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This Action Plan reflects a range of initiatives to improve accessibility across all aspects of what we deliver. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight four key actions that will have a significant impact on accessibility – reviewing the scope of the Accessible Transport Advisory Committee’s (ATAC) advice, refreshing the Transport Accessibility Strategic Framework, addressing assistance animal handler refusals, and delivering more accessibility services through the Parkville Station pilot.

Early and ongoing engagement with all users is key to ensuring our investments meet the needs of all Victorians. The Victorian Government continues to amplify the voice of people with disability.

I would like to thank ATAC and the Chief Accessibility Advocate, Tricia Malowney OAM, for providing their ongoing expertise and advice to Government on how accessibility can be improved across our transport network.

I look forward to continuing to work with such strong advocates so that we can continue to deliver accessible outcomes.

This Plan’s vision and actions brings to life our commitment to advancing accessibility and improving the lives of all Victorians.

It will require collaboration by all working in the transport, planning, building and housing portfolios to deliver meaningful access to our infrastructure, systems, and services.

Gabrielle Williams
Minister for Transport Infrastructure
Minister for Public and Active Transport
Lead Minister, Department of Transport and Planning

This approach ensures that the Government’s substantial investment in new and upgraded infrastructure makes it easier for all Victorians to get out and do the things they want to do, to travel to work, engage in social activities and go about their daily activities.

We have made significant progress to improve accessibility outcomes since the release of the former Department of Transport’s (DoT) Accessible Public Transport Action Plan 2020-2024. Here are a few key achievements, we have delivered so far:

• 70 High Capacity Metro Trains that service the Pakenham/Cranbourne and Sunbury corridors, designed with accessibility groups, members of the public and technical stakeholders
• Accessibility improvements to 20 regional train stations, including at Warrnambool, Waurn Ponds and Traralgon stations
• 12 level access tram stops along LaTrobe Street, adding to those constructed in Parkville, and on St Kilda and Glen Huntly Roads
• 259 bus stop accessibility upgrades, and
• Upgrades to information provision to support whole of journey planning.

While not captured in the Accessible Public Transport Action Plan 2020-2024, our planning group collaborated with the building and construction industry, and disability advocates to transition to the new minimum accessible housing standards that came into effect through the National Construction Code.

This has set us up to continue improving accessibility across transport, planning, land, precinct, and policy functions through actions outlined in this Accessibility Action Plan 2025-2029: Thriving Places and Connected Communities.

Delivering this action plan requires ongoing coordination across DTP. Our aim is to build an accessibility culture across the transport and planning portfolio to integrate accessibility and respond proactively to the needs of people and communities.

I look forward to continuing our journey together with our people and partners to continue progressing accessibility outcomes in Victoria.

Jeroen Weimar
Secretary
Department of Transport and Planning

Former members of ATAC over the period of the previous action plan include Mark Tomkins, Sarah Barton, the late Kevin Murfitt AM, Mark Glascodine, Katherine Marshall, and Jeffrey McNeill.

Members reflect a diverse range of lived experiences of disability and have encountered various barriers across the transport network and built environment. Our experience enables us to provide advice on what helps us manage these barriers as we go about our day-to-day activities.

Engaging people with disability early in projects, whether that be ATAC, disability organisations or members of the community with disability is key to delivering accessible outcomes that meet the needs of all people.

I am proud of the significant contributions ATAC has made across a breadth of public transport projects. We have collaborated with teams across DTP and consistently advocated to improve accessibility outcomes.

We have participated in mock-up testing and provided advice on the Next Generation Tram, X’Trapolis 2.0 train, public transport ticketing project and the Metro Tunnel project.

We have advocated and advanced accessibility outcomes through the tram refranchising process and at new station builds. ATAC completed a work reference on the impact of planned and unplanned public transport disruptions, focusing on accessibility for people with disability.

We have also commenced advising on transport components of broader planning and precincts work, such as Plan for Victoria, and have shared insights to Infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year Strategy refresh.

Leading into the development of this Action Plan, ATAC contributed to the Transport Accessibility Strategic Framework (the Framework). The vision, objectives and principles of the Framework sets out DTP’s approach to address accessibility gaps and improve transport experiences for all.

While developed in a transport context, the Framework can be applied to all departmental work so that the biggest accessibility barriers are removed first. Importantly, as the Framework was co-designed with people with disability, we are confident that it reflects the perspectives and priorities of the whole disability community.

ATAC has worked with DTP to embed the voice of people with disability in this action plan and will play a key role in monitoring implementation.

I look forward to continuing this work through ongoing and open dialogue so that the needs of all community members, including those with disability are reflected in the design and delivery of policies, services, conveyances and infrastructure.

Liz Ellis, Chair, ATAC

There is an opportunity to translate these practices to other work, such as our major infrastructure projects so that we can consistently deliver accessible outcomes for the community.

This action plan demonstrates DTP’s commitment to embedding accessibility and using all available levers to achieve inclusive outcomes.

A critical part of this is accountability, ensuring that progress on all actions are tracked and reported on, and outcomes are evaluated. All areas of DTP are responsible for delivering their actions to improve accessibility.

It is essential that people with disability are engaged early in the planning process and throughout the lifecycle of a project so that solutions are inclusive and effective.

Building accessibility into everything that we do reduces the need to retrofit solutions at the end. I will support business areas to realise their actions and look for opportunities to uplift knowledge and capabilities.

We know that barriers continue to exist for people with accessibility needs when traveling on our transport network, navigating the built environment, using government information and technology, and accessing appropriate housing.

We must do more to engage with people with accessibility needs to shape our strategies, plans, and major projects.

Accessibility is embedded in all aspects of our work, whether in policy, planning, design, construction, delivery, compliance, or any other area across DTP.

It is a shared responsibility, and by prioritising it in everything we do, we can create a more inclusive and accessible system for all.

I look forward to continuing my work over the next three years and consolidate key connections and the further expansion into the planning portfolio to provide for inclusive, accessible, and affordable housing and integrated land use.

Tricia Malowney, OAM, Chief Accessibility Advocate DTP