Accessibility at the heart of the 2026 Outback Trail 

Auslan interpreter, Mikey Webb joined the Outback Trail in 2026 as an Accessibility Ambassador to help lead QMF’s mission to ensure music can be experienced by more people in more places.

Inclusivity on The Outback Trail

QMF believes that live music should be enjoyed by everyone. By interpreting the words, lyrics and announcements on stage and conveying the atmosphere, Mikey offered the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing attendees a distinct opportunity to understand the experience.

From town to town, Mikey brought Auslan interpretation to live performances, helping our audiences connect with the music, atmosphere and moments that bring communities together.

The Experience of a Lifetime

Alison is a resident of Longreach who is deaf. Having Mikey interpret at Spirit of the Bush in Longreach, meant Alison could fully experience a live music experience for the first time in her life.

It is stories like Alison’s that highlight the impact we can create through including Auslan Interpretation at events. It turns music events into welcoming and inclusive experiences by removing language and communication barriers so everyone can participate equally.

Mikey’s contribution allowed the local community to come together, feel comfortable, understand the event in real time and engage with one another.

The response from community members spoke to what inclusive programming can achieve.

Awareness on Accessibility

Mikey’s involvement was made possible through funding from Revive Live, an Australian Government initiative, which helped us build accessibility into the core of the Trail.

For Mikey, it’s about more than access – it’s about ensuring the audience feels included:

“I think it just normalises for the community that we’re not just an add-on, we’re actually part of the show, and that makes Deaf people feel included.”

Having Mikey on the Outback Trail also raised awareness among audiences that you don’t need to hear music to enjoy it. Audience members were curious to learn more about Auslan, which sparked conversations about the importance of inclusion at music events and helped raise the profile of accessibility.

Because experiencing live music shouldn’t depend on where you live or how you communicate.

Find out more about The Outback Trail on the QLD Music Trails website.