Changing Places toilets in Australia: where they are, and what to check before you go

What a Changing Places facility is

Changing Places Australia describes these as toilets that are “larger than standard accessible toilets which provide people with disability and high support needs access to suitable, safe, and private bathroom facilities.” The difference from an ordinary accessible toilet is the equipment, not just the floor area.

Australia’s National Construction Code sets out the accessible adult change facility that underpins a Changing Place. In practice a Changing Places room includes:

• an adult-sized, height-adjustable change bench a carer can raise and lower;
• a ceiling track hoist giving full room coverage;
• a centrally located (“peninsula”) toilet that can be reached from either side;
• drop-down support rails; and
• enough clear floor space for a wheelchair user and up to two carers.

A standard accessible toilet is designed for an independent wheelchair user and has none of the change bench or hoist. That is why a Changing Place matters so much to the people who need one, and why “there’s an accessible toilet nearby” is not an equivalent answer.

Where they are, state by state

The counts below are live figures from our own database — 321 Changing Places facilities nationally. Browse them all on the national Changing Places page, or open a state. The official Changing Places map lists more and is the authoritative national register.

Before you go: the checklist that actually matters

This is the part that catches people out. A map pin telling you a Changing Place is “installed” at a location does not tell you whether you can get into it this afternoon. Run through these questions for the specific facility before you rely on it — our data cannot answer them, and the details vary from one room to the next.

Access arrangements really do differ. The Australian Museum, for example, tells visitors to “request the access to this facility from any AM staff, security or from the admission desk” — no personal key needed, but only while the museum is open. A council-run room in a park may instead sit behind an MLAK lock and be available at any hour to key holders. Confirm which model applies to the facility you are heading to.

What our data can and cannot tell you

We want to be straight about this. Our listings flag that a Changing Places facility exists at a location. They do not reliably record its opening hours, whether it needs an MLAK key, how you reach it after hours, or which hoist sling it accepts. Treat our counts and pins as a starting point for planning, not as the final word on access.

For authoritative, facility-by-facility detail — hours, key requirements and features — use the official Changing Places map, and when in doubt, ring the venue before you set out.

Related guides and tools

• All Changing Places facilities in our directory
• MLAK key guide — the key that unlocks many secured Changing Places rooms.
• Accessible and MLAK toilets across Australia
• 24-hour toilets · Emergency toilet finder

Frequently asked questions

What is a Changing Places facility?

A Changing Places facility is a larger accessible bathroom for people with high support needs who cannot use a standard accessible toilet. On top of a toilet, it provides an adult-sized height-adjustable change bench, a ceiling track hoist, and enough space for the person plus up to two carers. Changing Places Australia describes them as “larger than standard accessible toilets” providing “suitable, safe, and private bathroom facilities.”

How is a Changing Places toilet different from a standard accessible toilet?

A standard accessible toilet is designed for an independent wheelchair user. A Changing Places facility adds the equipment that a standard accessible toilet lacks: an adult-sized height-adjustable change bench, a ceiling hoist, a centrally located (“peninsula”) toilet reachable from both sides, and room for two carers. Australia’s National Construction Code sets these out under its accessible adult change facility requirements.

How many Changing Places facilities are there in Australia?

Our directory currently flags 321 toilets across Australia as Changing Places facilities: 136 in Victoria, 60 in New South Wales, 44 in Queensland, 42 in Western Australia, 27 in South Australia, 6 in Tasmania, 4 in the ACT and 2 in the Northern Territory. This is what appears in our data; the official Changing Places map lists more and is the authoritative national count.

Do I need an MLAK key to use a Changing Places facility?

Sometimes. Many secured Changing Places rooms open with a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK), but plenty of others are unlocked during a venue’s opening hours or opened by staff on request. There is no single rule, so check the individual facility before you travel. Our data does not record which rooms need a key, so confirm it with the venue or the official Changing Places map.

What should I check before visiting a Changing Places facility?

That it exists is not the same as it being usable when you arrive. Before you go, confirm whether a key (often an MLAK) is required, the actual opening hours, how you physically reach the door after hours, and whether you need to bring your own hoist sling. Our directory flags that a facility exists but not these operational details, so verify them with the venue or the official Changing Places map.

Does a Changing Places facility provide a sling for the hoist?

Generally no. The ceiling hoist is the lifting motor and track; slings are personal equipment and are usually not left on site for hygiene and correct-fit reasons. Plan to bring your own compatible sling unless a specific facility confirms it provides one.