2023 will also be the year of accessible tourism in Queensland, Australia, as the Queensland Government has committed a whopping twelve million dollars to deliver targeted initiatives that will build the capacity of Queensland tourism businesses to cater to visitors of all abilities.

Suffice to say that we are both impressed and excited by the Sunshine Coast’s commitment to accessibility in preparation for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We hope and expect that initiatives such as these will result in a sustainable and inclusive legacy project that will result in a more accessible Australia in years to come.

In a similar project, Direct Access provided accessibility consultation for Transport for London rail services ahead of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games, including several London Underground stations, which resulted in a successful legacy that commuters enjoy to this day. Our founder also provided voiceover to the #WeThe15 video for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

In addition to creating accessible environments and improving social perceptions of disabled people through increased inclusivity, The Australian Cycling Academy will provide an athlete-centric development model for young men and women, including disabled people, allowing them to simultaneously study and develop their sporting careers while providing a clear pathway to professional cycling ranks and future success beyond sport.

The Australian Cycling Academy is an elite not-for-profit cycling academy based on the Sunshine Coast. The primary goal of the Australian Cycling Academy (ACA).

We believe that it is by no coincidence that the five legacy aspirations of this project embed and reword some of the UN’s key Sustainable Development Goals, setting out priority for increased economic, social, and environmental prosperity. What both also have in common, is the explicit mentioning of and inclusion of accessibility within the plans.

It goes without saying that disabled people deserve the same level of access that all non-disabled peoples enjoy within society, but the fact that the 10+10+ vision project takes into consideration the benefits that accessibility and inclusion provide to everyone is fantastic. Sustainability and growth (financial, social, environmental) are built on the equal treatment of people. An equal and accessible world of sport will do wonders not only for people’s health but the future lives of everyone on the Sunshine Coast. Or as they have put it themselves, building to “A more connected, active and sustainable” future.

Direct Access will be heading to the Australian Accessible and Inclusive Tourism conference on April 28th and we can’t wait to engage in a productive dialogue to make tourism a more inclusive and accessible practice for everyone at home in Australia and afar.

Tickets for the conference can be purchased on Humantix and more information about the event can be found on the AITCAP website.