‘Out & About’ now on Android

Villa Maria’s free Out & About – Accessing your community app helps people find accessible venues and events across Melbourne with the touch of a finger.

It’s designed to assist people with a disability or mobility limitation, their families and carers, to better access their community and plan a great day out.

The app – described as an Australian first – has been available on iTunes since it was launched at the Out & About Family Fun Day at Albert Park last December. It has been downloaded for iPhone more than 2,500 times and now has more than 2,000 events and venues listed.

With the move to Android, the app is expected to grow significantly, giving users even more information and choice when heading for a day out.

Venues include places like theatres, cafés, restaurants, galleries, beaches, parks and gardens. Events can include concerts, festivals, exhibitions and more.

Users can filter information based on their own accessibility needs, leave feedback to help other users and rate the venue by answering two simple questions.

Out & About Ambassador, Tim Ferguson, says the app is also the perfect way for a business to show how disability friendly they are.

“I certainly never knew how many people with disabilities there were until I started using a walking stick. Suddenly, I realised how many people were walking around with sticks or were in wheelchairs and how many people were visually impaired with assistance dogs,” he says.

“To me that’s a customer base. If I was running a restaurant or nightclub or cinema, whatever it might be, I’d be thinking of all those customers.

Villa Maria’s executive manager marketing, Rebecca Ryan, says the more people who use the app, the more useful it will be to everyone.

“With the app now available on Android, more people can have access to this information and suggest other events and venues that could be included,” she says.

“As a community powered tool, it’s a great way for people to inform other users about the accessibility features of places and events around Melbourne and regional Victoria.”

The app is available free from the Google Play store.