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Two people positioned in front of two vibrant Aboriginal paintings hung on a grey wall. Both are seated in wheelchairs.

Spinifex People Access Information
WA Museum Boola Bardip

Before we begin...

For your journey to Spinifex Country, we recommend familiarizing yourself with (the) exhibition space before your visit. Please see a Visual Story for your exploration.

Spinifex People Visual Story - Word DOCX [17.95 MB]

Spinifex People Sensory Map - PDF [1.55 MB]

A family sitting in front of some paintings, showing a baby in a pram with an older person.
A family enjoying the seating available in the Native Title section of the exhibition, surrounded by large-scale, colourful paintings.  

Free entry

Entry to the Museum is free until 31 March. From then onwards, the exhibition entry will be included in general admission.

Visual Supports

Before your visit, print out the visual supports and checklist to help you develop a visual plan for your time at the Museum.   This can help to structure a big day out, making it more enjoyable for everyone.

Visit Checklist – PDF [117.54 KB]

Visual Supports – Galleries – PDF [248.92 KB]

Visual Supports – Symbols – PDF [571.25 KB]

From Spinifex Country to Boorloo. Here is what you need to know from various disability perspectives, particularly focusing on cognitive, physical and sensory, to have the best experience possible.

Audio Guide & Tours  

For a detailed tour, we recommend using the audio guide available at the entrance. Some visitors may find it hard to focus on the tour guide due to loud audio from distant screens. While the exhibition is generally calm, some areas may cause sensory overload.
 

A staff member wearing a WA Museum uniform helping a child setup the audio guide.
Audio guides are available at the entrance of the exhibition on level one. Museum staff can assist with setup upon request. 

Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Neurodiversity

The exhibit is intellectually, visually, and emotionally stimulating. However, audio elements can be overwhelming due to background noise and limited noise-cancelling options. We recommend grabbing a Sensory Backpack from our welcome desk and using the ear-defenders to reduce unwanted sounds.

If you join a Guided Tour, you might find it hard to focus on the tour guide because of loud audio from distant screens. Some visitors have also experienced sensory overload in certain areas. 
In this exhibition, there is a lack of quiet spaces. Should you wish to experience the space in a more controlled sensory environment, there is a Quiet Morning on Saturday 22 March, 8.30am – 11am. 

Areas of note

The exhibition is generally easy to experience, but audio and music from multiple documentaries can be distracting. 

The interactive areas are creative, with a postcard writing station, a sea container multimedia experience, audio devices, and multiple films. There are many bright and colourful large scale paintings to explore. 

Key takeaways: Interactive, interesting, sound can be over stimulating, minimal quiet spaces with sitting, bring ear defenders to navigate audio experiences.
 

A visitor in a wheelchair explaining something to a person who is kneeling next to them, surrounded by large-scale paintings.
An older Spinifex artist, sitting in a wheelchair, points at his painting, surrounded by vibrant Aboriginal art.

Sensory Barriers (Blind/Low Vision and Auditory)

Blind and Low Vision Disability

The exhibition has a lot of visual content but lacks physical descriptions of exhibits and paintings. Dim lighting and design elements can reduce readability. We recommend booking a Guided Tour or Audio Tour to fully appreciate the details.

Auditory Disability

The exhibition features large-scale visual works, but audio from videos can be overwhelming and interfere with clarity. Minimal subtitles are available. We recommend using a sensory bag with noise-cancelling headphones or attending our Quiet Sessions and Guided Tour for a more detailed and paced experience.

Two people with wearing headphones gazes at artwork in the exhibition space.
Sensory Backpack includes a number of resources for self-regulation, tactile input, attention focusing and body awareness support.

Physical Barriers (Mobility and Dexterity)

There are a few seating options, but audio levels can be high. Seats by the multiscreen area are slightly low but firm. We recommend sitting outside on level one for quieter options. 

There are no major physical accessibility issues, making it easy to maneuver around. Some interactives require picking up headphones, using digital screens, and a small activity zone towards the end where you can write a letter to the community and peg it on a clothesline.

Interactive Displays

The interactive displays throughout the exhibition have varied engagement methods, but some have inaccessible handles and lack alternative interaction methods. 

Two people with wearing headphones gazes at artwork in the exhibition space.
A family interacting with the Spinifex People puzzle.
A child lifting a wooden panel spotting a kangaroo image holding an activity book.
Families can join the adventure hunt to find and learn about local Spinifex animals hidden throughout the exhibition.

Video Experiences

Multiple documentary films play throughout the exhibition, which some visitors may find overstimulating. If you experience any issues, ask our friendly staff for a Sensory Backpack. A separate quiet zone is available outside the exhibition. 

A diverse group of individuals in a colourful space, with kids sitting at a table writing a letter.
At the end of the exhibition, visitors can write a postcard to the Spinifex community, which will be sent after the exhibition. 
A person looking through a glass panel inside a sea container transformed into a multimedia sensory experience.
The sea container is dimly lit. As people walk through, they can look through glass panels to see a video of an artist painting on country, with visual displays featuring paintbrushes, spinifex plants, and sand. The experience includes audio.
Tranquil space inside the exhibition where you can watch a short documentary and view paintings.
The exhibition area features seating booths that create a relaxed environment for groups. It is wheelchair-friendly, with large paintings surrounding the space and audio from the documentary playing in the background.
A family watching a short film in a small area of the exhibition.
This intimate space celebrates a family from Spinifex Country, featuring their vibrant paintings and a documentary interview.

 

We hope you enjoy the adventure

Spinifex People exhibition offers a compelling and enjoyable experience, with a balance of visual art, objects, digital experience and film. It can be quite an emotional experience. However, there are still some areas to be mindful of, should you have any access requirements.

For further information, please contact reception@museum.wa.gov.au or call 1300 134 081.