New Bayswater Station will be the first on Perth’s rail network to have an adult change facility, thanks to input from the METRONET Access and Inclusion Reference Group.

With around 400,000 West Australians living with a disability, supporting and recognising the importance of access and inclusion is essential to ensure all passengers are catered for across the 23 new stations being delivered by METRONET. 

Drawing on their life experience, members of the Access and Inclusion Reference Group work closely with METRONET to provide input on the design, useability and accessibility of future stations, and matters impacting people with disability or mobility issues. 

Group member Erika Webb and special guest and founder of GAM Industries, Greg Madson (and guide dog, Memphis) recently met with the METRONET New Midland Station Project team to share their knowledge. This will be used as access changes in the Midland area during works.

“Meeting with the reference group to brief our staff through lived experience helps cater for universal access at future stations, as well as ensuring it’s front of mind for our team,” Midland Project Community and Stakeholder Manager Ric Gabriel explained.

“The information presented about wayfinding for people with a disability and factors to consider during works such as uneven footpaths, footpath width and distance to train replacement services is invaluable,” he said.

In addition to their advisory role on METRONET projects, the Group plays a major role in distributing information to key networks and acting as a conduit between government and the community to provide information to groups that may experience barriers to travelling or accessing information.