GMHBA Stadium becomes Australia’s first Sensory Inclusive Stadium

April 4, 2019

As part of its goal to make Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium an inclusive and accessible stadium for all, the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust has progressively undertaken a range of initiatives to make attending the venue a safe, comfortable and positive experience for all.

An an online update from last week, the Trust advises “you will find GMHBA Stadium to be a user-friendly building with a customer service team that is trained to understand how to accommodate your needs.

“We have many amenities available throughout the Stadium to assist with a range of needs, including disabled parking, wheelchair accessible seating and parent’s change rooms. There is also Braille signage and hearing loops throughout the Stadium to assist vision and hearing impaired visitors.”

GMHBA Stadium also has specialised toilet facilities (located in the Brownlow Stand) in the form of Changing Places, which provides a full size change table and hoist to meet the needs of people with severe and profound disabilities.

The Trust has also recently partnered with the Geelong Cats and US non-profit organisation KultureCity to become Australia’s first Sensory Inclusive Stadium. The initiative aims to make GMHBA Stadium an inclusive experience for every guest and improve its ability to assist and accommodate guests with challenges in processing sensory information.

The Trust add “by supplying our staff, customer service and security members with training and offering resources to our guests, such as a designated Sensory Room and Sensory Backpacks, we hope to provide an inclusive and safe experience for every visitor to the Stadium.”

The Sensory Room will officially launch for the AFL round six match, while a dedicated quiet room in the Deakin Cats Community Centre (ground level, Players Stand) and Sensory Backpacks will be available for AFL round two and four matches.

Sensory Backpacks include fidget toys, noise cancelling headphones as well as a number of other resources, and are available for checkout at no cost by leaving an ID at the Geelong Cats Welcome desk (ground floor, Brownlow Stand) and Deakin Cats Community Centre.

Click here for more information about the Sensory Inclusive Stadium initiative and a full list of amenities at GMHBA Stadium.

11th December 2018 - Michael Brown resigns as Chief Executive of Kardinia Park Stadium Trust

24th December 2017 - Final stage of Kardinia Park redevelopment to cost $100 million

16th November 2017 - Deakin Cats Community Centre attracts 80,000 visitors in four years

2nd November 2017 - Geelong FC announces GMHBA Stadium naming rights deal

23rd October 2017 - Clublinks appointed Deakin University sport and recreation management partner

30th June 2017 - New Chair announced for Kardinia Park Trust

19th May 2017 - New Brownlow Stand officially opened at Geelong’s Simonds Stadium

4th May 2017 - Victorian budget confirms next stage of Geelong’s Simonds Stadium upgrade

30th March 2016 - Kardinia Park Stadium Trust unveiled

17th May 2015 - Simonds Stadium to host Spartan Race in December

3rd June 2013 - Geelong play first game under Simonds Stadium’s new lights

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