ACCESS KEY
This access key contains all the following information on event accessibility and navigating the venue at Common Threads.
If you have any questions relating to accessibility information, please reach out to us.
The team member to contact regarding access and inclusion at Common Threads is Erica Ransley. You can reach Erica at erica@australianprogress.org.au or via info@commonthreads.org.au.
You can also message us through the Australian Progress Facebook page.
Click here to read a Word document version of this page.
Wheelchair access
All Common Threads venues are wheelchair accessible, with two exceptions:
The Pullman King George Square Level 3 courtyard area, which may be accessed during breaks
A portion of the event space at Sixteen Antlers, the Thursday evening social venue; the majority of the event space can be accessed step-free, including one bar/food service area
Please see below for more information on getting to and navigating the venue.
Hearing and sound amplification
There are no infra-red hearing kits available in the venue space at Common Threads. However, handheld microphones will be available to use in all plenary and break-out spaces, with roving microphones to amplify audience questions. We ask all speakers to use a microphone if one is available (even if you have vocal training/speak loudly normally).
Auslan or other interpretation
As Common Threads is by application, we will book Auslan interpreters based on participant need, so please indicate on your registration if you require Auslan interpretation. If you have already registered and did not let us know you require Auslan interpretation, please email us on info@australianprogress.org.au. We will work with you to organise interpreters, including taking into account any preferred interpreter lists you may have.
Parts of Common Threads will be livestreamed for participants who are unable to attend in person. There will be live captioning available during these sections. The link to view these live captions will also be available to people attending in-person, who may find captions useful.
If you require a form of interpretation other than Auslan interpretation e.g. Deaf/Blind Interpreters or live captioning for all programming, please let us know upon registering, or contact us at info@australianprogress.org.au by no later than 3 March 2023.
Service and assistance animals
Service and assistance animals are welcome at Common Threads.
Please don’t pet, distract, or take photos of assistance animals as they need to be able to concentrate on doing their jobs well.
Smoke and fragrances
The conference meeting rooms and all indoor spaces at Mercure/Pullman King George Square are non-smoking areas, as is Sixteen Antlers (the Thursday evening social venue). However, smoking is allowed:
On the Mercure/Pullman King George Square Level 3 courtyard area - one floor above the main plenary room, accessible via stairs or elevator (there is no step-free access to this courtyard)
Directly outside the Ann Street side entrance of Mercure/Pullman King George Square entrance, next to Goldfinch cafe
At King George Square, approximately 2 minutes walk from Mercure/Pullman King George Square. This is a public smoking area with ashtrays available near the Albert Street crossing.
We ask that participants limit your use of scented products if you can do so without negatively affecting your health. For those with asthma, migraine, and chemical sensitivities, fewer fragrances, vapours, and particulates make the conference a place we can attend. Common Threads is not, however, a fragrance-free conference. As the buildings used may have other patrons, we can’t guarantee it will be fully fragrance-free.
Companion Cards
Companion Card holders qualify for a complimentary ticket for their companion. Please contact us directly at info@commonthreads.org.au to arrange a free ticket.
Reading/printed materials
We will provide information about the conference agenda in various formats.
All program content will be available via the Common Threads website, published prior to the conference.
Some printed copies will be available on the day. We will only have a few to minimise environmental impact.
If you need a large print or Braille version, please contact us before 10 March 2023 at info@australianprogress.org.au.
Quiet Space
A section of the Olivers breakout room, on Level 2 of the Mercure/Pullman conference venue, will be marked as a Quiet Space for participants.
While there will be breakout sessions scheduled in the main Olivers space, there will be a buffer between these two spaces to reduce noise and provide a quieter experience.
First Aid
If you need immediate medical assistance during the event, come to the help/registration desk or if this is not possible please ask any volunteer or staff member. We will direct you to a qualified first aid officer and/or escort you there.
Additional information FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
The behaviour of everyone in the space shapes whether or not it is accessible. All members create a universally accessible event by paying attention to our own behaviour and attitudes. Here are some ways you can do this:
Elevators – convenience vs. necessity. If you can use the stairways to move between program floors, please do. If you can only travel down, that still makes an important difference. Some of us depend on the elevators to access the conference. The reason might not be visible (e.g. arthritic knees or limited breathing); or might be obvious (e.g. wheelchair or cane use) — but the need is still there
Because there will be small children at Common Threads, we may at times place bollards or other signage in front of the stairs, but they will always be accessible as needed
Maintain clear paths. Our events provide fantastic opportunities to talk, but clogged doorways and hallways make navigation time-consuming for all, and impossible for some of us. Tuck your belongings in front of your feet or under your seat. Remind members gathered in doorways or hallways of the need to share the limited space so all of us can move freely.
