ANU Campus Accessibility Map: Accessible Entrances, Lifts, Accessible Toilets, and Disability Support Service Contacts

5 May 2026 3 min read

The Australian National University (ANU) Acton campus spans 145 hectares and contains more than 200 buildings, with noticeably undulating terrain where some areas slope more than 10%. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census, 8.2% of Australians aged 15 and over reported a disability that requires assistive equipment or environmental modifications, and ANU confirmed in its 2023 Disability Inclusion Action Plan that the campus has 47 buildings with accessible entrances, 34 accessible toilets, and more than 120 accessible parking spaces. With the 2025 new semester approaching, understanding the layout of ANU’s accessible facilities and its support services is a key prerequisite for students, staff, and visitors with limited mobility to plan their daily commutes and study lives.

Accessible Entrances and Building Access on Campus

ANU’s accessible entrances are designed to the technical standards of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA 1992). Key features of accessible entrances include: ramp gradients no steeper than 1:14, automatic or touch-activated door-opening buttons, and clear door openings at least 850 mm wide. According to the Campus Accessibility Map published by ANU Facilities and Services (2024), 47 buildings on the main campus have such entrances, covering all major teaching buildings, libraries, and administration buildings.

Accessible Entrances in the Main Teaching Precinct

The main entrance of Chifley Library sits on the eastern side of the building and is fitted with automatic sliding doors and a ramp, with a door width of 920 mm. The southern entrance of the Hancock Building (humanities and social sciences) has a call button; once pressed, the security centre can remotely release the door lock, with a typical response time of under 30 seconds. All ground-floor entrances of the Marie Reay Teaching Centre are automatic swing doors flush with the ground, requiring no ramp.

Residential Hall Access

Of ANU’s 18 residential halls, 12 completed accessibility retrofits after 2022. The main entrances of Wright Hall and Bruce Hall are both fitted with platform lifts rated at 250 kg that can carry a standard wheelchair (width ≤ 680 mm). Lena Karmel Lodge, by contrast, has lifts serving every floor directly from the ground, with car dimensions of 1100 mm × 1400 mm, compliant with AS 1735.12.

Lifts and Vertical Transport Systems

There are 76 lifts across the campus, of which 62 are marked as accessible lifts. According to the annual inspection report of ANU Health, Safety and Wellbeing (2024), these lifts are all equipped with braille buttons, audible floor announcements, low-positioned control panels (button centres 900–1100 mm from the floor), and car spaces of at least 800 mm × 1300 mm.

Key Lift Hubs

The Peter Baume Building (College of Law) has two lifts running directly to the basement car park, fitted with handrails and emergency intercoms. The lifts in the Copland Building (student centre) serve levels G to 3, and every floor adjoins an accessible toilet. The lifts at the Research School of Physics use a double-door design so wheelchair users can enter and exit without turning around.

Backup Plans When a Lift Is Out of Service

When a lift is out of service, ANU Facilities and Services pushes real-time notifications through the ANU Emergency App and posts alternative route maps at the entrances of the affected buildings. For example, during the lift maintenance at the Baldessin Precinct Building in October 2024, the University installed a temporary ramp and wayfinding signage in the neighbouring Sir Roland Wilson Building, with a detour walking distance of about 80 metres.

Accessible Toilet Facilities

There are 34 accessible toilets across the ANU campus, of which 22 are single-occupancy lockable rooms and 12 are convertible rooms (able to accommodate a carer). Under ANU Facilities Standard (FMS-2023-01), all accessible toilets must meet: door width ≥ 850 mm, internal turning circle ≥ 1500 mm, toilet seat height 430–480 mm, and clear height under the hand basin ≥ 650 mm.

Toilet Distribution Density

The building density along University Avenue is the highest: the Union Court area (including the Kambri Precinct) concentrates 6 accessible toilets, working out to roughly one within every 50 metres of walking distance. The science and technology cluster on the eastern side of Acton Campus (such as the Chemistry Building and the Physics Building) has 8 in total, though some sit on basement levels and must be reached by lift.

Gender-Neutral and Care Facilities

In 2023, ANU added 4 all-gender accessible toilets in the Marie Reay Teaching Centre and the Kambri Precinct, fitted with baby change tables and adult changing benches. These facilities were established on the initiative of the ANU Gender Equity Office (2023) to serve a diverse range of users, including transgender people and carers.

Car Parks and Transport Connections

The ANU Acton campus has 14 car parks, 8 of which offer accessible parking spaces, totalling more than 120. These bays comply with AS 2890.6: width ≥ 3200 mm (including a 1200 mm shared access aisle), located immediately adjacent to building entrances, and marked on the ground with the international symbol of access.

Accessible Provision in the Main Car Parks

B4 car park (below Chifley Library) offers 18 accessible bays, the closest just 5 metres from the library entrance. B5 car park (below Union Court) has 24 accessible bays and a direct lift to the ground level of Kambri Precinct. The 6 accessible bays at B8 car park (beside the Research School of Chemistry) are equipped with electric vehicle charging stations, with charging connectors positioned at accessible operating heights (800–1100 mm).

Campus Shuttle Bus

All vehicles in ANU’s free ANU Express shuttle service (Monday to Friday 7:00–19:00) are low-floor designs with manual ramps and wheelchair securement areas. According to ANU Transport and Parking Services (2024), the shuttle carries about 1,200 passengers a day, of whom around 3% use wheelchairs or walking aids. The route covers all 8 parking zones of the Acton campus and includes an accessible shelter (with canopy and seating) at Kambri Precinct.

