International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) has launched its Accessible and Inclusive Events Guide, providing guidance and resources for event planners to help organise events that cater to everyone.
From an inventory of physical accessibility features at the venue, to advice on creating a welcoming experience for people of all abilities, the guide delivers on ICC Sydney’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and exemplifies its broader mission to provide accessible, equitable and inclusive events.
The new guide for event organisers complements the information and services provided to venue delegates via an accessible format on ICC Sydney’s website.
CEO of ICC Sydney and group director – convention centres, ASM Global (APAC), Geoff Donaghy, said: “At ICC Sydney, our ambition to be More Than A Venue carries through to our diversity, accessibility and inclusion approach. Attendees of every walk of life have the right to feel respected and valued, and we recognise the powerful role our customer service plays in this.
“Our aspiration to create the most accessible and inclusive environment for events means that every visitor feels welcome and can participate — and our new Accessible and Inclusive Events Guide, corporate culture and state-of-the-art amenities support event organisers to deliver this.”
Around 1.3 billion people worldwide experience disability today, and one in five Australians. On par with the broader Australian population according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 census data, approximately 5.5 per cent of all visitors to ICC Sydney’s live entertainment events require increased accessibility provisions.
Across ICC Sydney venues, physical amenities include low gradient, step-free access across all three interconnected venues – Convention Centre, Exhibition Centre and Aware Super Theatre; sensory-friendly rooms; accessible toilets; wheelchair-accessible parenting rooms; induction loop hearing augmentation system; and Braille on room door signage.
Australia’s largest disability-related event is the Sydney Disability Connection Expo, and its founder River Night said the Expo was ready to resume its place as the best-attended and most inclusive event in Australia.
“The support from the whole team at ICC Sydney has been exemplary. From event management services to logistics and exhibitor services, the venue team has been a real contributor to the successful planning of the most accessible and inclusive Sydney Disability Connection Expo. We look forward to providing an unparalleled platform for visitors to engage with disability service providers at this exceptional event.”
ICC Sydney Director of Human Resources, Luke Fleming said: “Our diversity strategy is aligned with the ASM Global ACTS framework and spans five key focus areas: Able @ Work, First Nations, Generation Success, LGBTQIA+, New Australians and Parents and Carers.
“As an employer of choice, we strive for visibility across these areas in our workforce and this, in turn, has ensured the successful delivery of events including the recent Sydney WorldPride Human Rights Conference, Premier’s Gala Concerts for Seniors, and the Source Kids Disability Expo.”
