Investigation of Future Mobility Service Options

for the City of Melbourne

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your participation is voluntary and the individual responses to this survey will be summarised so that you will not be identified in the results.

Purpose of this survey

The City of Melbourne established the Melbourne Mobility Centre at Federation Square in 2006 to assist people to get around the city. This Centre has provided extremely high quality access support; however, a recent independent review found that there is low usage and duplication of services at the nearby Travellers' Aid. The City of Melbourne has therefore decided to close the Melbourne Mobility Centre on 21 December 2012, and investigate funding other access and mobility options in the municipality.

We're keen to find out what kinds of access services are important to you.

Completing this survey

This survey will take approximately twenty minutes to complete. If you would prefer a hard copy or would like to complete it over the phone, please contact:

Vickie Feretopoulos, Team Leader, Access and Inclusion, City of Melbourne, phone: 03 9658 8679, mobile: 0400 832 792, email:

Peter Whelan, MetroAccess Project Officer, City of Melbourne, phone: 03 9658 8587, mobile: 0413 011 832, email:

TTY: 03 9658 9461
National Relay Service: 133 677

SECTION 1

Questions marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory.

To assist in directing you to the questions most relevant to you please answer question 1.

  1. In what role are you completing this form?

As a person with restricted mobility or disability

On behalf of a person with restricted mobility or disability

From the perspective of a carer of a person with restricted mobility or a disability  As an advocate of a person or persons with restricted mobility or disability

On behalf of an agency, or as a support worker, in the disability sector (optional – specify organisation): ______)

Note: If you are filling out this survey on behalf of another person, for the remainder of the survey ‘you’ refers to the person for whom you are completing this form.

  1. Which of the following apply to you? * [Tick all that apply]

I have a mobility restriction

I have a hearing impairment

I have a vision impairment

I have a cognitive disability

I have an intellectual disability

I have a temporary disability

I do not have a disability or a mobility restriction

Prefer not to answer this question

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SECTION 2

Redistribution of Mobility Equipment currently available at Melbourne Mobility Centre

Although the Melbourne Mobility Centre will cease operations on 21 December 2012, mobility equipment is available from Travellers Aid Services at Flinders Street and Southern Cross Stations. In addition, the City of Melbourne is currently exploring possible sites and providers who may be willing to have mobility equipment on site for patron use.

  1. Whatequipment would be helpful to have available for hire across the City of Melbourneand at which locations?

Please tick appropriate boxes [Tick all that apply]

Car Parks / Hotels / Tourist sites / Shopping Centres / Universities / Sporting sites / Public transport sites
Fold up wheelchair
Electric wheelchair
Child wheelchair
Scooter 4 wheels
Scooter 3 wheels
Wheelie walker
Arm crutches
Vision ID cane
Fold up child pram
  1. If multiple mobility equipment hire locations are established,where would you like to find this information?*

City of Melbourne Website

A new, one stop accessibility website

Victorian government website

Other websites (please specify)

Transport hub information services

Brochure

Disability support organisations

Don’t know

Other (please specify)

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One Stop Access Website

Members of the community suggested that all access publications produced by the City of Melbourne(Accessing Melbourne,City Eating, Bar Guide, Mobility Map, Sports & Entertainment Guide) be available on one website. There are some examples of such websites such as Inclusive London or You’re Welcome (WA).

  1. If the City of Melbournewere to create such a website,how important is it to include the following information? [Tick all that apply]

Extremely Important / Very
Important / ModeratelyImportant / Slightly important / Not at all Important
Accessible Restaurants & Cafes
Accessible Bars
Accessible Hotels
Accessible Entertainment venues
Mobility
Maps
Community Services
Transport options
Other: Please specify
  1. How often do you access the internet with the following devices?*

Always / Very often / Sometimes / Seldom / Never
Desktop computer
Laptop
Tablet (e.g. iPad)
Smartphone
Other (please specify)
  1. Do you use any other software or hardware to access the internet (other than a browser)? *

Y (please state)

______

N

Mobility Access Van

Members of the community suggested that access to events and festivals will be improved if a mobile vehicle containing access supports such as fully accessible toilet and adult change facility were available on site at these functions.

  1. If the City of Melbourne were to develop a mobility access van,how important is it to include the following facilities? [Tick all that apply]

Extremely Important / Very
Important / ModeratelyImportant / Slightly important / Not at all Important
Accessible toilet
Adult Change Facility
Accessible Shower
Ceiling Hoist
Baby Change Facility
Infant Feeding Area
Quiet Seating Chairs for Parents/Older Adults
Free internet access
Other (please specify)
  1. Where would you like to see this van be available?

Please state:

SECTION 3

Navigation for People with Sensory Disabilities (Hearing and sight impairment)

The National Relay Service (NRS) enables people who have a hearing or speech impairment to engage in telephone conversations. Callers type or read their conversation via a telephone typewriter (TTY) or via internet relay on a computer or mobile phone. All calls through the NRS are relayed through a relay officer, who is the central link in every call and stays on the line for the entire telephone conversation. The relay officer becomes "the voice" and either reads out the telephone conversation to the other person or types it back to the caller to read.

Members of the community suggested that the City of Melbourne provide free telephone booths that are clearly signed for people to access the NRS free of charge across the city.

  1. If the City of Melbourne were to have these booths available,where would be the best locations?

Please state:

Members of the community suggested that the City of Melbourne investigate innovative devices to assist navigation through the city for people who are vision impaired or blind.