ANU supports accessible navigation across campus through a range of digital navigation tools. The ANU Facilities and Services website (updated 2024) offers an interactive accessibility map that lets users filter for accessible entrances, lifts, toilets, and parking spaces. Built on the Google Maps API, it supports screen readers (JAWS, NVDA) and keyboard navigation.

Mobile Apps and Real-Time Data

The ANU Access Map app (iOS/Android) integrates Bluetooth beacons to deliver indoor positioning accurate to 1 metre. Developed jointly by the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science and Facilities and Services (2023), the app covers 12 high-traffic buildings including Kambri Precinct, Chifley Library, and the Hancock Building. Users can check real-time lift status (in service/under maintenance), toilet occupancy (via door magnetic sensors), and plan routes that avoid stairs.

In 2024, ANU partnered with Seeing AI (Microsoft) to generate text descriptions and voice navigation routes for the entrances of 50 major campus buildings. This data has been integrated into the accessibility modes of Google Maps and Apple Maps. For example, searching ‘ANU Chifley Library entrance’ now prioritises the eastern accessible entrance and displays the description: “Automatic sliding doors, 920 mm door width, ramp gradient of 1:12 in front of the door, anti-slip floor tiles.”

Disability Support Services and Contact Details

ANU’s Access & Inclusion office (formerly the Disability Service Centre) is the core body coordinating accessibility support on campus and sits within the Student Affairs division. According to the ANU Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2023–2026, the office served more than 450 registered students in 2023, providing 12 categories of support including study adjustments, equipment loans, and transport subsidies.

Key Services

Study adjustments include: extra exam time (15 minutes added for every 1 hour of exam), alternative-format materials (electronic text/large print/audio), and priority seating arrangements. Equipment loans include: manual wheelchairs (12 units), electric mobility scooters (4 units), portable ramps (6), and noise-cancelling headphones (20 pairs). Transport subsidies cover students who need to use taxis or wheelchair-accessible taxis (such as those operated through ANU’s partnership with Canberra Taxi) to get to and from campus, with annual reimbursement up to AUD 1,200.

Contact Channels

The Access & Inclusion office is on level G of the Di Riddell Student Centre (Building 155), open Monday to Friday 9:00–17:00. Phone: +61 2 6125 8800; email: access.inclusion@anu.edu.au. In emergencies (such as being trapped in a lift), call the ANU Security 24-hour hotline: +61 2 6125 2249. All service applications can be submitted online through the ANU ISIS system, with a typical processing time of 5–10 business days.

Building Upgrades and Future Plans

ANU has committed AUD 23 million to accessibility upgrades in its 2023–2026 Campus Infrastructure Plan. Priority projects for 2024–2025 include: reducing the entrance ramp gradient of the Baldessin Precinct Building from 1:10 to 1:14 (BCA-compliant); adding an accessible lift to the Hancock Building (expected completion March 2025); and replacing all door handles at University House with lever handles (instead of round knobs).

Student Participation Mechanisms

ANU draws students with disabilities into decision-making through the Accessibility Advisory Group (AAG). The group meets monthly, chaired by the Director of Access & Inclusion, and reviewed 23 upgrade proposals in 2024, of which 17 were approved and budgeted. Students can submit accessibility improvement suggestions through the ANU Student Voice platform, with an average response time of 14 days.

Technology Pilots

In 2024, ANU piloted smart navigation flooring at the Marie Reay Teaching Centre, using embedded LED strips to display paths on the floor to accessible toilets and lifts. Developed by the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science with Australian startup Wayfindr, the pilot recorded 87% user satisfaction (sample size n=120).

FAQ

Q1: Are there accessible toilets on the ANU campus open 24 hours?

Yes. One accessible toilet inside the Kambri Hub in Kambri Precinct is open around the clock (accessed with a student card; access permissions can be requested from Access & Inclusion). In addition, the toilets at Chifley Library are available during library opening hours (usually 7:00–22:00), but outside these hours entry must be arranged through security staff (phone +61 2 6125 2249).

Q2: If a lift breaks down, how do I get alternative route information?

ANU publishes real-time information through three channels: ANU Emergency App push notifications, campus electronic displays (at major building entrances), and the ‘lift status’ page on the ANU Facilities website. Alternative routes are usually posted as A3 paper maps at the entrances of affected buildings, directing people to the nearest accessible entrance (usually within 200 metres’ walking distance).

Q3: How do international students apply for study adjustments?

International students use the same process as domestic students: submit an Access & Inclusion application through the ANU ISIS system, attaching a disability certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner or psychologist (with an English translation certified by NAATI). Processing takes 5–10 business days. Once approved, the adjustment plan is emailed to the student and the relevant course coordinator. According to ANU 2023 data, international students make up 28% of Access & Inclusion clients.

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census, Disability Status and Need for Assistive Equipment
Australian National University Facilities and Services (2024), Campus Accessibility Map and Facilities Register
Australian National University Health, Safety and Wellbeing (2024), Annual Lift Safety Inspection Report
Australian National University (2023), Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2023–2026
Unilink Education database (2024), Comparative Analysis of Accessible Facilities at Group of Eight University Campuses