Vivid Sydney is inviting Expressions of Interest to join the inaugural Accessibility Advisory Panel.
The panel plays an important role in shaping how Vivid Sydney is planned and delivered, helping to ensure the festival is inclusive, welcoming and accessible for everyone. Panel members provide advice informed by lived experience to support continuous improvement across accessibility, inclusion and the overall visitor experience. We are seeking six panel members with lived experience of disability or who are d/Deaf and have an interest in Vivid Sydney and public events.
This Accessibility Advisory Panel is being established in collaboration with Morwenna Collett, Accessibility Consultant, to support best-practice, lived-experience-led advice across the festival.
Why join the Accessibility Advisory Panel
Joining the panel is an opportunity to:
- Make a meaningful impact on accessibility and inclusion across one of Australia’s largest festivals.
- Share lived experience and insights to help inform planning, design and on-the-ground delivery.
- Influence real change, with advice contributing directly to festival decisions and improvements.
- Be part of Vivid Sydney’s creative community, working collaboratively with festival teams and fellow panel members.
- Be paid for your time during event and site assessments.
What’s involved
Panel members will be asked to:
- Participate in 6–8 advisory meetings (mix of online, in-person and hybrid) in the lead-up to the festival, between March - June 2026.
- Take part in event and site assessments during Vivid Sydney.
- Provide feedback and practical recommendations to support accessible and inclusive experiences for visitors, artists and other collaborators.
Payment
Panel members will be paid for their time during event and site assessments at a rate of $100 per hour.
Who should apply
We welcome Expressions of Interest from people who:
- Have lived experience of disability or are d/Deaf.
- We also welcome applications from people who have close lived experience, or relevant experience in advancing access and inclusion for people with disability, including those working within disability service organisations or peak bodies. Priority will be given to applicants with direct lived experience of disability.
- Enjoys attending events and festivals and are interested in how people experience them
- Are comfortable sharing feedback and working collaboratively in a group setting
Meetings will be chaired by Access Consultant Morwenna Collett, with members of the Vivid team participating as well. Applicants must be available to attend at least 6 sessions (meetings & site visits).
Selection Process
Your application will be considered along with others, so that together, the panel will have a wide expertise across disability types, access and inclusion skills, experience and knowledge, and awareness of local issues.
Applications will be assessed by a panel including Vivid staff and Morwenna Collett. The panel will include people with and without direct lived experience of disability.
Key dates
- Applications open: NOW
- Applications close: 23 February 5pm
- Applicants invited to interview: 4 & 6 March
- Applicants notified: week commencing 9 March
- Planning meeting 1: Wednesday 25 or Thursday 26 March (2-5pm)
- Planning meeting 2: Monday 20 or Tuesday 21 April (3–4pm)
- Planning meeting 3: Monday 4 May (9.30am–1.30pm)
- Assessment nights: 3 evenings in May, 2 hr each – 6 hours total
- Debrief meeting: Monday 22 June (3–4pm)
Accessible formats and support for applications are available on request. If you require assistance to apply or require information in another format, please contact us.
Phone: 0429 897 028
