The accessible tourism market incorporates people with disabilities and those who are ageing and who have access needs. Significant numbers of Australians and people from overseas have disabilities - 600 million worldwide. A prototype accessible tourism Web "portal", www.sydneyforall.com, aims to make it easier to find accessible destination experiences around Sydney for those with access needs. The portal reflects the findings of a research project led by Associate Professor Simon Darcy from the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism at UTS, and seeks to provide accessibility information about key tourism experiences that people can enjoy when they are in Sydney.

The research project was sponsored by the Sustainable Tourism Co-operative Research Centre, Tourism NSW, the Tourism and Transport Forum and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change.

Equity, diversity and sport at UTS

Kieran Courtney, a graduand of the Master of Sport Management in the School of Leisure, Sport and Tourism, was given the honour of ringing the Markets Bell to signify the end of teaching for Autumn Semester.

http://www.newsroom.uts.edu.au/people/detail.cfm?ItemId=11299

A/Prof Stephen Wearing Awarded Frank Stewart Award

Associate Professor Stephen Wearing was awarded the Frank Stewart Award at the 2007 Parks and Leisure Australia National Conference held in Townsville in September. The Frank Stewart Award is the most prestigious individual award bestowed by Parks and Leisure Australia, and is awarded to individual members who have provided exceptional service over an extensive period to both the professional association and the parks and leisure industry. Frank Stewart was the first Federal Government Minister of Recreation and his commitment to park and leisure facilities and service at the local community level continues to be remembered through this award.

The judging criteria for the award are:

• A demonstrated high standard of professional and outstanding leadership within the parks and leisure industry for a minimum of 5 years

• A demonstrated outstanding commitment to the parks and leisure industry

• A number of personal and professional contributions which are recognised to have enhanced the standing of the industry as a profession

• Personal contributions that have enhanced the development of colleagues, Parks and Leisure Australia and the parks and leisure industry within the broader community