Visual Story: how to prepare for your visit and what to expect

A 'Visual Story' is a step-by-step guide designed to help those with autism or sensory sensitivities to plan their visit to the Australian Museum. This Visual Story will illustrate how to access the AM building, what to expect upon arrival and what you might experience throughout the different spaces.

I will use this Visual Story to prepare for my visit.

The Australian Museum (AM) inspires understanding and conservation of our natural and cultural worlds.

The AM is open from 10am-5pm every day of the year. It is closed on Christmas Day.

The AM has low, medium and high sensory areas. These are indicated on the AM Map.

Sensory Symbols

If I have sensory sensitivities, I can bring items that help me to feel comfortable and relaxed, like:

These symbols will help me prepare for spaces that might have bright lights, smells, loud sounds or be very visual.

These symbols represent the following general information that can be found on various levels of the Museum.

Behaviour symbols

These rules help to keep the museum displays and everyone safe.

The AM’s main entrance is located on the corner of College Street and William Street in central Sydney, across the road from Hyde Park and opposite St Mary’s Cathedral.

The entrance is on College Street, which is a main road and can be noisy with traffic.

To plan how I will get to the AM, I can visit the Parking and Public Transport webpage.

I will know when I am there because I will see the sandstone building with the AM logo.

First, I will walk up Museum Walk ramp to the entrance.

A security guard will greet me and help me if I need it. Sometimes the AM is very busy. I might need to wait for my turn.

I can play with something I have brought from home while I wait.

Next I will enter Crystal Hall.

If I have pre-purchased a ticket to a program, event, or exhibition, I will show staff my ticket (printed or on device) as I enter.

I can purchase ticket/s to special exhibitions at the Admissions desk.

Staff wear a black uniform and have a name badge.

I can collect a map of the AM to help me navigate and explore.

Staff can answer my questions or help me if I get lost.

I can pick up an Australian Museum map from the front desk. This map shows the locations of:

• Exhibitions and galleries
• Cafes
• Visitor facilities

I can explore the online map here. I can check the AM website before I visit to see what exhibits I will be able to explore.

I will see the Acknowledgement of Country inside the main entrance. The land on which the Australian Museum stands is Gadigal land.

The painting of the Sydney Shield in Crystal Hall pays respect to the Custodians of this land.

I am welcome to look at and touch this wall.

There are three lifts I can use to go to different levels of the AM. I can use the lifts if I am unable or prefer not to use the stairs.

I will need to press the arrow button to use the lift. Once inside, I will press the number button for the level I want to visit.

• Lift A has access to all levels
• Lift B has access to UG and Level 1, 2, & 4
• Lift C has access to B and UG

If I have a bag or jacket that I would like to store during my visit, I can take them to the cloaking room on Lower Ground (LG).

If there is a queue, I will wait patiently for my turn. I can play with a stim or fidget toy/device from home, whilst I wait.

I will be greeted by a member of staff who will take my belongings and give me a number tag.

When I am ready to collect my things I will need to hand over the number tag in order to get my belongings.

I must remember to collect items at least 10 minutes before the museum closes.

If I need help finding the toilet, I can:

• Look for signs
• Look on the map
• Ask a staff member

The closest toilet to the entrance of the AM is on the ramp, behind the shop on Level G. This is an accessible toilet.

Alternatively, many toilets, including an all gender toilet, are located near the Cloaking Room on Level Lower Ground (LG).

There are toilets on every level of the Australian Museum, including a Changing Places accessible adult change facility on Level 2. I will need to ask staff to access this room.

The hand dryers are very loud. I can wear my noise cancelling headphones in the bathroom if I find the hand dryers too loud.

I can buy pre-made food like sandwiches, salads and drinks at the Billabong Waterhole Café on Level 2. It is open 10am to 4.30pm daily.

This area is very bright so I may want to wear a hat or sunglasses here. If it gets loud, I can wear my noise cancelling headphones or earmuffs.

I can buy hot and cold snacks at the Hintze Hall Espresso Bar on Level Upper Ground. It is open 10am to 4:30pm.

