Kings and Dicky beaches will soon be made more accessible for people living with disability.
For people living with disabilities, outings can be a daunting experience – not knowing what is where, how they might navigate their way in and out and what facilities, what equipment and support is on offer.
Enter Cérge, a local technology company dedicated to improving access and inclusion, even at the beach.
Cérge has worked with hotels, restaurants and events and has now joined forces with Sunshine Coast Council to improve interaction with Council spaces that showcase arts, entertainment, environmental activities, sport and recreation.
The effort will soon expand to include making Kings and Dicky beach more accessible.
Cérge has connected with Council’s Accessible Beach program and very soon a ‘visual story’ will be available to illustrate where and how to book and collect a beach wheelchair, how to use it and what to do on return.
A series of accessible tools have been developed so people can “know before they go” and understand venue accessibility ahead of time.
These can include a 360-degree Virtual Tour, Visual Story & Sensory Guide and Audio Guide.
Co-founded by Sunshine Coast locals, Victoria and Chris Kerrisk – Cérge addresses the lack of public information about venue accessibility and challenges in customer service perceptions.
It features a companion website for venues to display their accessibility features and an app that lets customers communicate their needs directly to staff.
Mr Kerrisk said Cérge served as a personal disability advocate aimed to enhance community participation and confidence for people with disability, carers and support workers, promoting a more inclusive community.
“The Cérge Companion websites are a plug and play solution for venues to make a stepped change in the publicly available information detailing accessible and sensory experience imagery and descriptions,” Mr Kerrisk said.
“We have been working across the region with the likes of White’s IGAs, Sunshine Coast Airport, Nambour Special School and a number of hotels, restaurants and event organisers.
“Community and sport venues are an exciting addition to the expanding list of locations involved in this supportive movement.
“It’s not about implementing costly infrastructure – Cérge delivers a series of innovative digital tools to improve and promote venue accessibility to help people with disability, and to help their carers.”
An All Access Day was last arranged at Dicky Beach on November 9 2024 and included the use of beach matting to allow wheelchair access to the water.
People of all ages can use beach matting, wheelchairs and life jackets for free, but bookings are required.
Community Portfolio Councillor Cr Taylor Bunnag said select surf life saving clubs provided the equipment on weekends and public holidays between September and May, with other arrangements sometimes available.
“Council is prioritising accessibility improvements at beaches and we’re proud to have developed our Accessible Beach Program in collaboration with our community partners,” Cr Bunnag said.
“The All Access Day at Dicky Beach and the Accessible Beach Program are outcomes of Council’s All Abilities Action Plan 2024-2028, working towards a more inclusive Sunshine Coast for people with disability.”
The Accessible Beach program is available through the Metropolitan-Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club, Coolum Beach Surf Life Saving Club, Mooloolaba Surf Life Saving Club and Dicky Beach Surf Life Saving.
A beach wheelchair and a beach walker are also available for hire from Compass Institute, Caloundra.
To book visit: www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/living-and-community/community-support/access-inclusion-and-disability/accessible-beach-program.