  1. Do you use an electronic navigation device to assist you in getting around? *

Y

N [ If No, go to Question 17]

  1. Do you use any of the following electronic navigation devicesto get around?(Tick all that apply)

Mobile Phone

Dedicated GPS navigation device

Voice Sense / Braille Sense or Similar

None [Go to Question 16]

Other (please specify) ______

  1. How satisfied are you with the assistance the devices provide? *

Extremely Dissatisfied / Moderately
Dissatisfied / Slightly
Dissatisfied / Neither Satisfied Nor Dissatisfied / Slightly Satisfied / Moderately Satisfied / Extremely Satisfied
  1. How often do you use it/them outdoors? *

Always / Often / Sometimes / Seldom / Never
  1. Would you use it/them more often if they had better features or gave you more information? *

Definitely / Probably / Might or might not / Probably not / Definitely not

Please state what features or information this might include:

  1. What other technologies or initiatives are you aware of that assist people who are vision impaired or blind to get around?

Please state:

  1. What other technologies or initiatives are you aware of that assist people who are vision impaired or blind to get around?

Please state:

You can also complete this survey online at

SECTION 4 – this section is for people with a disability

Safety for People with a Disability in the CBD

The City of Melbourne Strategy for a Safer City details Council’s commitment for Melbourne continuing to be a safe and welcoming place for all who live, work or visit the city.

Consultation with disability agencies has revealedthat some people with a disability have had crime committed against them and feel unsafe in particular parts of the CBD. Some individuals have reported their lunch or other items being stolen from their mobility aids (baskets of wheelchairs or scooters). These thefts have not been reported to police.

Establishing the prevalence of these experiences, and ensuring people are aware of their right to report crime irrespective of the perceived monetary value, is important to Council.

  1. When the word ‘safety’ is mentioned what comes to mind? (Tick all that apply) *

Personal safety

Assault / physical violence

Road safety

Police presence / partols

Pedestrian safety

Clear accessible paths of travel

Lighting at night

Other, please state

  1. As a person with a disability, how safe do you feel when you come to the city? *

Always feel safe / Usually feel safe / Sometimes feel safe / Rarely feel safe / Never feel safe / Don’t know
  1. As a person with a disability, how safe do you feel in the city in relation to each of the following? * [please answer all questions]

Always feel safe / Usually feel safe / Sometimes feel safe / Rarely feel safe / Never feel safe / Don’t know
Theft
Assault/ physical violence
Threatening/intimidating behaviour
Pedestrian or vehicle collision
Accidental injury on footpaths
Accidental injury on streets
Accidental injury in and around Public Transport
Always feel safe / Usually feel safe / Sometimes feel safe / Rarely feel safe / Never feel safe / Don’t know
Accidental injury in and around buildings
Other safety concern (please specify)
  1. Are there any areas in the central city area that make you feel unsafe? *

Yes

No

  1. If yes, please specify which area/s make you feel unsafe:
  1. What factors make you feel unsafe in these areas?
  1. What actions do you feel could be taken to increase your feelings of safety?
  1. What would support people with a disability to report incidence of crime that they have experienced to police?
  1. Please list examples of safety initiatives, you may be aware of, for people with a disability from other cities.

You can also complete this survey online at

SECTION 5

Personal Care in the North of the CBD

Travellers Aid Access Services provides personal support for visitors, students and workers from its sites at Flinders Streetand Southern Cross Railway Stations. However, there is no personal care service available around the northern end of the city.

  1. If a personal care service was established in the northern end of the city, withinwhat facility do you think it should it be located?*

University campus

Public transport station

Community service providers

Shopping centre complex

Don’t know

Other (please specify) ______

  1. Which provisions should be provided in such a facility? *

Accessible toilet

Accessible shower

Ceiling hoist

Adult change table

Don’t know

Other

Finally, we have a few questions to help us analyse the results of this survey.

  1. What is your sex?

F

M

  1. What is your age in years?
  1. Do you live in Australia or overseas?

Australia

Overseas

If from overseas, which country: ______

  1. If in Australia, what is the postcode where you usually live?

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The City of Melbourne consists of the central city area (CBD, Docklands, Southbank) and the immediately surrounding suburbs (Carlton, Parkville, North Melbourne, Kensington, East Melbourne and the area between St Kilda Road and Punt Road).

  1. Do you live in the City of Melbourne?

Yes

No

  1. Do you visit the City of Melbourne for any of the following reasons? (MARK ALL THAT APPLY)

Study

Work

Events and/or festivals

Recreation / leisure

For support, assistance or medical appointments related to a disability

Other (please specify)

  1. Do you have any further comments about how mobility, access and navigation could be improved in the City of Melbourne?

You can also complete this survey online at

If you require assistance to complete this survey please contact either:

Vickie Feretopoulos, Team Leader, Access and Inclusion, City of Melbourne, T: 03 9658 8679

M: 0400 832 792 E:

Peter Whelan, MetroAccess Project Officer, City of Melbourne, T: 9658 8587, M: 0413 011 832,

E:

TTY: 03 9658 9461 NRS: 133677

If you would like to find out further information about the Mobility Service Options following the completion of the survey please leave your details:

Name:

Address:

Email:

We may wish to clarify your response or contact you regarding further research on this matter or others. Do you consent to City of Melbourne contacting you for any of these purposes?

Yes, I consent to being contacted in relation to this survey

Yes, I consent to being contacted in relation to mobility service options

Yes, I consent to being contacted in relation to future research by the City of Melbourne

You can also complete this survey online at