The Communication Access team have been working with a number of high profile organisations as well as smaller regional services this year.

Here are some of the highlights:

V/Line – the first transport operator in the world to become communication accessible

13 million passenger trips are taken on V/Line (Victoria’s regional train operator) trains each year, with the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) call centre handling 1.4 million calls each year. In early 2016, V/Line became the first transport operator in the world to become communication accessible. The PTV call centre and PTV Hubs, both central to supporting V/Line services, also became communication accessible. With the entire V/Line network, PTV call centre and the four PTV Hubs all now being communication accessible, people with communication difficulties can now more easily get their message across when travelling within regional Victoria. With more and more businesses and services becoming communication accessible, people with communication difficulties can become increasingly confident that they will be able to get their message across once they arrive at their destination.

Watch Callee Petropolous’ trip to the Benalla Art Gallery to find out more:

Barwon NDIS trial site

In 2015, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) embarked on a project to have their two offices in the Victorian Barwon trial site accredited with the Communication Access Symbol.  Staff received training, and customised communication aids were created and distributed across all of the Agency’s sites nationally.

A video has been produced to raise awareness that NDIS are prepared to communicate in different ways.

Healthcare in the spotlight

The ability of people to make themselves understood is critical in healthcare settings. Over the last 12 months, services within Merri Health, the Central Gippsland Health Service and the Royal Melbourne Hospital have all been awarded the Communication Access Symbol in recognition of their excellence in providing accessible services. This adds to a growing list of communication accessible health services , such as those provided within Northern Health, Bendigo Health and Benalla Health.

Communication accessible communities in regional Victoria

Regional Victorian councils have enthusiastically worked towards communication access, often forming part of their inclusion and accessibility plans. Benalla Rural City and the East Gippsland Shire Council have promoted communication access,with multiple services becoming communication accessible.

The Communication Access Symbol was developed in 2011. Currently, only Victorian businesses and services are eligible for the award. However there are plans for a national roll out of communication access in 2017. Organisations in states other than Victoria will apply to become an Approved Assessment Organisation and conduct communication access assessments in their state .With this in mind, we created a new resource for businesses and services wishing to become communication accessible – the video, ‘Communication Access – What’s it all about?’.  The video explains the process to becoming communication accessible and being awarded the Communication Access Symbol.

 

We look forward to another productive 12 months as we work towards more inclusive communities.