Access Key – Melbourne DefendOurNDIS rally & march

We have put together this information to the best of our ability as of May 17. 

If we can get better info will update this page. 

Unfortunately we were unable to secure Auslan interpreters after a late cancellation. We apologise for the inconvenience. 

When and where 

• Thursday May 19, 2022. 
• Start: 11 am AEST, outside 367 Collins Street, Melbourne. 
• End: 12 pm AEST, outside 15 William Street Melbourne. 

You can find more info or register from Eventbrite.

At the start of the rally as people come together there will be 

• a union choir singing 
• some talks 
• some chanting 

Elly will be our MC. She will be talking into a microphone and this will come out through a big portable speaker. 

Then other people will take turns to talk for about 3 minutes each. It will be people with disability, advocates, lawyers, and politicians. 

Other people there will be:

• someone filming for the livestream
• people taking photos and videos for Every Australian Counts 
• journalists and reporters and camera and sound people  
• politicians 

People in the rally will be able to listen and join in from the footpath and if we need more room we might spill onto the road too. 

Once the speeches are finished the group will walk, march or roll from the NDIA to the AAT. This will be on the street. We think it will take about 10 minutes. 

Half of the road will be closed off for safety. 

The crowd will be directed by marshals, who will be using megaphones as needed. They will be wearing fluoro colours so they’re easier to see. 

The crowd will move down Collins Street. We will cross roads at Queen Street, Market Street and William Street where we will then turn left. 

The route is a bit uphill at the start then slightly downhill. It gets a bit steeper going down William Street. There is more info about gradients from the mobility tab in this interactive map. 

These streets have 

• ordinary bitumen on the roads
• tram tracks in the middle (but we will stay away from the trams) 
• cark parks next to the footpaths
• some parts may have some paving or bluestone near the gutters 
• other parts have cement barriers to mark bike lanes or as a pedestrian break

The footpaths have:

• smooth bluestone tiles that can be slippery when it’s wet
• Tactile Ground Surface Indicators at intersections 
• crossings at big intersections with sounds to say when you can cross

Sometimes there will be shade or shelter over the footpath. 

Here’s a link to the weather prediction for the day.

Please think about what you would like to have with you if it is rainy or cold (umbrella, coat, grippy shoes, etc). 

Getting there/home 

Trains 

The closest train stations are Flinders Street Station and Southern Cross Station.

The first meeting point at 365 Collins Street is about a 500m walk from Flinders Street Station, if you leave from the Elizabeth Street exit.

Trams 

The first meeting point at 365 Collins Street is near tram stops on Swanston St, Elizabeth St, and Collins St.

• For Collins St trams (routes 11, 12, 48, 109), the nearest stops are #5 or #3.
• For Swanston St trams (routes 1, 3, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, 72), the nearest stop is #2

Driving

There are lots of paid car parks in the city, and some street parking.

But it can be expensive and take a long time to find. If you have a mobility parking permit you may be able to park close by, but this will depend on availability. 

City of Melbournehas info about accessible parking here.

Ride shares (like Uber’s and taxis) may be able to drop you out of the front of the building. 

First stop – 367 Collins Street (aka Optus Centre)

This is what the front of the NDIA building at 367 Collins looks like. 

Image description: Tall building, with glass walls. Telstra payphone booth out the front. There are 2 poles and a tree out the front, where scooters and bicycles are parked. 

Second stop – 15 Williams Street 

This is what the front of the AAT building looks like from across the road. 

During the rally and march 

Sound 

There will be a choir at the start.

People will be talking for 20 or 30 minutes, using microphones.  

Marshalls and people leading chants might be using megaphones. 

It will be loud. 

Marshalls 

We will have some experienced Marshalls from helping us on the day. 

They will 

• help to keep people safe and move along the route 
• be wearing orange high visibility vests 
• have megaphones to direct people 

COVID safety 

• We want everyone to be able to take part safely. Positive cases are very high in Melbourne at the moment. 
• People with disability are at higher risk of bad things if they catch COVID. We want everyone to do their best to be COVID safe.
• Please bring and wear your own mask if you are can. N95s are more effective than surgical masks and surgical masks are better than cloth masks. 
• We know some people can’t wear masks. Can you wear a face shield? 
• We will have some hand sanitiser and a limited supply of masks for people who need them. 

You want to think about other things too: 

• Physically distance yourself from other people, except those that are known to you as being COVID safe 
• Not shaking hands, hugging, sharing drinks or engaging in long face-to-face conversations. 
• Please stay hydrated and bring drinking water 
• Are you sick or have any signs of COVID? It would be better to stay home, get tested, and get tested.
• Please don’t remove your mask to talk unless you really have to. And remember to keep it over your mouth AND nose.  

We can’t guarantee everyone you will be near is vaccinated or does not have COVID or other germs. 

The most important thing is that you are safe and well, and so are the other people you spend time and space with. 

Toilets

Public accessible toilets close by are at

•  Flinders Street Station
• Queensbridge/Flinders Streets 

Changing Places 

There is a Changing Places facility located in the building Collins Place at 45 Collins Melbourne.

It is on the ground floor. It is accessible by the Sofitel Driveway.

Acknowledgement of Country 

This event will take place on the unceded land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We would like to pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge that this land was violently invaded, that colonisation continues to this day, and that sovereignty was never ceded.