Additional information for panellists/presenters
Keep your lips visible for those who speechread
Use a microphone if one is available (even if you have vocal training)
If using PowerPoint or other presentation software please aim to use a standard slide layout, change your title every slide, and use alternative text (alt text) for images and objects, such as pictures, charts, and shapes because screen reading applications will read the alt text when an image is encountered in the document
Use a font size between 12 and 18 points for body text and larger font sizes if showing your presentation on a projector
Use high colour contrast for text in presentations or handouts. Low contrast may be difficult or impossible for colourblind or low vision users to read
Caption any video/audio content
Describe any images/charts you are using for the benefit of blind or low vision members (general descriptions are fine; describe any relevant details)
If you are using paper handouts, please also have an electronic version available as these help people who want enlarged text or who use screen reading software
Let people know if you will be using animations or other video content (particularly with rapid flashing/strobing) as they may be migraine/seizure triggers.
GETTING THERE
Venue location
Common Threads is held at Mercure/Pullman King George Square (Google map reference here). The venue is at the Corner Ann St and Roma St, Brisbane City QLD 4000.
Public transport
You will find public transport details at Translink (https://translink.com.au/), including a trip planner, timelines, and route maps. Alternatively, download the MyTranslink app.
Catch a train to Brisbane Central station and then take a 7-minute walk down Ann St to enter the venue. Alternatively, catch a bus to King George Square station, directly opposite Mercure/Pullman King George Square.
Parking
Some parking spaces are available in the Mercure/Pullman car park. Rates can be found here. If you need parking due to accessibility reasons, or need support to cover parking costs, reach out to us at info@commonthreads.org.au; a limited number of event car parking spaces are available for need.
The King George Square Car Park is also located very close by. Rates can be found here. We can’t guarantee that these parking spots will be available on the day.
Entering the Venue
There is step-free access to the foyer of Mercure/Pullman King George Square from both Ann St and Roma St.
The Roma St entrance opens directly to the main check-in desk. If entering via Ann St, the check-in desk will be directly ahead down a small corridor (with Goldfinch Restaurant/Cafe and the Mercure tower elevators on the right hand side as you walk in, and KG Bar on the left). There are automatic doors at both entrances.
Members of the Common Threads team will be in the entrance foyer during Thursday morning registration, and for any Wednesday evening arrivals, to assist with check-in/finding the summit rooms. We will be wearing black t-shirts with the summit logo. Please seek out a volunteer if assistance is needed. When we are not there, the main check-in desk will also be able to assist, and we will be reachable via phone.
There are a number of low seats in the waiting area around the check-in desk.
On the ground floor, there is also the Goldfinch Restaurant/Cafe, which offers breakfast for hotel guests as well as meals/coffee throughout the day, and the KG Bar, which will be the wet weather option if Sixteen Antlers is unavailable.
NAVIGATING THE VENUE
Common Threads is located across Levels 1 - 3 and rooftop of the Mercure/Pullman King George Square.
The venue is divided into two towers: the Mercure tower, and the Pullman tower.
The Pullman tower can be accessed via stairs/elevator to the right of the foyer when entering from Ann St. This area contains:
Level 2: Main access to the summit venue space including. event registration, plenary, and most breakouts
Level 3: Outdoor courtyard area for use during breaks
Some participant accommodation
The Mercure tower can be accessed via stairs/elevators to the left of the foyer when entering from Roma St (or the right-side when entering from Ann St, before reaching the main foyer area), directly opposite the RG bar. This area contains:
Level 1: Elevator access to the Olivers breakout room
Level 2: Elevator access to the Connaught and Norfolk breakout rooms
Rooftop: Sixteen Antlers bar (venue for the Thursday evening social event)
Some participant accommodation
Ground Floor
The ground floor contains the accommodation check-in desk, Goldfinch Restaurant/Cafe, and KG Bar.
Goldfinch Restaurant/Cafe has a street-facing desk for coffee and small snacks, or a sit-down section that can be entered from inside the Mercure/Pullman building. KG Bar is to the left when entering from Ann St.
