Accessible Things to Do in Melbourne with Your Support Worker

Community access is one of the most used supports in an NDIS plan, and Melbourne is a good city to use it in. Here are the places our Melbourne practitioners find work well, with a note on what to check. Call ahead on the day if access matters to you; venues change.

Free and close to the city

• NGV International on St Kilda Road: free general entry, step-free throughout, and quiet on weekday mornings.
• Federation Square and the Yarra: flat paths along Southbank, plenty of accessible toilets, and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image next door.
• Royal Botanic Gardens: sealed paths through most of the gardens, and the Garden Explorer vehicle for people who cannot walk the full loop.
• State Library Victoria: free, accessible, and a good place for a quiet hour.
• Queen Victoria Market: busy but flat, best early. The sheds get crowded on Saturdays.

Museums and science

• Melbourne Museum in Carlton Gardens and Scienceworks in Spotswood: both accessible, both accept the Companion Card, and both have quiet times listed on their websites.
• Melbourne Zoo in Parkville: wheelchair hire at the gate, flat paths, and a tram stop at the entrance. Werribee Open Range Zoo is a good day trip for the outer west.

The bay and the beach

• St Kilda foreshore: the pier and the esplanade are flat and wide, Luna Park is next door, and the 96 tram runs right there.
• Brighton Beach and the Bay Trail: a sealed trail for walking, wheeling and bikes that runs for kilometres along the water.
• Williamstown foreshore and Altona Beach in the west: quieter than St Kilda, with accessible paths and good fish and chips.

Sport and movement

• Council leisure centres across the city have hydrotherapy pools, hoists and accessible change rooms. Ask your practitioner to check the one nearest you.
• The MCG, Marvel Stadium and AAMI Park all have accessible seating and accept the Companion Card, so a game is a realistic outing, not a dream.
• The Capital City Trail and the Merri Creek Trail are long, mostly sealed, and reachable from the inner north.

Everyday life counts too

Community access is not only outings. For a lot of our participants the most valuable hours are a weekly shop at the local market, a regular coffee at the same cafe, a library visit, a class at a neighbourhood house or a volunteering shift. Those are the things that build routine, confidence and connection, and they are all supports you can use your plan for.

Getting there

Melbourne's trains are mostly step-free with staff help. Trams are accessible only where a low-floor tram meets a level-access stop, so check the PTV app before you go. The Access Travel Pass makes public transport free for people whose disability means they cannot use a myki, and the Multi Purpose Taxi Program subsidises taxis. Many participants use transport in their practitioner's car, which is funded under your plan.

If you want help building a week that gets you out and about, our Melbourne team would love to talk. Call 0434 786 381 or email Hayley.