I can also bring my own food and eat it in Hintze Hall where there are tables and chairs available.

I am not allowed to eat or drink in the exhibition spaces. This helps keep the displays safe and clean.

The AM Shop is near the entrance and exit to the AM on Level G. I can visit the AM Shop when I start or finish my visit.

The shop has all sorts of things for sale, such as mineral specimens, books, Australian animals and dinosaur toys. The putty and sensory toys are popular. Some of the soaps and toiletries for sale have a strong smell.

I want to go to the galleries and exhibitions.

I can use the ramp around the back of the shop or the stairs.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

Once I have travelled up the ramp or stairs, I will enter Hintze Hall on Level UG, which is the centre of the AM. I can access many exhibitions from here.

I can buy hot and cold snacks at the Hintze Hall Espresso Bar on Level Upper Ground. It is open 9am to 8.30pm Monday to Wednesday and 9am to 4.45pm Thursday to Sunday.

I can also bring my own food and eat it in Hintze Hall where there are tables and chairs available.

There are bins nearby where I can put my rubbish.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

I must have a ticket to enter Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru.

I can pre-purchase this online, or if not sold out already I can pre-purchase at the admission desk on the day I visit.

Once I have my ticket I will move to Upper Ground (UG) to present my ticket.

My ticket will be scanned and staff will direct me to the designated waiting area.

I will have to wait before I can enter. I will be patient and follow the instructions of staff.

This exhibition is on two levels. I will use the escalators or lift to move between the levels.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

Once instructed, I will move into a darkened theatre. I will sit, or stand as there are limited seats, and watch a video.

The exhibition focuses on ancient civilisations that pre-date the Incas and tells the legend of Ai Apaec, a deity who moved between the three domains, encountering anything from sea demons to owl shamans and sacred snails. I will walk among the stunning selection of about 130 artifacts from royal tombs of the Andean lords.

The collection includes pitchers and bottles, sculptures, bodily ornaments, funeral masks, warrior gear, sacrificial weapons and ceremonial attire.

This exhibition uses moving animation images, which may be disorienting. The exhibition also contains several videos. I will have to share this space with a lot of other people.

There is a gift shop at the end of this exhibition that I will walk through to exit. I can choose to buy things if I have money.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

If I want to do the Virtual Reality experience, I will need to purchase a separate ticket. This is not included in the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru ticket.

I will present my ticket to Museum staff and follow their instruction.

When instructed I will sit on one of the chairs and put on a headset that will cover my eyes and ears.

The chair will move, there will be a 360-degree immersive animation projected through the headset, and sounds will be heard throughout the experience.

If I experience motion sickness I may not enjoy this experience.

During this experience I may be startled or scared by some of the footage. If I feel scared, sick or uncomfortable during the experience, I can take off the headset or leave this experience at any time.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

I will walk into Garrigarrang: Sea Country from Hintze Hall or Wild Planet. I will see Ghost Net sculptures hanging from the ceiling. These sculptures were made using fishing nets which litter the waters of northern Australia and Torres Strait.

This exhibition is dimly lit and has some LED strip lights underneath the displays.

There are TV screens with audio that might be loud. Some displays in this exhibition talk about death. If I find this overwhelming, I can leave this space and explore somewhere else.

• Medium sensory: light areas with few people, some audio and visual noise.

I can find Wild Planet from Garrigarrang: Sea Country, Hintze Hall, or walk through from Westpac Long Gallery.

In this exhibition I will see lots of animals and animal skeletonsin glass cases. This exhibition can get loud when there are many people. I may want to wear my noise reducing earmuffs or headphones.

There are bright lights and a lot of reflective glass in this exhibition. I may want to wear sunglasses or a hat in this space.

I can also listen to the exhibition audio description on my headphones and mobile on this free Audio Guide.

• Low sensory: quiet, well lit areas with fewer people and low noise levels.

