City of Ballarat | Accessibility in Practice Forum

When: 10:00am - 2:00pm, Tuesday 26 August 2025

Where: Function Centre at The Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility is the pride of Ballarat for soccer. It has hosted teams from around the world, including Bahrain, The Matildas, and Melbourne Victory.

Please note the seating will be Theatre Style, please note any accessibility considerations upon registering!

What will this forum be about?

This forum will host a range of expert keynote speakers presenting on the following topics:

• Disability inclusion in sports and recreation 

  • Michael Flynn, Sports Central

  • Gerald Dixon, Ballarat Aquatic and Lifestyle Centre

• Disability inclusion in gender-based violence 

  • Susie Muller, Berry Street

  • Carly Myers, Women's Health Grampians

• Disability inclusion in online and digital spaces 

  • Christine, City of Ballarat Disability Advisory Committee

• Advocacy and disability

  • Phil Cutts, Grampians disAbility Advocacy

  • Claudia Fosberg, ABC Journalist Ballarat

• Disability inclusion in enterprise and employment 

  • Trudi Perkins, Areable

  • Bec Ware, Workforce Australia

• Panel discussion - accessible business and tourism

  • Travellers Aid

  • Sovereign Hill

  • HB Accessibility

• Morning tea and lunch provided

• Networking opportunities!

Who is this forum suited for?

This forum is for organisations, community groups, clubs and services based in or servicing the City of Ballarat and Grampians regions only. 

• All organisations and services providing direct support to people with disability

• Sports clubs, and associations

• Commercial sector, businesses and tourism businesses

• Community groups and volunteers

• Local leaders and advocates

• Public health and community health

• NDIS services

• Gender based violence services and community safety organsiations

Please note that two tickets are available per organisation.

Accessibility of the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility:

• Automatic doors with sensor to enter the building

• Lift access to the function space

• There are three designated accessible parking bays available in the two carparks adjacent Synthetic pitch 2 and 4, total of 3 .Within the Stadium pitch fence line there is no designated marked parking but drop off in the designated zone outside Gate 1 is available

• Accessible toilet and two ambulant toilets inside Male and Female bathrooms

• Baby change in Female bathroom and temporary baby change table in the accessible toilet

• Signage for public toilets and lift access

• Automatic doors to enter the function space and double wide door entry to the viewing deck and stadium

• Open gravel carpark next to facility. Carpark and access is generally flat. Distance to nearest nominated accessible carpark located adjacent main clubroom estimated distance of 150 meters.

• Open gravel parking area is accessed from Rubicon Street and does not access the function space directly. Is generally flat and provides access to synthetic pitch 2 only.

If you have any accessibility needs, please let us know in your registration!

Contact:

Please contact Meg Lawton, Community Inclusion Officer (Access and Inclusion) at meglawton@ballarat.vic.gov.au if you have any queries or questions about this Forum.

View the City of Ballarat Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (2022 - 2026) (easy read version and text only version) and the City of Ballarat Inclusion Framework (2022 - 2026).