Accessibility at Parliament

Use this page to help plan your visit to NSW Parliament House. If you need help with entry, security screening, seating, hearing support, wayfinding, or another access requirement, contact us and we’ll help you plan ahead.

Contact us (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm):

Phone: (02) 9230 2111

Email Legislative Assembly: Assembly@parliament.nsw.gov.au

Email Legislative Council: LC.Clerk@parliament.nsw.gov.au

If you are attending an event or function at Parliament, please contact the event organiser.

Entry to NSW Parliament House

NSW Parliament House is located at 6 Macquarie Street, Sydney.  

All visitors enter from Macquarie Street and pass through security screening. If you have access requirements that may affect screening (for example, if you use a mobility aid or have a pacemaker), tell security staff when you arrive so they can assist.

Directions and transport options to and from NSW Parliament House

Accessibility information

Wheelchair and mobility access

There is ramp and lift access from the Macquarie Street entrance to Reception on level 7. Security officers will direct you to the entrance and a staff member will meet and escort you into the building.

Parliament House has:

• Flat access to the Macquarie, Jubilee, McKell and Preston Stanley Rooms on level 7
• Flat access to the Public Café and Strangers Dining Room on level 7
• Flat access to the Theatrette on level 6
• Accessible lifts from Reception on level 7
• Carpets with a short, dense pile

Entering the Chambers

If you use a wheelchair or have accessibility requirements and you wish to enter the Chambers to watch Question Time or other proceedings, please contact the House staff before your visit:

Legislative Council: (02) 9230 2319

Legislative Assembly: (02) 9230 2219

It is a condition of entry to the public galleries that all personal belongings, including mobile phones, must be cloaked. Visitors will undergo additional security screening on entry to the public galleries.

For people who are blind or visually impaired

There is signage with raised-letter s in some publicly accessible areas of Parliament House.

You can also use BindiMaps, an accessible wayfinding app that provides audio, map and text directions to public areas (for example, the Long Bell Café, toilets and Strangers’ Restaurant). The app includes routes for wheelchair users and people with a vision impairment.

Assistive listening technology

There are three types of assistive listening technologies in the parliamentary precinct: Auracast, induction coils and infrared (IR).

Auracast and Induction (hearing) loops:

Auracast uses Bluetooth® to broadcast audio directly into devices such as hearing aids or headphones. The Induction loop system transmits sound from a public address system directly to hearing devices with telecoil function. Auracast and Induction loops are available in the following rooms:

• Visitors’ Galleries of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council Chambers
• Macquarie Room
• Jubilee Room
• McKell Room
• Preston Stanley Room
• Parliamentary Theatrette

If your device is not compatible with Auracast, please ask staff for a receiver. The Education Centre is equipped with an induction loop only.

Infrared (IR):

Infrared (IR) assistive listening systems transmit audio from a sound source to receivers worn by users. Please ask staff for a receiver or headphones. Infrared assistive listening is available in the following rooms:

• Strangers’ Function Room
• Members' Dining Room

You can also contact NSW Parliament House using the National Relay Service (NRS), an Australia-wide phone service for people who are deaf, have a hearing impairment and/or have a speech impairment.

Guide dogs and assistance animals

We welcome guide dogs and other assistance animals at Parliament House. Please ensure you have your animal’s accreditation pass available to present to staff on entry.

Accessible toilets

There are accessible public toilets on levels 6 and 7 at NSW Parliament House. A Changing Places (Lift and Change) facility is available on Level 6, near the Theatrette.

Facilities for parents

There is a Parents Room on Level 7 in the Fountain Court, near the accessible toilet. It is a private space with a baby change table, a comfortable chair for breastfeeding, a sink and a microwave.

Parking for people with disabilities

If you have a Mobility Parking Scheme Permit and you are visiting Parliament to participate in committee proceedings, attend a function, or as a guest of a member, accessible parking may be available (subject to space). Please request parking well in advance through the relevant committee, member’s office, or function organiser.

If you have an accessible parking booking, a staff member will meet you in the car park and escort you into the Parliament building.

Participating in committees

We are committed to ensuring everyone can participate in committee proceedings. If you have accessibility requirements, please contact the committee as early as possible so we can make the arrangements. Each committee's contact details are listed on their page; just click the committee name and then the ‘Contact us’ tab. View all committees.

Accessible documents

Parliamentary documents, including committee transcripts and submissions, are published on our website in PDF format. If you use a screen reader and require documents in an accessible format, please contact the committee officer.

Visual story for Year 5 and 6 students

We've created a visual story for students in Years 5 and 6 who are visiting the Parliament of NSW for the first time, developed in consultation with Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT). View and download the PDF.

Hidden Disabilities Sunflower

Parliament is proud to have joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program. Wearing the Sunflower is a way for you to voluntarily indicate you have a hidden disability or health condition and might need extra help, understanding, or just more time.

We encourage you to wear your Sunflower lanyard when attending Parliament. You can also collect one at our Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council reception desks to wear during your visit.

NSW Parliament staff wearing Sunflower supporter badges have been trained to recognise the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower symbol and will help if needed.

Sensory environment

The Parliament of NSW is often busy and noisy. Public areas may have:

• Bell sounds calling members to the chambers
• Large groups of people
• TV displays with sound