that bring around 80 participants and hundreds of volunteers together for a day in the surf.

“This new facility will play an important role in supporting the needs of their participants and carers, and hopefully make these wonderful events more accessible for others,” Ms Gatehouse said.

It is the second Changing Places facility to be constructed on the Bellarine, and follows the opening of a similar project at Portarlington’s Henderson Reserve in December last year.

A Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK) is required to access the Changing Places facility. People with disabilities and their carers or support workers can purchase a MLAK key system via changingplaces.org.au/MLAK