Changing Places

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:02): My question is to the Minister for Human Services about an initiative for people living with a disability. Can the minister please provide an update to the council on the progress of the rollout of Changing Places toilets and the marvellous Marveloos in South Australia, and can the minister please outline the significant benefits for people living with a disability?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her interest in this area. Can I start by paying tribute to the Hon. Kelly Vincent, who was a strong advocate for Changing Places in South Australia. I also acknowledge that, through her advocacy, $1.7 million was committed by the former government to develop 15 Changing Places toilets and to purchase two transportable Marveloos.

Changing Places provides an accessible toilet design, including a height-adjustable, adult-sized change table, a tracking hoist system, non-slip flooring and increased space to accommodate a person in a wheelchair and up to two carers. Clearly, they are for people with significant disabilities to enable them to receive services in dignity, as opposed to facilities that are not up to scratch. I think that all of us who are parents, who may have experienced changing their child on a toilet floor, know that it is really not ideal. So, as part of the inclusion and extending services to people with disabilities, it is appropriate that fully accessible Changing Places are rolled out in this state.

While there are currently no facilities built to Changing Places specifications in South Australia, there are some close to these standards, including at the Elizabeth City Centre, the Adelaide Central Market and the Adelaide Aquatics Centre at North Adelaide. On 5 January 2018, it was announced that four new Changing Places would be built at Adelaide Oval, Rundle Mall, the new U City development on Franklin Street and at Glenelg. It was also announced that the state government would purchase two Marveloos for major public events, which are accessible toilets that meet the same standard as Changing Places, and are transportable.

I am pleased that Changing Places contracts have been finalised with the City of Adelaide for a facility in James Place, with a contribution of $100,000 from the state government, and the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority, with a contribution of $50,000. A further announcement was made on 31 January this year that funding would be allocated to the regional councils of Mount Gambier, Victor Harbor, Port Lincoln and Whyalla for the 2018-19 year. A grants process is planned for the remaining two years of Changing Places funding.

In May 2018, all local councils were invited to submit an expression of interest to manage a Marveloo. An industry brief was held on 18 September to inform interested councils and not-for-profit organisations about applying for funding to manage a Marveloo, and a request for proposal was opened on the Tenders SA website and closed on 16 October 2018. The evaluation team is going to meet this month to assess their applications. Again, I thank the honourable member for her question and look forward to the further rollout of these important facilities.