Changing Places opens at Hadfield Park Adventure Playground

The Changing Places program has moved to the Department of Fairness, Families, and Housing. 

A new Changing Place has opened at the popular Hadfield Park Adventure Playground, ensuring that community members and visitors to Wallan living with a disability have access to the most inclusive facility in the region.

This is a big win for people like 10 year old Ally Hopper and her family who enjoy the all abilities Adventure Playground and advocated for a Changing Place to be built at the park.

'It’s a great new asset to the park. Now I can change my daughter in privacy and dignity, with plenty of space and on a comfortable change table, rather than having to head home or change Ally in the boot of my car.

I also love that I can now take my time and not feel that I have to ‘hurry up’ which will make it a more pleasant experience for both Ally and myself.'

Phyllis Hopper, Changing Places user

This Changing Place features a ceiling hoist, adjustable adult size change table and peninsula toilet and is located adjacent to the local shops to enable even more people to visit and enjoy all that Wallan has to offer.

Pictured (Left to Right): Cr David Atkinson (Mitchell Shire Council), Gary Hopper (Ally’s Dad and Changing Places Advocate), Danielle Green MP, Ally Hopper (Changing Places Advocate) and Phyllis Hopper (Ally’s Mum and Changing Places Advocate)

The Victorian Government has committed $2.6m to provide a network of 26 Changing Places facilities across the state so that people with a disability can access recreational and tourist attractions, parks, community spaces, entertainment and sporting venues.

These Changing Places are being built in partnership with local government and not for profit organisations and are designed to help the 326,400 Victorians with high support and complex needs to participate in their local community.

This program forms part of the Victorian Government’s ‘Absolutely everyone: State Disability Plan’ which leverages universal design principles to create more inclusive communities where people with a disability to actively participate in all aspects of everyday life.

You can learn more about the Changing Places initiative in Victoria at the Department of Fairness, Families, and Housing.

Locations of all currently open facilities and building specifications and guidelines can be found on the national Changing Places website.