AUS | Woolworths Australia has unveiled a first-of-its-kind accessible checkout explicitly designed for team members with physical disabilities, including those using wheelchairs. The innovative checkout, installed at the new Kellyville Grove store in Sydney, addresses traditional checkouts' height and space constraints, offering adjustable height, a narrower conveyor belt for easy access, a rotating bag transfer, and a pull drawer for receipt paper refilling.
The design aims to create new employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Woolworths has already recruited several team members for its Kellyville Grove and North Parramatta stores, featuring the new accessible checkout. The initiative aligns with Woolworths' commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Woolworths introduces a wheelchair-accessible checkout at its Kellyville Grove store.
The checkout is designed with input from people with disabilities, offering adjustable height, a narrower conveyor belt, a rotating bag transfer, and a pull drawer for easy receipt paper refilling.
The initiative aims to create new employment opportunities for people with disabilities, providing inclusive and accessible job roles.
The accessible checkout will be part of a pilot program, with the potential for further expansion based on feedback and success.
Woolworths has filed a provisional patent application with the Australian Patents Office for the accessible checkout design.
The supermarket chain is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, seeking innovative solutions to address physical barriers.
Woolworths Supermarkets Managing Director Natalie Davis emphasised the importance of creating accessible jobs and providing opportunities for a diverse team. The accessible checkout is part of Woolworths' commitment to fostering inclusion and removing physical barriers that may limit employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The initiative is a step toward creating a more inclusive workplace, aligning with the company's values and commitment to diversity. Woolworths plans to gather feedback during the pilot program and explore opportunities to introduce accessible checkouts to additional stores in the future, contributing to a more inclusive retail environment.
