Funding Guidelines & Application Form
Appendix 1: Changing Places Survey 2016
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Changing Places Funding Round 2017
Appendix 1: Changing Places Survey 2016
To receive this publication in an accessible format phone 03 9096 8091, using the National Relay Service 13 36 77 if required, or email
Authorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human Services June 2017.
ISBN 978-0-7311-7219-1
Available at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/changingplaces
Contents
Background and Objectives 6
Survey Methodology 7
Key Findings and Recommendations 8
Question 1 - Have you previously known about Changing Places and what they offer to people with a disability? 9
Question 2 - Are you someone who would use, or assist someone else in the use of a Changing Places facility? 10
Question 3 - How many times have you used a Changing Places facility? 11
Question 4 - Which Changing Places facilities have you used? 12
Question 5 - What is the main reason you have not used a Changing Places facility? 13
Question 6 - Do you think it would be a good thing to have more Changing Places facilities available in Victoria? 14
Question 7 - At which specific places in Victoria would you like a Changing Places facility? 15
Question 8 - From the choices below, where would your top three priority locations be for a Changing Place? 16
Question 9 - Additional comments about Changing Places 17
List of Nominated Changing Places locations 18
Background and Objectives
Changing Places is a new concept to Victoria. At the time the survey was undertaken in September 2016, the following nine locations across Victoria had accredited and operational Changing Places facilities:
• Jack Roper Reserve, 217 Camp Road Broadmeadows
• Dandenong Civic Centre, 225 Lonsdale Street Dandenong
• Eastland Shopping Centre (2 facilities), 171-175 Maroondah Highway Ringwood
• Harold Holt Swim Centre, 1409 High Street Glen Iris
• Melbourne Cricket Ground, Brunton Avenue, Richmond
• Melbourne Zoo, Elliot Avenue, Parkville
• Ringwood Lake Park, corner Maroondah Highway / Mount Dandenong Road, Ringwood
• Victoria Park Inclusive Playspace, Oak Avenue, Newington
• The Realm, 179 Maroondah Highway, Ringwood.
The main objective of the Changing Places Survey 2016 was to seek feedback from people with a disability, their family, carers and the community about where Changing Places facilities are needed most. Additional objectives included seeking insight into respondents knowledge and understanding of the Changing Places concept, and their awareness and use of existing Changing Places facilities in Victoria.
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted by the Association for Children with a Disability on behalf of the Victorian Government and was open for three weeks from 20 September to 10 October 2016. The Survey was conducted online utilising the Survey Monkey survey tool.
A large distribution network was engaged to ensure the survey reached a broad population base. Key text and survey links for distribution in newsletters, emails and general broadcasts were forwarded to external organisations including disability service providers, disability advocacy groups, disability peak bodies and Public Transport Victoria. This strategy included a direct email to all organisations funded by Department of Health and Human Services and to Department of Health and Human Services staff for forwarding to their external contacts.
A total of 1,340 people completed the Changing Places Survey 2016. Respondents were asked to nominate up to three preferred locations for Changing Places facilities. Some respondents chose to nominate specific locations and addresses, whilst others nominated more general localities such as a town or city. The list of nominated sites have been categorised in order of nominations, by metropolitan Local Government Area (LGA), or regional city or town can be found at page 18.
Key Findings and Recommendations
• 1,340 people responded to the survey.
• 42% of respondents were already familiar with the Changing Places concept.
• 75% of respondents were people who would use, or assist someone else to use a Changing Places facility.
• 25% of respondents had used a Changing Places facility.
• The Melbourne Zoo Changing Places facility has been the most utilised facility (139 respondents).
• 50% of respondents who had not used a Changing Places facility stated the reason was because a Changing Places facility did not exist in their region.
• Respondents rated their top three location types in which to build Changing Paces facilities from the following list:
– Major shopping centres (62% of respondents)
– Public parks and gardens (42%)
– Tourist attractions (33%)
– Premium train stations (25%)
– Recreation or sporting facilities (25%)
– Entertainment venues (20%)
– Key adult educational facilities such as Universities and TAFES (14%)
– Movie and live theatre venues (12%)
• 99% of respondents were in support of building more Changing Places facilities in Victoria
• Popular regions or localities identified included:
– Geelong (428 votes)
– Bendigo (402 votes)
– Melbourne CBD (315 votes)
– Echuca (70 votes)
• Over 450 specific locations were nominated from across the state of Victoria.
