Early Birds: Autism and sensory-friendly mornings

Early Birds is designed for autistic people and those with sensory sensitivities. Features of this event may also benefit visitors with other access requirements and their families or friends. This event is for all ages.

Early Birds events align with the Australian Museum's Accessibility and Inclusion Action Plan 2018-21 (AIAP) to break down barriers that hinder the full and effective participation of people with access requirements, and create a place where everyone can be inspired to explore and understand our natural and cultural worlds. Early Birds is a gateway event where visitors become familiar with the Australian Museum in a safe and supportive environment, in order to feel comfortable and confident visiting us again.

• Early Birds events have limited capacity to reduce crowds, queues and associated noise.
• Lighting and sound levels will be adjusted, where possible, throughout the Museum.
• Exhibitions will have lighting decreased and loud, unexpected sounds such as dinosaurs roaring, switched off.
• High sensory areas where lighting can't be increased due to conservation issues, will be indicated on the Museum map and in the Visual Story.
• Hand-dryers will be turned off and paper towel will be available in toilet facilities.
• PA announcements will be avoided from 8am-10am
• A designated quiet room will be available for use to take a break and reset before continuing on your Museum adventure!
• The first Early Birds event took place in January 2021. View blog here.

Yes. Early Birds are welcome to stay and enjoy the Museum for the remainder of the day, however, lighting and sound in exhibition spaces will return to previous levels along with other features.

Everything you would do during opening hours!

Early Birds events are scheduled to occur on one Saturday morning, in line with each NSW school holiday period. Future sessions will be announced soon.

To be the first to know about our next Early Birds event, subscribe to our eNewsletter.

There is currently no onsite parking at the Museum. We recommend parking at nearby car parks and metered parking in surrounding streets. Enacon Parking on Cathedral Street has 11 accessible spots and is a 3 minute walk to the Australian Museum. This route has no steps. For more information please refer to the Enacon Parking website.

For more information on parking and public transport options visit our parking and transport page.

There is also limited, unsupervised pram parking available in designated areas throughout the Museum.

Yes, more detailed information on the Museum’s accessibility features can be found here. There is limited, unsupervised pram parking available in designated areas throughout the Museum.