Australian Orphanage Museum
Highlights
- Explore over 2,000 authentic items that reveal the complex histories of growing up in Australian orphanages.
- Engage with diverse narratives presented respectfully, allowing care leavers to share their own powerful stories.
- Wander through the museum's interactive centre, designed to educate visitors about this significant chapter in Australian history.
- Visit the Australian Orphanage Museum in Geelong, a unique attraction that fosters understanding and empathy within the community.
The only one of its kind in Australia, the Australian Orphanage Museum (AOM) is dedicated to exhibiting authentic social histories about the experience of growing up in orphanages, children’s homes, missions and other institutions, including foster care, in Australia. The museum comprises over 2,000 items, many of which have been donated by care leavers during their time in institutional care.
The diverse exhibits and narratives are presented in ways that respect the rights of Care Leavers to present their own accounts – and to tell the true stories of the vulnerable people that endured a dark chapter in Australian history.
Established by the Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN) to preserve and share this history for future generations, the Australian Orphanage Museum is accessible to everyone in the community.
Images and Video
Accreditations
- Visitor Information Centre
Features
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
General access
- Offers multiple options for booking – web, email, phone is available.
- Offers a range of contact methods for receiving complaints.
- Employs people with disabilities.
- Staff are trained in disability awareness.
- Accessibility information and photos, including of a bathroom, room and/or floor plan on their website (can be emailed on request).
- Asks all visitors if there are any specific needs to be met.
- Advise tour guides of the access needs of guests at the time of booking (includes pick up and drop off requirements)
Communication
Welcomes and assists people who have challenges with learning, communication, understanding and behaviour. (includes people with autism, intellectual disability, Down syndrome, acquired brain injury (ABI), dyslexia and dementia)
- Uses Plain English / easy read signage and information (includes menus and emergency information)
- A quiet space is available at the venue/ facility.
Vision
Caters for people who are blind or have vision loss.
- An appropriate area for toileting an assistance dog is available.
- Handrails on all stairways
Hearing
Caters for people who are deaf or have hearing loss.
- TVs with captioning option is available.
Physical – Mobility
Caters for people with sufficient mobility to climb a few steps but who would benefit from fixtures to aid balance. (This includes people using walking frames and mobility aids)
- Uses non-slip tiles in the bathroom or slip resistant matting
- Grab rails in the bathroom
- Seating in common areas including reception area
Physical – Wheelchair
Caters for people who use a wheelchair.
- Step free outdoor pathways (includes picnic areas, barbecues and shelters)
- A doorbell or intercom at an accessible height and display a contact number (accessible height is 900mm-1100 mm)
- A step free main entrance to the building and/or reception area (includes ramps or slopes with a maximum gradient of 1:14, otherwise are too steep for wheelchairs)
- Step free access to restaurant, lounge and bar
- Step free access to the conference or function room
- Accessible seating areas in theatrette
- A wheelchair accessible toilet / shower and change room is available.
- At least one wheelchair accessible parking space with wheelchair accessible signage clearly displayed (International standards are 3200mm wide x 2500 mm high).
- Wheelchair accessible transport options available in the general vicinity (provide information on name of the operator, phone and website link to individual providers for private vehicles, community transport train, mini vans, hire cars, buses, taxis, ferry, tram, light rail etc in their access statement).
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