How one Victorian council employee – inspired by personal
experience – improved the options available for people with severe
disabilities when they attend community events, developing a fully
accessible, portable restroom concept that can be easily adopted by
other councils.
Australia's first fully equipped mobile accessible restroom, catering for the needs of people with a severe disability and their carers, was the concept of Don Di Giandomenico, a Maroondah City Council employee.
With help from council, ‘Marveloo’ – the idea for which stemmed from Don’s personal experience with his daughter, Jess, who has cerebral palsy – was brought to life.
Because standard accessible toilets do not meet the needs of all people with a disability or their carers, the options for people with a severe disability attending community events are often limited to being changed by a carer on the floor of a public toilet, sitting in soiled continence pads and clothing, leaving the event early, or simply staying home.
Don wanted to see this change.
Developing Marveloo
While this project fell outside Don’s usual role at Maroondah City Council as Team Leader Parks, Sportsfields Maintenance Projects, he approached his manager and director to propose the plan. With no other facility of its kind in Australia, worldwide research soon commenced, leading the council to establish a link with the UK-based Changing Places project.
Changing Places was established in 2006 to call for the installation of more appropriately equipped, fully accessible toilets in major facilities across the UK.
Permission was sought by the council to use the Changing Places universal symbol in Australia, and in particular on Marveloo. This was the first time that the Changing Places logo has been permitted for use outside of the UK.
The concept progressed from Don's original sketch to technical drawings, sourcing appropriate materials and fittings and, finally, construction.
The complete package
Marveloo enables people living with a severe disability to attend and participate in community events for the same duration as any other member of the community – with the confidence that their needs will be catered for with dignity and respect.
The complete Marveloo provides a height adjustable, adult-sized changing table; a tracking hoist system that provides flexibility, enabling use of either the toilet or change table; a ramp with rails for easy access; as well as sufficient space and privacy options to cater for one person and their carer, or a group of people with one carer. Reverse cycle heating and cooling ensures the interior of Marveloo is always at a comfortable temperature. 
The innovative design and construction supports infrastructure, enabling easy transportation, operation and access to public sites.
Marveloo was successfully launched at Maroondah’s Australia Day festivities in 2013.
All aspects of the design, materials, construction, user manual and branding of Marveloo were developed by Maroondah City Council, with the express purpose of ensuring the Marveloo concept can be adopted by other councils.
Built at a cost of approximately $63,000, Marveloo was made possible through funding and in-kind assistance from Bendigo Bank’s Canterbury, Ashburton, Surrey Hills and Balwyn Community Bank branches; Budget Car & Truck Rental; Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation; AuzBilt and VHHE Mobile Repairs.