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Through Steve’s eyes: everything I don’t have to worry about when I visit PHIVE
PHIVE is built on the idea of access for all. It’s a place where everyone can feel welcome, supported and included. For Steve Toomer, who uses a scooter, that commitment makes everyday visits simple.
Here’s how PHIVE makes accessibility part of every visit.
Getting in and around is easy
Arriving at PHIVE via the new, wheelchair-friendly Parramatta Light Rail, the first thing Steve notices is that all public entrances to PHIVE are wheelchair accessible, with wide turning circles, ramps and lifts linking every floor. Automatic sensor doors at every entrance remove the need to depend on others, making coming and going smooth.
“Some places are so cluttered it’s hard to navigate, but here at PHIVE it’s easy,” Steve says. “There’s heaps of room to move around.”
If you need any assistance, PHIVE’s uniformed Customer Service and Library staff can be found throughout the building, easy to locate, and always ready to lend a hand.
Desks and counters designed for everyone
On the Ground Floor, the Customer Service desk includes a lowered section without a barrier so conversations for people in wheelchairs, short-statured or needing to be seated happen at eye level.
“It sounds small, but it makes a huge difference,” Steve says. “Sometimes I’d have to yell across a counter, but here I can chat without feeling uncomfortable.”
Library checkout counters are also height-adjustable to suit all visitors.
Bathrooms and changing facilities
Accessible toilets are available on every floor, and PHIVE also provides a fully equipped Adult Changing Facility on the Basement Mezzanine, accessible by lift from any floor. Ramps and sensor-assisted doors support ease of access.
“The ramp up to the bathroom on Ground Floor makes a big difference,” Steve says. “Everything feels thought through.”
Parents and carers are supported too, with a dedicated Parents Room near the Children’s Library on Level 1, pram parking nearby, and pram access on every floor.
A place to study, work or simply be
The Library offers spaces for every style of working: pods for focus, open tables for collaboration, and quiet zones for deep concentration. Raised window desks make it easy for scooter and wheelchair users to pull up comfortably—with the bonus of a great view.
Alongside the Library, you’ll also find tech-enabled rooms, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and Publique Eatery on the Ground Floor for when you need a break.
Inclusive technology
For visitors with hearing needs, PHIVE features a Wi-Fi hearing augmentation system. Connect through your smart device (or borrow one from the Ground Floor Customer Service desk) and you’ll be able to tune into enabled meeting rooms, the Library Amphitheatre and more.
At a glance:
- Wheelchair-accessible entrances, ramps and lifts across all levels
- Accessible toilets on every floor
- Fully equipped Adult Changing Facility (Basement Mezzanine)
- Parents Room near the Children’s Library (Level 1) + pram parking
- Automatic sensor doors at every public entrance
- Lowered service desk and height-adjustable library checkouts
- Wi-Fi hearing augmentation system across key spaces
- Raised library desks designed for scooter and wheelchair users
- Assistance animals welcome
Plan your visit
PHIVE is for everyone, with spaces to move, places to rest, and assistance on hand if you need it. Ready to see it for yourself? See our Visiting PHIVE page to find everything you need to plan your visit, including a Visual Story to help you picture what to expect when visiting PHIVE.