Commonwealth Accessible Australia Initiative (Accessible Australia)

About Accessible Australia

Accessible Australia is a national program that helps make community spaces easier to use for people with disability.

It provides funding to improve built spaces and natural areas like buildings, playgrounds, beaches, and parks.

Government-owned and not-for-profit organisations can apply for this funding.

Accessible Australia will fund:

• fixed Changing Places toilet facilities
• portable Changing Places toilet facilities
• portable equipment for inclusive beaches (like beach wheelchairs, floating wheelchairs and accessible beach matting)
• portable amenities for inclusive national parks (like all-terrain wheelchairs and accessible paths)
• fixed inclusive play spaces (like liberty swings and all-access spinners).

Accessible Australia replaces the Changing Places initiative. It now includes more ways to make public spaces easier to use for people with disability.

Funding

The Australian Government provides funding to successful applicants (via their state and territory government) for the Accessible Australia initiative.

This includes:

• up to 100% of the total build cost for:
  • inclusive beaches
  • inclusive national parks
  • portable Changing Places toilet facilities
• up to 50% of the total build cost for:
  • inclusive play spaces
  • fixed Changing Places toilet facilities.

Eligibility

Funding recipients must be:

• government-owned entities, such as state and territory departments and local councils or
• not-for-profit organisations.

Funding can only be committed to state and territory governments in agreement with the Commonwealth. To be eligible for funding, the facility must be built or installed in a public space that is open to everyone.

Funding for commercial enterprises is out of scope.

How to apply

Organisations that are eligible can apply for Accessible Australia grants through their state or territory government. Contact your state or territory representative at any time to learn about funding options, how to apply, key dates, and to express your interest.

There are 4 stages of annual funding available, which commenced from the 2024–25 financial year. The final stage of funding will be offered in 2027–28.

Find out more

Contacts

For questions about the Accessible Australia initiative, email the Accessible Australia team at AccessibleAustralia@health.gov.au.