Moving More Than People: WheelAway's 16-Year Accessibility Mission

For 16 years, one family-founded company has been quietly transforming what it means for Australians living with disability to attend major sporting and cultural events — not as an afterthought, but as equal participants.

The problem that still needs solving

Australia's accessible tourism market is enormous — $6.8 billion in domestic travel value in a single quarter — and 86% of international travellers say accessibility influences where they choose to go. The economic case is clear. Yet the lived reality for many Australians with disability remains frustrating: only 63% of people with disability could use all forms of public transport with no difficulty in 2022, and a further 11% were unable to use public transport at all. (AIHW, 2024)

At major events, the barriers compound. Camera crews occupy accessible seating. Accessible seats get given away. Wheelchair-accessible transport to venues is patchy at best and people who don’t really need it, take on spots designed for wheelchair users. For the 5.5 million Australians, 21.4% of the population, who live with disability, attending a Grand Prix or the Australian Open can feel less like a right and more like an obstacle course.

Born from experience, not assumption

WheelAway was founded by a family with members living with disability. That distinction matters. Where many transport providers approach accessibility as a compliance checkbox, WheelAway treats it as a core identity. Their understanding isn't theoretical — it shapes every booking, every driver interaction, every vehicle design choice.

The result is a service that customers describe not in transactional terms, but in personal ones. Staff are mentioned by name in testimonials. Customers call them "family" and "friends." That kind of loyalty doesn't come from a vehicle — it comes from being genuinely understood.

4.8 / 5from verified customer reviews

"Excellent service, vehicle and ease of use. Would recommend them over wheelchair-accessible taxis any day."- Verified WheelAway customer

"The effort and care taken by our driver Hermann and the ease of communication with Diane was much appreciated." - Verified WheelAway customer

"We understand the deep-rooted complexities and difficulties of living with a disability." — WheelAway team

Sixteen years of major event experience

WheelAway's track record at Australia's most prestigious events is unmatched. They aren't occasional contractors; they are integrated, official partners whose contact details appear in event accessibility documentation.

One MotoGP customer described the flexibility that sets WheelAway apart:

 "We called them up when we wanted to walk right around the track and they came." That's not a shuttle service — it's a genuine companion service, responsive to how people actually want to experience events.

A fleet built for real-world accessibility

WheelAway's vehicles aren't adapted as an afterthought — they're purpose-configured for accessibility. Every vehicle includes hydraulic lifts or aluminium ramps with spring assistance, four-point wheelchair locking systems, comprehensive insurance, and eTag. Drivers are experienced specifically in the disability sector.
 

Service options that put you in control

WheelAway understands that independence and support aren't opposites. Whether you want the freedom of the open road or a driver who stays by your side all day — not just for the drop-off — there's an option built for how you actually want to travel.

Self-hire — Take the wheel yourself. Unlimited kilometres, insurance and eTag included, no strings attached.

Vehicle + driver — An experienced, disability-sector driver who stays with you for as long as you need. No drop-off and disappear.

Event hire — Specialist transport to and from Australia's major events and venues, with the logistics handled for you.

Day tours — Accessible tourism experiences that open up Victoria and NSW, designed around your pace and preferences.

Corporate hire — Professional, reliable service for businesses and organisations that take accessibility seriously.

Driving systemic change, not just vehicles

WheelAway's influence extends well beyond their own bookings. Over 15 years, they've witnessed — and helped drive — a measurable shift in how Melbourne approaches accessible events. Today, sporting event organisers proactively approach WheelAway to help them become more accessible, rather than waiting to be asked.

Their partnerships with Metro Trains, Yarra Trams, government departments, and healthcare organisations speak to their role as an integral part of Australia's broader accessibility ecosystem — not a peripheral service, but a foundational one.

"We aim to assist people to have a better way of life and to create a fully inclusive country."

For event organisers, tourism operators, and individuals across Victoria and NSW, WheelAway represents something more than reliable transport. They're partners in a vision of Australia where mobility never limits participation.

Book your accessible transport today: 📞 1800 133 320 📧 [email protected] 🌐 wheelaway.net.au** 📞 1800 133 320 📧 [email protected] 🌐 wheelaway.net.au

REFERENCES:

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024, September). Transport system accessibility. Australia's Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework: 3rd annual report. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-disability-strategy/australias-disability-strategy-outcomes-framework/contents/inclusive-homes-and-communities/transport-system-accessibility

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024, April 23). People with disability in Australia 2024: Summary. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/contents/summary