Accessibility

Event: SYN Fast-Track Radio Training

General information

Contact name

Laura Green

Contact number

03 9034 1962

Travel instructions

SYN is accessible via motor vehicle, bicycle, tram, and train. Here are some details about parking and public transport access: Tram Stop 7 is right outside Building 12 on Swanston Street. Melbourne Central is one block south of SYN, and on the opposite side of Swanston Street. Street car parking is available on Cardigan Street Bicycle racks are available around campus, including outside RMIT on Swanston Street.

Entry instructions

Getting to SYN from Melbourne Central For wheelchair and mobility aid users, SYN can be accessed from Swanston Street or Bowen Street. Directions via Bowen Street from Melbourne Central Station are as follows: Exit Melbourne Central on the Swanston St side. Cross Swanston Street toward the State Library, then cross La Trobe Street so you are outside Building 22, Storey Hall (it has a ‘green slime’ roof over the pavement). Travel east on La Trobe Street (uphill) until you reach Bowen Street, which is the walking street on your left. Travel down Bowen Street passed Buildings 2, 4, and 6. You’ll see a tall rusty ‘Possum Skin Cloak’ sculpture and a cafe called Streat. If you look passed the sculpture, you will see the entrance to Building 8, where you need to enter. This is level 4 of the building. Enter via the yellow sliding automated doors and travel passed RMIT Connect and passed the escalators going upstairs. Turn right. Travel down the corridor until you reach the bathroom area on your left. Turn left and you’ll find the elevators behind the bathroom unit. Take the elevators down one floor, to level 3. Some elevators here only go up, so ensure you are taking one which goes down. There is one mobility access elevator here, and a handful of general access elevators. Travel out of the elevator and you will see the main hallway which take you through buildings 8-14 of level three. If you are looking for the SYN office (Media Collective, Building 12, Room 97), or the SYN Teaching Space (Building 12, Room 96), or Studio C, turn left. There is a bright red SYN banner outside the office. There is a hallway right before you reach the office, which is where the SYN Teaching Space can be accessed. It is the door on the left. If you are looking for Studios A or B (the live studio and main pre-record studio), turn right. You are looking for a room with a texted wood exterior. Turn right into the hallway and the first door on your left is the door to the green room and studios A and B. Note: Swipe cards are needed to access these spaces. If you don’t have a swipe card, please organise a volunteer or staff member with swipe card access to let you in, in advance of your visit. Directions via Swanston Street from Melbourne Central Station are as follows: Exit Melbourne Central on the Swanston St side. Cross Swanston Street toward the State Library, then cross La Trobe Street so you are outside Building 22, Storey Hall (it has a ‘green slime’ roof over the pavement). Travel north on Swanston Street until you reach RMIT Building 8. To the right of the stairs is an elevator. Take this elevator up to level 4. Between the revolving doors the RUSU Cafe is a sliding door. Enter through here. You are now on level 3, the level that SYN is located on. Continue on this level by passing the escalators on the left. There are yellow stickers on the floor pointing towards the Media Collective, which is the SYN, Catalyst, and RMITV office. Follow the yellow decals down the corridor. If you are looking for Studios A or B (the live studio and main pre-record studio), look for a room with a textured wood exterior on your left. Turn left into the hallway at the end of the wood-panelled room, and the first door on your left is the door to the green room and studios A and B. If you are looking for the SYN office (Media Collective, Building 12, Room 97), or the SYN Teaching Space (Building 12, Room 96), or Studio C, continue passed Studios A/B. After another 50m, there is a bright red SYN banner, outside the office. There is a hallway right before you reach the office, which is where the SYN Teaching Space can be accessed. Enter via the door on the left of that small corridor. To enter the office, go up to the door where the SYN banner is, and knock or swipe your card. Note: Swipe cards are needed to access these spaces. If you don’t have a swipe card, please organise a volunteer or staff member with swipe card access to let you in, in advance of your visit.

After entry instructions

Here are some general notes about getting around SYN: Once inside the building, SYN’s buildings are all located on Level 3 of Buildings 10 and 12 (conjoined buildings). This level is flat and wheelchair/mobility aid accessible via elevator (see above section: Getting to SYN) For security reasons, all SYN’s spaces are accessed via swipe card by SYN staff and volunteers. General RMIT students do not have swipe card access to SYN spaces. Most doors at SYN are push-pull doors, including: The SYN Office (Media Collective) Studio A/B green room Green room to Studio A Green Room to Studio B Non-wheelchair accessible bathrooms Automatic doors include: The SYN Teaching Space/Classroom (push the green button and it will open inward when on automatic setting) The closest wheelchair accessible bathroom in Building 14, Level 3 (push the green button)

Hazards

SYN has some quiet spaces available for volunteers if they feel overwhelmed, including: The SYN/RMITV meeting room, directly across from the Media Collective in Building 12. The SYN Teaching Space when it is not otherwise in use. There is also a small ‘meeting’ space at the back of the Media Collective. This is not private as it is only sectioned off via a half-wall and is next to the kitchenette, however it is semi-private and has comfortable chairs and beanbags available. Lights: SYN’s spaces in Buildings 10 and 12 are largely indoors, with only one window for natural light in the Teaching Space. All of SYN’s spaces have fluorescent lights. These can be dimmed upon request, but cannot be turned off entirely. SYN’s studios feature an ‘on-air’ light: when microphones are turned on in the studios, red LEDs lining the ceiling turn on. These are fairly dull, however could cause sensitivity for those who find flashing lights on/off lights disturbing. Sounds: Construction sometimes occurs around RMIT, and because of this there can be noise pollution within Buildings 10 and 12. Noises from students in the hallways. Studios: sometimes music/audio playback can be quite loud, but can be adjusted using the panel. Evenings: Often there are dance lessons during the hours of 5-8pm on level 2 directly below SYN. This can be very loud, even in the office with the door closed. Office/Media Collective: Most ambient noise in the office is workplace discussion or small meetings. Alarms: Occasionally evacuation drills are held at RMIT. These alarms can be very loud in the small office and studio spaces. They sound like ‘beep-beep-beep’ as a warning and ‘whoop-whoop-whoop’ as a sign to evacuate.

Toilet location

There are bathrooms just down the hall from the Media Collective in Building 14, next to the Makerspace (on the right if heading toward the Building 14 exit). There are gendered toilets with stalls, including one ambulatory stall There is a wheelchair accessible bathroom with a push-button opening system and braille on the sign outside Directly upstairs in buildings 12 and 8 are gender neutral stalls and more wheelchair accessible bathrooms. Take the elevators in level 10 up to level 4, exit and turn right or left, and follow the signs toward the bathrooms.

Accessible parking

RMIT’s commercial car park in Building 91 (110 Victoria Street) is independently managed by Care Park. Care Park can be contacted at cpsales@carepark.com.au or 03 9682 1733. Car park is open daily 6:30am to 10:00pm. If you prefer the flexibility of street parking, the City of Melbourne offers more than 3000 parking bays throughout the central business district. Please be aware that these parking bays are subject to enforced parking restrictions. For public parking in accessible spaces, please visit the City of Melbourne website: https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/parking-and-transport/parking/parking-permits/Pages/disability-parking-permits.aspx

What else?

SYN welcomes carers, family, friends and support workers into our spaces. We can also arrange an Auslan interpreter with notice. Still have questions about access at SYN? Contact: Laura Green - Community Manager - 03 9034 1962 - laura.green@syn.org.au Is Hay - Raise the Platform Facilitator - is.hay@syn.org.au