Sydney WorldPride
Sydney WorldPride was proud to be support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower programme across their events which took place from 17 February - 5 March. Sydney WorldPride offered free lanyards to people living with hidden disabilities and/or chronic illnesses.
The Sunflower programme is a globally recognised symbol for hidden or non-obvious disabilities. By wearing the Sunflower lanyard, it enables people with hidden disabilities the choice to let the people around them know, so they have access to any support they may need such as additional help, understanding, empathy, guidance, or patience. This may mean the person can’t stand for a long time in the queue to use the bathroom, may need the use of an accessible bathroom, patience when their order is being taken, may need fast-tracked support, more time to move around (i.e. due to pain or mobility challenges) or can feel overwhelmed, sensory overload or stressed out in large crowds and loud environments.
If you already have an existing Sunflower lanyard from a previous community event or programme, please bring it along and wear it to any and all Sydney WorldPride events you are attending, and they will be accepted.
If you don’t already have a Sunflower lanyard, you are more than welcome to get one at one of the pick up points where a volunteer or staff member will be able to assist you.
Westfield shopping centres
Westfield shopping centres across Australia and New Zealand are now all proud participants in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme which helps to support and raise awareness of those living with a hidden disability. In Australia and New Zealand, 1 in 5 people are said to have a disability and 85% of these are hidden.
Under the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme, Westfield customers with non-obvious disabilities can choose to wear a lanyard bearing a sunflower logo as a subtle way of letting centre teams and retailers know that they may require additional support, assistance, or a bit more time when visiting Westfield.
The Sunflower lanyards are now available in all centres across Australia and New Zealand.
Visit the friendly concierge team on your next visit or navigate your way to Plan > Centre Services > Accessibility on the website, to find out where you can pick up a free, Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard in centre.
In addition to making the Sunflower lanyards available to customers and colleagues with a hidden disability, Westfield are training their teams and retailers to identify the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower so they can better support customers who may require additional help.
Palmerston North Airport
Palmerston North Airport in New Zealand have joined and are training their staff to prepare for their launch.
Airports are very busy environments and can be stressful for many people. If you are visiting Palmerston North Airport in New Zealand and have a disability that is not immediately obvious, such as autism, dementia, a hearing impairment, anxiety, or one of the many invisible disabilities, you may want to wear a Hidden Disabilities Sunflower lanyard during your time there. Palmerston North are in the process of joining the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, but in the meantime, their team will recognise the lanyard if you are wearing it and know that you may need a little extra help or time at the airport.
Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
Take a ride on the Skyrail Rainforest Cableway just outside of Cairns in Queensland and immerse yourself in the sights, sounds, smells and tranquility of one of the world’s most botanically fascinating areas that has remained relatively unchanged for 130 million years.
Sunflower wearers can enjoy a truly unique perspective of this ancient landscape with panoramic views of Barron Gorge and Australia’s Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, secure in the knowledge that staff at the Skyrail are on hand to support them.