This exhibition showcases 100 treasures of the AM alongside the stories of 100 of Australia’s most-influential people. I will walk down stairs to enter the exhibition from Wild Planet, Level UG. This gallery is a sensory friendly space. It is quieter, calmer and darker in this exhibition. There are comfy seats I can sit or lie down on if I need to.

I will see collections of objects. Some are very old, some are very rare, some are beautiful, others mysterious. All tell fascinating and unexpected stories – about the Museum, about Australia and its region, or about the wonders of the natural world. I can also listen to the exhibition audio description on my headphones and mobile on this free Audio Guide.

I can walk up the stairs or take the lift to Level 1 and continue exploring the 200 Treasures of the Australian Museum. I can discover the stories of 100 extraordinary people who have shaped Australia and made it the country it is today.

Scientists, explorers, and pioneers; entrepreneurs, athletes, and artists; politicians, an outlaw and a saint.

I can touch the screen to learn more about the people I see on the screen. There is a sign on the right hand side of the screen which explains how I can use them.

• Medium sensory: light areas with few people, some audio and visual noise.

I can access Minerals from 200 Treasures, or I can walk up the stairs (or take the lift) to Level 1.

This exhibition is a sensory friendly space. It is quieter, calmer and darker. I can learn how minerals are made and see minerals that glow in the dark.

This exhibition has touch screens and games I can touch and play to learn how minerals are made.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

I can enter Burra by walking up the stairs or catching the lift to Level 2.

This is the AM’s learning and play space which explores the migration journey of Burra the eel. There are lots of things for me to touch and play with including screens, tactile displays, dress up and books.

There are multimedia walls and floors. This area may be filled with children and can become noisy when busy. I may like to wear headphones if I become overwhelmed.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

I can enter Wansolmoana by taking the ramp from Billabong Kiosk or by taking the stairs from Garrigarrang on Level UG.

In this exhibition, I will experience the diverse and dynamic culture of Pasifika people through stories and objects across the region.

The lights are set lower, however there are touch screens with audio that might be a little loud – especially if more than one screen is playing at a time. I may like to use my headphones.

Apart from the touch screens, I am not allowed to touch objects in this exhibition.

• Medium sensory: light areas with few people, some audio and visual noise.

I can find Surviving Australia on Level 2, via Wansolmoana or Dinosaurs.

I will discover the secrets of Australia’s weird and wonderful wildlife including giant megafauna from the ancient past.

I can touch these models if I would like to.

Content warning: There are displays of snakes and spiders in this exhibition. I can leave this exhibition if I feel scared.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

I will find Changing Climate within Surviving Australia on Level 2. Here I can learn how Australia has been impacted by the climate crisis and what I can do to help.

There is a large screen in this space that I can interact with. When I have finished with the screen I can wipe it down using a screen wipe which is next to the screen. This will help make sure there are no germs.

• High sensory: busy areas, with a mix of multimedia, loud noises and/or low lighting.

I can access Dinosaurs via Surviving Australia or Birds of Australia on Level 2, or up the marble stairs from Wild Planet. I will walk among dinosaur skeletons and life-size models, as well as the fossil teeth, skulls and claws of these ancient creatures.

There are many fossil displays I can touch in this exhibition. This exhibition has unexpected loud sounds such as dinosaur roars and thunder that I may get frightened by. I can wear my headphones. There is a flashing strobe light when the thunder sounds that I may wish to wear my hat or sunglasses for.

This exhibition also has models which show death and a model of a dinosaur autopsy, that I may find scary. I can choose not to see this exhibit.

I can also listen to the exhibition audio description on my headphones and mobile on this free Audio Guide.

• Low sensory: quiet, well lit areas with fewer people and low noise levels.

I can discover Birds of Australia on Level 2.

In this exhibition I will come face to face with familiar and unfamiliar birds alike, from the iconic cockatoos and budgies to the stunning Regent Bowerbird and adorable Little Penguin.

If I followed the suggested sequence in this Visual Story, I will have now visited every exhibition in the AM.

To exit the Museum, I will need to walk down the stairs or catch the lift to Level G.

The exit is next to where I entered the Museum.