Murdoch Uni admits accessibility needs fix after student's viral video

Mia Day, a wheelchair user and former Murdoch University student, has highlighted significant accessibility issues on the Perth campus after the removal of stair lifts in 2023. In a viral video viewed over 850,000 times on Instagram, Day demonstrated the challenging route she was forced to take, which involved navigating a car park, a bumpy cobblestone path, and a steep hill to reach the main quadrangle. She explained that the removal of the stair lifts, which previously provided direct access to upper levels, made campus navigation much more difficult, particularly for those without powered wheelchairs. Day has been advocating for improved accessibility at the university for five years, citing repeated unfulfilled promises and the impact on her education, including having to drop out due to inaccessibility. Murdoch University acknowledged the removal of the stair lifts, stating they were taken out because they were unreliable and could not consistently provide safe access. However, Day countered that while the lifts were not perfect, they functioned about half the time and their absence has worsened access. In response to the viral video and public attention, the university issued an apology to Day and expressed a commitment to improving campus accessibility. They noted that a campus-wide universal accessibility audit is underway as part of a broader Campus Development Plan, with plans to prioritize necessary works based on the audit’s findings. The issue has drawn criticism from disability advocates, including WA Greens Senator Jordon Steele-John, who is also a wheelchair user. He described the university’s justification for removing the lifts without replacement as inadequate and called for more proactive solutions to accessibility challenges. The controversy underscores ongoing challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing educational institutions and highlights the importance of inclusive infrastructure and responsive administration. Murdoch University’s forthcoming actions and engagement with individuals with lived experience of disability will be closely watched as a measure of its commitment to accessibility reform.