Accessibility at Blazing Swan
Blazing Swan is for everyone. We want as many people as possible to be able to participate, explore, create, and enjoy the experience.
Blazing Swan takes place in a temporary city in a rural and remote environment, which can present some unique accessibility challenges. We do our best to identify barriers, provide practical support, and help participants plan for their individual needs.
Accessibility means different things to different people. If you have an access requirement, we encourage you to get in touch with the Accessibility Team before the event so we can understand what support may be available.
Assistance Animals
Assistance animals are welcome at Blazing Swan, but must follow an application and approval process with our Accessibility Crew.
Because the event takes place in an outdoor environment with large crowds, vehicles, art installations, music, fire, and other potential hazards, participants bringing an assistance animal should carefully consider whether the environment is suitable for their animal.
Further information about assistance animals, requirements, and planning for your visit is provided in the Survival Guide.
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Yes: assistance animals that meet the Disability Discrimination Act's definition are welcome at Blazing Swan, provided you follow the steps below
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Pets are not permitted at Blazing Swan, so every assistance animal must be pre-registered.
Email our Accessibility Lead as soon as possible at accessibility@blazingswan.com.au to begin the process. -
Working dogs: Send proof that your dog is an Approved Assistance Dog
Cardholder, or state which DDA clause it works under. If it's Clause (C), include the required dossier.
Non-canine assistance animals (medical bio-monitors or psychosocial support): Email the Accessbiliity Crew the DDA clause your animal works under, plus the standard dossier of proof: its task list, training level, how it helps you, and some background on you and your animal.
Not sure if your animal qualifies? If it's highly trained and alleviates your disability, contact us for an assessment: the sooner the better.
New to taking your animal out in public? Let us know and we'll help you prepare.
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Before Blaze, email a species-specific veterinary health certificate to accessibility@blazingswan.com.au, covering:
Relevant blood tests
Faecal floats, including zoonotic risks
Worming and vaccinations, up to date
This is a higher bar than a standard supermarket Public Access Test. Blaze happens on working farmland, and in some areas people are packed in tightly, so we need to rule out anything that could spread to the land, other animals, or other participants.
Need a vet?
Ask us for a list of WA specialists who can issue this certificate -
If you bring an assistance animal, you must ensure:
It doesn't pose a risk to any person or other assistance animal
Its health and safety at all times
It stays under your control (or that of someone you know), generally on a leash/harness or in a suitable enclosure
Technology & Recording Devices
Technology that helps people navigate, communicate, participate, or manage their individual needs is welcome.
This can include accessibility technologies such as hearing devices, communication aids, mobility technology, or wearable devices such as smart glasses.
However, technology that includes cameras, microphones, recording, or other data-capture capabilities still needs to be used respectfully and must be applied and approved prior to attending. When used, it must be in accordance with Blazing Swan's Photography & Filming guidelines. Accessibility needs do not remove other participants' rights to privacy and consent.
If you're unsure whether a particular device or technology is appropriate, contact the Accessibility Crew before the event.
Getting Around
The event site is a temporary outdoor environment, so the terrain is typically uneven, dusty when dry and muddy and sometimes flooded when wet.
Participants should consider their individual mobility and access needs when planning their visit. Some areas, activities, camps, and art installations may have different levels of accessibility.
Where practical, Blazing Swan’s Accessibility Crew works with participants and event teams to identify ways to reduce barriers and improve access.
Planning Ahead
The more we know before the event, the better we can help.
If you have accessibility requirements, take some time to consider what you'll need to participate comfortably and safely. This might include mobility, communication, sensory, medical, dietary, or other access requirements.
The Survival Guide contains more detailed information to help you plan your event, and our Accessibility Survival Guide helps provide more detailed information, including practical accessibility considerations and preparation.
Need Help?
If you have a question about accessibility that isn't answered here or in the Accessibility Survival Guide, get in touch with the Accessibility Crew.
We're happy to listen, answer questions, and work with you to find practical solutions wherever possible.
Accessibility is a shared responsibility. The more we understand the different ways people experience Blazing Swan, the better we can make the event for everyone.