Level One
Level 1 contains the Olivers breakout room. This space is on the Mercure side of the building. The Olivers breakout room is directly ahead when exiting the elevator, behind a large double door. There is a small inner corridor behind the door. The Olivers breakout room is to the left from here, and bathrooms (male and female) are directly ahead.
When entering the Olivers breakout room, there is a small corridor before opening up into the main part of the room. The Quiet Space is entered through the right of this corridor.
To exit back into the Level 1 Foyer from the Olivers breakout room, you will need to press the door button on the left side of the door. You do not need a key pass or passcode.
There is also a staircase which leads up to Level 2 and the Connaught/Norfolk breakout rooms.
Volunteers will be available to show the way from registration to the Olivers breakout room when going there from breaks or from plenary.
Level Two
Level 2 contains the registration desk, the common space where catering will be served, the children’s area, and the plenary room (which splits into the Kennedy, Roosevelt, and Lincoln breakout rooms).
When you exit the elevator, the registration desk is directly ahead.
The plenary room is located directly to the left when exiting the elevator. The plenary space has cabaret seating and a small raised stage at the far side for speakers. During breakouts, the plenary space will be split into three breakout spaces with dividing walls. These are (from left to right when entering from the elevators) the Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Kennedy rooms.
When the plenary room is split into three breakout rooms, the entrance immediately to the left of the elevators becomes the entrance to the Roosevelt room.
The common space is to the right when exiting the elevator, and wraps around behind/ahead of the elevator. There are a mix of couches with low backs and small tables with high seating through the space. During morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea breaks, food will be served here.
A corner of this area is sectioned off and has a dividing wall up to create a children’s space. More information about childcare will be provided closer to the event.
There are also charge points/wall sockets located at high and low levels in this space.
Continuing around further right, you will find a small alcove with more seating, and then the entrance to the Lincoln breakout room.
If you continue directly ahead when leaving the elevator, past the registration desk, the entrance to the Kennedy breakout room will be on your left. The production office will be on your right: this is where you can find the event team. It will also be a green room for speakers. In this same area past the registration desk, there are also the Level 2 bathrooms (one marked female, one marked male, and two single-stall accessible bathrooms), and a staircase down to Level 1.
There are two more breakout rooms on Level 2: the Connaught and Norfolk breakout rooms. These two rooms can be found either by taking the Mercure-side elevator to Level 2 or by walking through the small corridor at the back of the plenary-centre/Kennedy room. Volunteers will be available to show the way from registration to these breakout rooms.
Level Three
Level 3 contains the courtyard area.
The courtyard is directly to your left when exiting the elevator. There is a non-automatic push door and then eight steps up to the courtyard. There will be a number of outdoor chairs and umbrellas in this area. There are also two ashtrays here.
BATHROOMS
Ground floor: Toilets labelled “Men” and “Women” are located on the far side of the pre-function area when exiting the elevators. There are two single-occupancy accessible all-gender bathrooms on this floor.
Level 1: Toilets labelled “Men” and “Women” are located near the Olivers breakout room. There is no accessible all-gender bathroom on this floor.
Level 2: Toilets labelled “Men” and “Women” are located on the far side of the pre-function area when exiting the elevators. There are two single-occupancy accessible all-gender bathrooms on this floor.
Level 3: Toilets labelled “Men” and “Women” are located on the right when exiting the elevator. There is no accessible all-gender bathroom on this floor.
Rooftop: Toilets labelled “Men” and “Women” are located on the right when exiting the elevator. There is no accessible all-gender bathroom on this floor.
EVENING EVENTS
The evening party on Thursday will be held at Sixteen Antlers - on the top floor of the Mercure tower of Mercure/Pullman King George Square.
There is a step-free entrance to the Sixteen Antlers. A section of the rooftop space, including access to the pool area, is up a flight of five steps.
Use of the pool in the rooftop area is prohibited during the evening event. The pool area will also be marked as off-limits for all children during the evening event, and no glass is allowed in there as a safety issue.
There are two bathrooms (male and female) directly to the left when exiting the elevators onto the rooftop floor. For an accessible bathroom during the evening event, you will need to return to the ground floor of Mercure/Pullman King George Square.
On Friday evening there are no official events but there will be small gatherings at Sixteen Antlers and at The Mercure for anyone not flying out that evening.