AusLeisure

Sunshine Coast Council is moving to give residents and visitors improved access to a range of entertainment, sporting and art venues thanks to new partnership with a local technology company Cérge.

Dedicated to improving access and inclusion, the interaction between the Council and Cérge - which has previously worked with hotels, restaurants and events - aims to improve interaction with Council spaces that showcase arts, entertainment, environmental activities, sport and recreation.

The partnership is based on the knowledge that for people with disabilities, outings to many venues can be a daunting experience - not knowing what is where, how they might navigate their way in and out and what facilities, what equipment and support is on offer.

Adoption
In practice, the partnership has created a series of accessible tools so people can ‘know before they go’ and understand venue accessibility ahead of time.

This includes a 360-degree Virtual Tour, Visual Story & Sensory Guide and Audio Guide.

Cérge has also connected with Council’s Accessible Beach program and very soon a ‘visual story’ will be available to illustrate where and how to book and collect a beach wheelchair, how to use it and what to do on return.

Explaining that the Council is excited to bring Cérge’s expertise to its community facilities, Sunshine Coast Councillor, Taylor Bunnag advised “as a Council we want to help create a more inclusive region where everyone can participate equally, contribute fully and feel respected and valued,.

“Our first partnership with Cérge was to support several Industry partners delivering events for The Curated Plate last year.

“More publicly available information empowers customers with a disability, parents, carers and support workers to make informed decisions before arrival.”

Sunshine Coast Councillor, David Law said Sunshine Coast Libraries already offered a large range of resources that could be accessed by everyone, noting “now we are moving through our community and sport venues to help make our Council venues more accessible thanks to this partnership with a forward-thinking local business.

“This is significant step towards becoming more inclusive as our region prepares to host inclusive sports events like the Australian Deaf Games in 2026, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Para-cycling Road World Championships in 2028 and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Cérge Companion app
Co-founded by Sunshine Coast locals, Victoria and Chris Kerrisk, Cérge addresses the lack of public information about venue accessibility and challenges in customer service perceptions.

It features a companion website for venues to display their accessibility features and an app that lets customers communicate their needs directly to staff.

Stating that Cérge serves as a personal disability advocate. It aimed to enhance community participation and confidence for people with disability, carers and support workers, promoting a more inclusive community, Chris Kerrisk added “the Cérge Companion websites are a plug and play solution for venues to make a stepped change in the publicly available information detailing accessible and sensory experience imagery and descriptions.

“We have been working across the region with the likes of White’s IGAs, Sunshine Coast Airport, Nambour Special School and a number of hotels, restaurants and event organisers.

"Community and sport venues are an exciting addition to the expanding list of locations involved in this supportive movement.

“It’s not about implementing costly infrastructure. Cérge delivers a series of innovative digital tools to improve and promote venue accessibility to help people with disability, and to help their carers.”

Council venues currently with Cerge
A virtual tour and sensory guide plus other resources are now available for Council venues, and we are working with the local company to include other Council facilities such as Nambour Showgrounds.

• Beerwah Aquatic
• Buderim Aquatic 
• Caloundra Aquatic
• Caloundra Indoor Stadium
• Coolum Aquatic
• Coolum Civic Centre
• Cotton Tree Aquatic
• Eumundi Aquatic
• Kawana Aquatic 
• Kawana Forest Meeting Place
• Kawana Island Meeting Place
• Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve + 4WD wheelchair
• Nambour Aquatic
• Palmwoods Aquatic
• Altitude Nine
• Beerwah Community Hall 
• Bellvista Community Place
• Kawana Community Hall
• Maroochydore Multi Sports Complex 
• Millwell Road Community Centre
• Sunshine Coast City Hall 
• Sunshine Coast Stadium
• Venue 114

Accessible Beaches at Coolum Beach, Dicky Beach, Kings Beach and Mooloolaba will soon be coming to Cérge.

Images: Wheelchair space at the Sunshine Coast Stadium (top), accessible play at the Nambour Aquatic Centre (middle) and 4wd wheelchair at the Mary Cairncross Scenic Reserve (below). Credit: Sunshine Coast Stadium.

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