Friday, 23 October 2026
** Images are available for download here **
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) has announced its accessibility and inclusion offerings, integrated into the infrastructure and customer experience design from the outset as Australia's first major greenfield airport in more than 50 years.
WSI's state-of-the-art terminal includes sensory spaces, multi-faith prayer and quiet rooms, hearing loop technology, pet relief areas, accessible family rooms, support areas for people with reduced mobility, and accessible wayfinding throughout the airport.
Accessible access to arrival and departure areas is important in supporting safe, convenient and independent access between transport services and terminal facilities. This is why WSI has dedicated kerbside accessible bays close to the terminal for both drop-off and pick-up.
WSI CEO Simon Hickey said delivering an airport for people of all abilities was an important consideration across WSI's design.
"We are proud to deliver spaces, technology and nation-leading facilities throughout our airport that are designed to make the travel experience less stressful, more accessible, and a dignified experience for people of many abilities, beliefs and preferences," he said.
"There are purpose-built facilities like our sensory spaces, multi-faith rooms and pet relief facilities, which offer passengers control, choice, safety and inclusion. Then, there are elements integrated across our design, including a lift at every gate to ensure the careful and safe carriage of wheelchairs down to tarmac and onto the aircraft.
"The WSI terminal has been designed around a digitally enabled passenger experience that caters to different communication needs, with information available through multiple formats including hearing loop technology, terminal displays and digital platforms. These facilities and technologies are designed to enable more members of the community to travel comfortably and confidently through the airport."
WSI's Access and Inclusion Strategy was developed in consultation with industry bodies and community groups, including speciality disability partner Get Skilled Access, the Australian Disability Network and Diversity Council Australia. This engagement has assisted in identifying potential barriers, better understanding the needs of passengers with disability, and enabling training of staff to support passengers with a diverse range of needs.
Co-CEO of Get Skilled Access (GSA) Zack Alcott said travel should be accessible to everyone.
"WSI has demonstrated a genuine commitment to understanding the needs of people with disability and embedding inclusion throughout the passenger experience," he said.
"We are proud to have supported the development of its Access and Inclusion Strategy, helping create an airport where more people can travel with confidence, independence and dignity."
WSI's Access and Inclusion offerings include:
- Dedicated sensory spaces in both the international and domestic terminals are therapeutically designed spaces that go beyond a traditional quiet room and support travellers experiencing anxiety or sensory stress to reset, recharge and continue their journey with confidence. Designed by specialist firm Creative Sensory Spaces, WSI's rooms provide a calming multisensory environment designed to support a broad range of sensory profiles. This includes colour-changing light effects, meditative music and sounds, relaxation loungers and more.
- Pet relief rooms for both arriving and departing passengers with accredited assistance animals, which are thoughtfully and playfully designed to provide animal wellbeing, safety and support, and allow these passengers to travel with greater independence and confidence. These rooms are wheelchair accessible and include artificial grassed relief areas, water bowls, waste bags and handwashing facilities.
- Multi-faith, quiet rooms, and ablution rooms for travellers of all faiths to pray, meditate or quietly reflect during their journey. Adjacent ablution rooms support ritual washing and spiritual preparation for faith practice.
- Hearing Loop Technology allowing travellers with hearing aids or implants to hear live announcements and PA messages. People can use the AFILS system by switching their hearing aid or cochlear implants to T switch or telecoil position.
- Family rooms that support parents and carers to feed, change and care for infants in comfort, in private, welcoming spaces. These include curtained spaces with comfortable armchairs, built-in change tables, sinks, microwaves, and zip taps with instant hot and chilled water.
- Changing places supporting travellers with complex disability and high support needs to travel with confidence and dignity via safe and accessible bathroom facilities in both arrivals and departures. This supports people requiring additional space, equipment and carer assistance beyond the standard accessible toilets, conveniently located throughout the airport terminal.