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Zoos Victoria recognised for disability inclusiveness

Zoos Victoria recognised for disability inclusiveness
January 16, 2022

Zoos Victoria’s disability inclusiveness has been recognised with the agency - which runs the Healesville Sanctuary, Melbourne Zoo and Werribee Open Range Zoo - having been presented with the Excellence in Creating Inclusive Communities Award at the recent Victorian Disability Awards.

Presented to coincide with International Day of People with a Disability on 3rd December last year, the award acknowledged how the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA) accredited body had recognised that families with children with a disability often struggle to enjoy recreational activities. Traditionally, such challenges have include appropriate facilities, access, acceptance, confidence and fear of judgement have prevented these families fully participating in community activities, often resulting in isolation and marginalisation.

To counter this and assist families with children with disability navigate large zoo sites, Zoos Victoria has ensured accessible vehicle tours in place with buses all having ramp access to accommodate wheelchairs. Volunteers also offer free tours in electric golf carts through zoo grounds.

Sensory maps and social scripts designed and written by Zoos Victoria’s disability partners at all three sites, which are provided for families to better support and prepare their children to visit the zoo

Through infrastructure investment in innovation and inclusive practice, Zoos Victoria has created an accessible leisure experience for children and families with disability, building their confidence to actively participate in activities with the wider community to benefit health and wellbeing.

The awards also saw Maurice Gleeson of Blind Sports and Recreation Victoria added to the Award’s Lifetime Achievement Honour Roll.

Images courtest of Zoos Victoria.

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19th March 2021 - Conservation organisations fund Zoos Victoria’s support of critically endangered Mountain Pygmy-possums

4th November 2020 - New $84 million elephant sanctuary to be developed at Victoria’s Werribee Zoo

30th September 2020 - Zoos Victoria and RSPCA Victoria collaborate to build new koala hospital

3rd February 2020 - Melbourne Zoo celebrates birth of rare snow leopard cubs

30th April 2019 - Zoos Victoria ban all single-use plastics 

20th March 2019 - Zoos Victoria raises awareness of herbivore oral health care

13th February 2019 - Healesville Sanctuary staff and volunteers mark the tenth anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires

29th September 2019 - ZAA-accredited zoos and aquariums highlight their activities through Conservation Week

17th September 2018 - ZAA-accredited zoos to collaborate on conservation and animal welfare


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