• Common themes in respondent comments focussed on the following:
– As a location type, shopping centres, train stations, tourist attractions and beaches were popular choices for building a Changing Place facility.
– Consider including Changing Places facilities alongside, or as part of existing public toilet facilities.
– Locating Changing Places facilities along major transport routes and public transport interchanges.
– Increased promotion of the Changing Places concept in general and existing facilities in particular.
– Establishing a network of Changing Places facilities across Victoria.
Question 1 - Have you previously known about Changing Places and what they offer to people with a disability?
Figure 1 – Prior knowledge of Changing Places
The survey shows that that 58% of respondents were not aware of the Changing Places concept.
There are a number of factors which influence the level of awareness of respondents. Changing Places is a relatively new initiative in Australia, and at the time of the survey less than 15 Changing Places were operating across Victoria. In addition, a network of Changing Places is not yet established, with most facilities located either in metropolitan Melbourne or large regional centres.
Question 2 - Are you someone who would use, or assist someone else in the use of a Changing Places facility?
Figure 2 – Changing Places usage by type
The survey shows that 75% of respondents would use, or assist someone else to use a Changing Places facility. People working for a disability or advocacy organisation comprised 26.5% of respondents, followed by carers and family members of people with disabilities (26.2%).
The general community was well represented with 25% of respondents. This level of community support may reflect the positioning of Changing Places as a best practice example of universal design principles and a practical example of increasing the inclusiveness of communities.
Question 3 - How many times have you used a Changing Places facility?
Figure 3 – Changing Places : Frequency of use
The survey shows that 75% of respondents have never used a Changing Places facility. People using a facility between 1 and 4 times represented 15% of respondents, with those using a facility more than 10 times accounting for almost 6% of respondents.
Approximately 320 survey respondents reported using a Changing Places facility. Factors which may have contributed to the low percentage of respondents include the small number of Changing Places across Victoria and the need for greater promotion of these facilities. The Changing Place concept is relatively new in Australia, which may also contribute to these results.
Question 4 - Which Changing Places facilities have you used?
Figure 4 – Changing Places usage by specific facility
The survey shows the Melbourne Zoo is the most utilised Changing Place facility in Victoria (139 respondents), followed by the Melbourne Cricket Ground (61 respondents) and Victoria Park in Ballarat (32 respondents).
Factors which may influence the patronage of specific locations including the small number of Victorian Changing Places, the overall accessibility of the site the Changing Places facility is situated within, promotion, hours of opening and location.
Question 5 - What is the main reason you have not used a Changing Places facility?
Figure 5 - Reasons for not using a Changing Places facility
Respondents who have not used a Changing Places facility were asked why. The survey shows that of those who have not used a Changing Places facility, a lack of a facility in their region (340 respondents) was the largest response, followed by those who were not aware of the Changing Places concept (182 responses) and those who did not know where Changing Places facilities were located (87 responses).
The survey results suggest that patronage of Changing Places facilities could be increased by promotion of the Changing Places concept and existing facilities as well as building new Changing Places.
Question 6 - Do you think it would be a good thing to have more Changing Places facilities available in Victoria?
Figure 6 – Support for more Changing Places in Victoria
The survey shows that over 99% of respondents are supportive of building more Changing Places facilities across Victoria. Free text comments accompanying this response suggest Changing Places are viewed as a tool for social inclusion and building more of these facilities will make Victorian communities more accessible and inclusive.
Question 7 - At which specific places in Victoria would you like a Changing Places facility?
Figure 7 - Top specific locations for a Changing Places facility
The survey tells us that there is a need for Changing Places facilities to be built across the state of Victoria, with over 450 specific locations nominated by respondents. Nominations were distributed across rural and metropolitan areas.
From the survey, the top four localities or regions nominated were Geelong, Bendigo, the Melbourne CBD and Echuca. The most popular types of locations nominated included shopping centres and precincts, libraries, hospitals, public transport interchanges, tourist destinations and major transport routes.
Detailed results with specific locations can be found in the List of nominated Changing Places locations section of this document.
Question 8 - From the choices below, where would your top three priority locations be for a Changing Place?
