Hidden Disability Program

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An airport can be a stressful experience, especially when travelling on an international flight. It is even more stressful when you or someone you are travelling with has a disability which is not immediately apparent to airport staff – a Hidden Disability which can include autism, anxiety issues, mental health conditions, dementia, visual impairments deaf or hard of hearing. Launceston Airport has recently implemented the Hidden Disability Program for it’s Terminal to assist you on your journey through our Airport. This program supports travellers requiring special assistance as they travel through our airport.

Hidden Disability Program

The Hidden Disability Program consists of:

  • A lanyard to wear through the airport from check in to departure to allow airport staff to recognise that you may require additional assistance throughout the journey.
  • Sensory Map - This identifies high sensory and low sensory areas to help you navigate through the terminal. This can help you prepare for additional noise, crowded areas and identify areas where you can stop in a quieter area if required.
  • Staff training - Our Launceston Airport staff will all be trained in the Hidden Disability Program to ensure that additional care and consideration is provided during your time through our airport and ensures staff are able to assist in your journey. Whether that be guiding you through each step, providing you information or slowing down a process in the customer journey for you, we are here to ensure your mental and emotional health is looked after.
  • Currently Launceston Airport does not have a Sensory Map which identifies high sensory and low sensory areas to help you navigate through the terminal. This can help you prepare for additional noise, crowded areas and identify areas where you can stop in a quieter area if required. We are working on producing one.

Lanyard Program

If you are travelling through our airport in the future and require additional support, you may contact us to request a Hidden Disability lanyard which will identify you to our staff. To request a lanyard as part of the Program please contact us on (03) 6391 6222.

Please note that Launceston Airport/APAL reserves its right, at any time, to request evidence and/or supporting documentation (in any form reasonably required by APAL) as a pre-condition to providing a passenger with a lanyard, and/or providing access to the disability priority areas associated with the Hidden Disability Program.

Contact Us

If you have any queries regarding the above please contact us on (03) 6391 6222.

Programs at other Australian airports

Melbourne Airport
Adelaide Airport
Brisbane Airport

Gold Coast Airport

Hobart Airport


Thank you to the businesses who assisted with our program development:

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Australia Pacific Airports (Launceston) acknowledges the First Nations people and Traditional Owners of Tasmania including the Land that Launceston Airport operates on. We pay our respect to their Elders past, present and emerging and extend that respect to all other First Nations People.