What’s happening?
With more than one in five Australians living with disability, accessibility in transport and tourism is increasingly in focus. For island and coastal communities, ferry services such as SeaLink play an essential role. The operator has rolled out digital and physical upgrades designed to make travel easier for people of all abilities.
Why it matters
An estimated 5.5 million Australians, or 21.4% of the population, live with disability. Accessible websites, terminals, and vessels are vital for residents and visitors who rely on ferries for everyday travel or leisure. Improvements in design and technology help ensure people can navigate services with greater confidence and comfort.
By the numbers
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5.5 million Australians live with disability, representing more than one in five people.
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40,000 online issues fixed across SeaLink websites in the past year through accessibility tools.
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95% accessibility score achieved online, compared with the 80% industry benchmark.
Zoom in
Accessibility improvements are being made at ferry terminals and on vessels. These include wheelchair-friendly ramps, accessible toilets, priority boarding, and trained crew to assist customers with additional needs. Smartphone commentary for visually impaired guests and translation options on selected vessels demonstrate how travel can be more inclusive.
SeaLink is also part of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Program, recognised across major Australian airports and transport networks. The program signals when a passenger has a non-visible disability and may need extra assistance, helping staff and other travellers respond with greater understanding.
Upgrades have already been applied to parts of the fleet, including gangway ramps and handrails for passengers needing stability support. Purpose-built accessibility is being integrated into new vessels. The Odyssey, in South East Queensland, features a chair lift and a fully accessible restroom. Looking ahead, the new $57 million Kangaroo Island ferries will include lifts to all levels, accessible layouts throughout, and dedicated pet lounges for assistance animals.
Zoom out
Alongside physical upgrades, SeaLink has invested in digital accessibility. It has integrated the UserWay tool across all customer-facing websites. The widget, accessed via an icon in the bottom-left corner, allows visitors to personalise their experience by adjusting text size, contrast, fonts, and navigation. It also supports screen readers, dyslexia-friendly fonts, and real-time translation into 50 languages, with Chinese, Japanese, and Italian among the most frequently used.
Over the past 12 months, UserWay has helped identify and fix nearly 40,000 Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) violations. These international standards are designed to ensure websites are navigable and understandable for people with vision, hearing, mobility, or cognitive impairments.
Phil Boyle, Executive General Manager of Customer, Sales and Marketing at SeaLink, said addressing WCAG requirements is key to inclusive travel. “At SeaLink, our goal is to meet guests where they are, whether that means language, ability, or location,” Mr Boyle said.
“By improving accessibility across our websites and ensuring people can navigate them confidently, we’re making it easier for everyone to plan and enjoy a brilliant experience,” he added.
Local impact
For communities connected by ferry, these upgrades improve access to essential services, work, leisure, and tourism. More inclusive travel means residents and visitors with mobility, vision, hearing, or cognitive impairments can move with greater ease.
What to look for next
The launch of new vessels and continued upgrades will show how accessibility can be embedded into everyday transport. For local travellers, the focus will be on how these changes enhance independence and make journeys more inclusive.
