Perth Airport has announced two new Service Animal Relief Areas, one in Terminal 1 and one in Terminal 4 – ensuring passengers travelling with assistance animals have a smooth journey.
Perth Airport’s Chief Commercial Officer, Kate Holsgrove, said Perth Airport was committed to making travel more accessible for all passengers and that these new facilities would improve travel experiences significantly.
The design elements of the new service animal relief areas include:
- Wall mounted water bowl
- Signage (including braille)
- Distress assistance/cleaning assistance call button connected to the Airport Control Centre
- Paper towel dispenser and waste receptacle
- Accessible wash basin with shroud and mixer
- Wall mounted soap dispenser
- Audio instructions activated by a push button
- Surface mounted waste receptacle
- Wall mounted dog waste bag dispenser
- Non-slip, removable astro-turf
- Slip resistant floor finish
- Retractable wall mounted hose unit
“We’re continually looking at opportunities to improve access for people travelling with a disability and the new facilities are part of our commitment to making our airport more accessible for all,” Ms Holsgrove said.
“When people with service animals travel, they are obviously keen to ensure that their animal is cared for in the best possible way, whether that be pre or post flight.
“The locations of the new facilities have been chosen to allow quick and easy access, particularly while waiting on baggage or following the check-in process.”
Perth Airport’s Access and Inclusion Customer Reference Group has provided valuable feedback and advice on the travel experience and suggested improvements which could be made to infrastructure and operations at Perth Airport.
“The purpose of the Perth Airport Access and Inclusion Customer Reference Group is to advocate for accessibility, discuss barriers to inclusion and improve the customer experience for people with disabilities,” Ms Holsgrove said.
“The group has allowed us to work together to create a more inclusive airport for Western Australia. We thank everyone involved who has helped us with this project, in particular VisAbility, Blind Citizens WA, and People with Disabilities WA.
“We are committed to continuing these consultative forums to discuss the issues and barriers that people with disabilities experience while travelling.”
David Voscanos, Accessibility Specialist at VisAbility, said that the new areas provide passengers with service animals a more private and fit for purpose facility which will improve the travel experience for people with disability.
Erica Webb from Blind Citizens WA said, “It has been great working with the Perth Airport team on this initiative and we look forward to participating in other future projects to improve access for all at our airport.”
Greg Madson from People with Disabilities WA, said that the new areas were a great initiative and provide some additional certainty that his service animal, Memphis, will be more comfortable and happier on his journey when he travels to and from Perth.
In addition to a number of customers, the following organisations are represented on Access and Inclusion Customer Reference Group:
- Department of Communities
- National Disability Services
- Melissa Northcott, Ability Centre Australasia Ltd Board Director
- VisAbility
- Muscular Dystrophy WA
- People With Disabilities (WA)
- Blind Citizens WA
- Autism WA
- Council on the Ageing