Figure 8 – Top priority locations for a Changing Places facility
Respondents were asked to nominate their top three of eight possible location types. The survey shows that of the options provided, respondents considered major shopping centres (834 responses), public parks and gardens (556 respondents), tourist attractions (446 respondents) and premium train stations (337 respondents) as their highest priorities.
Respondent comments accompanying these selections emphasised the important role shopping centres play in everyday lives of people with disabilities and their families and the need to ensure these sites are accessible to all members of the community.
Question 9 - Additional comments about Changing Places
Many comments made in response to this question were additional supportive statements around the need for Changing Places and the impact it can have on an individual and families’ life.
Some respondents commented on the need for a network of Changing Places across Victoria, addressing their absence in many regional and metropolitan localities.
Also reflected here were the need for these facilities to be better marketed and communicated, as well as a request for the ongoing maintenance of the facilities.
The importance of Changing Places becoming mandatory, be through legislation or the building code, was cited numerous times.
List of Nominated Changing Places locations
This list of nominated locations is in order of most frequent location nominated, not alphabetical order.
Metropolitan LGA or regional city / town / Total votes / Location / Votes /Geelong / 428 / Geelong (general) / 35
Geelong Adventure Park / 2
Geelong Arena / 2
Geelong Avalon airport / 2
Geelong Barwon Valley Park / 1
Geelong Bay City Shopping Centre / 1
Geelong Bus Depot / 1
Geelong CBD / 32
Geelong Eastern Beach / 18
Geelong Eastern Park / 1
Geelong Football Club / 1
Geelong Gardens / 2
Geelong Highton Shopping Village / 1
Geelong Hospital or Health facility / 2
Geelong Key adult educational facilities / 1
Geelong Library / 67
Geelong Local pools / 1
Geelong Market Square / 12
Geelong Pakington St / 2
Geelong Performing Arts Centre / 3
Geelong Rippleside / 1
Geelong Skilled Stadium / 5
Geelong Stead Park / 1
Geelong Train Station / 15
Geelong Waterfront / 87
Geelong Waterworld / 1
Geelong Waurn Ponds / 6
Geelong Waurn Ponds Cinema / 2
Geelong Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre / 20
Geelong Westfield Shopping Centre / 102
Geelong Yacht Club / 1
Bendigo / 402 / Bendigo (general) / 56
Bendigo Art Gallery / 7
Bendigo Botanic Gardens / 3
Bendigo CBD / 64
Bendigo CBD public toilets / 1
Bendigo Central Deborah Mine / 1
Bendigo Cinemas / 4
Bendigo Club / 1
Bendigo Crook St Park / 1
Bendigo Eaglehawk / 5
Bendigo Eaglehawk Park / 3
Bendigo Eaglehawk Shopping Centre / 2
Bendigo Eaglehawk swimming pool / 2
Bendigo Eaglehawk YMCA / 2
Bendigo Eaglehawk, Kangaroo Flat / 1
Bendigo Epsom / 2
Bendigo Golden Square Shopping Centre / 1
Bendigo Hargreaves Mall / 21
Bendigo Heathcote / 3
Bendigo Heathcote Lions Park / 1
Bendigo High St / 1
Bendigo Kangaroo Flat / 6
Bendigo Kangaroo Flat Aquatic Centre / 3
Bendigo Kangaroo Flat IGA / 2
Bendigo Kangaroo Flat Jumpz / 1
Bendigo Kennington Village Shopping Centre / 1
Bendigo Lake Weroona / 18
Bendigo Lansell Square Kangaroo Flat / 20
Bendigo LaTrobe University / 1
Bendigo Law Courts / 1
Bendigo Library / 15
Bendigo Mall / 13
Bendigo Market Place / 48
Bendigo Marong / 1
Bendigo Metropolitan Hotel / 1
Bendigo Myer / 1
Bendigo Pall Mall / 4
Bendigo Queen Elizabeth Oval / 6
Bendigo Rosalind Park / 23
Bendigo Samantha / 1
Bendigo Star Bar / 1
Bendigo Strath Village / 1
Bendigo Strathdale Crook St playspace / 2
Bendigo Strathfieldsaye Shopping Centre / 1
Bendigo surround suburbs unspecified / 1
Bendigo TAFE college / 1
Bendigo The Schweppes Centre / 1
Bendigo Town Hall / 2
Bendigo Train Station / 34