Access and inclusion initiatives

The City of Stirling in partnership with RECHARGE Scheme Australia, have allocated dedicated recharge points for electric wheelchairs and gophers at the following locations:

• Stirling Libraries - Dianella, Inglewood, Mirrabooka, Osborne and Scarborough
• Stirling Leisure - Nollamara Community Centres
• Stirling Leisure - Mirrabooka
• Mirrabooka Square Shopping Centre
• Westfield Innaloo shopping centre
• Karrinyup shopping centre.

If your business is interested in the scheme, please phone our Customer Contact Centre.

The City’s Stirling Leisure - Inglewood has a portable pool hoist which enables access to the 25-metre indoor lap pool and the 50-metre outdoor pool. 

For more information on the pool hoist, visit the About our pools page.

Quiet space

Stirling Libraries - Osborne

To assist our customers with diverse sensory needs we are creating a calmer and quieter environment in the library.

Every Friday, 9.30am - 11.30am.

Earmuffs and sensory resources

Stirling Libraries - Osborne

The earmuffs are available for use in the library, for both adults and children who are sensitive to noise and may feel overwhelmed during their visit.

Sensory Sing and Play

Stirling Libraries - Dianella and Scarborough

Sensory sing and play is an inclusive program of songs and sensory play based learning in a small group setting. 

Please visit Library membership and services page for further details and information on earmuffs and our sensory sing and play program.

The City is now a participant of the Sunflower Hidden Disabilities initiative, which helps to support and raise awareness of those living with a hidden disability. In Australia and New Zealand, 1 in 5 people are said to have a disability and 85% of these are hidden. 

Established in 2016, The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme is about helping people with disabilities that are not immediately obvious such as autism, chronic pain, dementia, anxiety, visual or hearing impairment, and assist them in attaining the understanding, patience and assistance needed when going about their daily lives. 

Under the Hidden Disability Sunflower Initiative, community members with hidden disabilities can choose to wear a lanyard, pin or wristband bearing a sunflower logo as a subtle way of letting City Staff know that they may require additional support, assistance, or a bit more time when visiting City hubs.  

Sunflower lanyards, pins and wristbands are available to customers for free at City of Stirling Libraries and Administration Centre.  

In addition to making the Sunflower lanyards, pins and wristbands available to community members with a hidden disability, customer-facing City Staff are receiving training identify the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower to better support our customers who may require additional help. 

For more information, please contact the Social Impact and Policy team accessandinclusion@stirling.wa.gov.au  

To book the beach wheelchair please ensure you read the Beach Wheelchair safety use and instructions below before making a free booking.

The beach wheelchair is stored in a cabinet on the Scarborough Beach foreshore - lower level. To access the beach wheelchair, a free booking must be made. Please ensure you read the Beach Wheelchair safety use and instructions prior to booking.

The beach wheelchair cabinet is accessed using a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK). As part of your hire of the beach wheelchair, you are welcome to store your existing wheelchair in the lockable cabinet while you use the beach wheelchair.

If you are a Companion Card holder, you can receive a free key from the National Disability Services (NDS).

If you do not have your own key, you can access one from the Scarborough Beach Pool Reception during business hours.

People with a disability are able to purchase an MLAK key that will open all doors, toilets, playground equipment, and other facilities fitted with a lock that uses the special MLAK cylinder. For further information, visit the Master Locksmiths website.

Where do I go?

The beach wheelchair cabinet can be found at the bottom of the stairs at Scarborough Esplanade. View the map to find out more.

As part of your beach wheelchair booking, you are entitled to access a restricted accessible parking bay. This bay is accessible via the C-Breeze Kiosk carpark, northern end, and then drive across the boardwalk into the restricted area. This parking is limited to your booking time only.

Beach wheelchair instructions and terms

Safety information

All participants and carers are responsible for their own safety and must be aware of the following guidelines:

All universal beach rules must be followed at all times. These include:

• Swim between the yellow/red flags
• Sun safe message: 'slip, slop, slap'
• The beach is a public place, and therefore all other patrons’ rights must be respected.

On sand

• Max safe weight loading for this product is 100kg
• Care must be taken when using the wheelchair over uneven or unsteady ground
• Care should be taken in hot weather as the metal frame and armrests can heat up and lead to burns
• It is recommended to transfer on flat ground for increased stability
• Users should not try this product on their own. It is designed to be pushed by someone other than the person sitting in it
• The wheelchair may become unstable if the user has a disability that creates excessive movement or rocking motions
• The front castors rotate 360 degrees and make turning easy to maneuver
• To apply the park brake: steady the chair, release the parking brake/anti-tip bar assembly manually from the nylon clip, and swing down towards the rear wheels. Lifting the locking bar upwards releases the park brake
• The front footrest is adjustable for angle and height using the locking handles that are fitted on either side of the front pivot frame. This is done by turning the locking handles on either side in an anti-clockwise motion and then locking in position by moving the handles in a clockwise direction. The front footrest can be taken off by removing the two spring-loaded drop latch pins
• Armrests can be raised to a position of 90 degrees from the horizontal, allowing for easier transfers
• The chair is not designed to move up and down stairs whilst loaded.

In water

• If entering the water and you are unable to swim, you must be accompanied at all times
• It is advisable to wear a life jacket and follow all surf lifesaving instructions, such as entering the water in a patrolled swimming area
• FreeWheeler is stable with water levels at around the center height of the wheels
• The FreeWheeler has balloon tires which tend to be buoyant depending on the weight being carried
• By taking the chair into deeper water, it must be noted that the chair will float and become unstable, requiring considerable effort in controlling its stability
• The wheelchair may become unstable if the user has a disability that creates excessive movement or rocking motions
• Caution needs to be taken in environments where there is a chance of wave action, as unexpected movement of the chair is a risk factor for users
• Wave patterns, wind strength, type of beach, and underwater formations can all affect the use of the chair.

Be safe and enjoy the beach!

Accessible parking bays

There are multiple accessible parking bays along the Scarborough precinct.

Please visit Scarborough parking for more information.

Changing Places facilities

The City has two Changing Places facilities, based in Scarborough: one at the Surf Life Saving Club and the other at the Scarborough Pool. Changing Places facilities enable people to participate by providing adjustable adult-sized change tables, a ceiling hoist system, a centrally located toilet, circulation space for wheelchairs, automatic doors, and a privacy screen. Facilities can be accessed using a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK). Additional locations and further information are available on the Changing Places website.