In its first year back, Youturn joined the Big Pineapple music festival to host and manage a Sensory Space and Chillout Zone at the festival on the Sunshine Coast on Saturday 19 October at the Pineapple Fields in Woombye.
The Big Pineapple Festival has been a significant event on the Sunshine Coast calendar for many years, providing a strong economic boost to the region, and a great experience and opportunity for locals. Excitingly, after a short break, and the cancellation of many other music events, festival organisers brought the festival back for 2024.
Providing a calm space in a busy, vibrant, and loud festival environment is vital in increasing accessibility and inclusivity, enabling people with autism, anxiety and other sensory difficulties to access and participate in these events.
Youturn’s YourSpace, is a sensory space and chill out zone, providing a safe, low-level stimulation and grounding zone for our neurodivergent festival goers, or those who may be feeling overwhelmed, overstimulated, or anxious.
With support from local Sunshine Coast Councillors, Cr Winston Johnston, Cr Terry Landsberg, Cr Christian Dickon, and Cr Maria Suarez, along with in-kind support from Don’t Stop the Party, and EPM Print Group, Youturn were able to bring this space to the Big Pineapple Festival.
YourSpace offers carefully selected lighting, textures, colours and experiences, as well as weighted blankets, sensory items, and ear defenders available for festival goers to utilise. Thanks to this support, sensory packs were also made available by Youturn, including items such as earplugs, fidgets, sunglasses, and water that festival goers could take with them to ensure they were able to enjoy rejoining the festival.
We were so grateful to be able to provide this safe and welcoming environment to those attending the festival, and were overwhelmed with positive feedback on the day. Many expressed their gratitude for the space, and shared that if the space hadn’t been available, they would have otherwise had to leave the festival due to feelings of anxiety and panic.
Youturn is trusted to create safe, inclusive and supportive communities. To find out more about how Youturn can support, head to youturn.org.au/what-we-do
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