A mobile space for the state's Autistic community members and their families is under construction, and the call has gone out for artwork needed to give it that special touch.
Annie and Nathan Hull, with their son Eli, 7, and the bus that's being transformed into a mobile sensory space.
A dedicated space on wheels is set to make life easier for Autistic South Australians and their families – all it needs now is some artwork.
The custom-designed Sensory Bus will create an inclusive environment for Autistic people and their families at some of the state’s biggest events, including the bp Adelaide Grand Final, Tour Down Under and Multicultural Festival.
As highlighted in the state’s first Autism Strategy, many Autistic people face barriers in attending loud, bright or crowded events due to differences in sensory processing – leaving individuals and their families unable to attend or experience major events.
The new Sensory Bus – developed by the State Government’s Office for Autism – addresses this challenge by providing a mobile sensory space to help regulate, giving confidence to attendees there is support available if needed.
The idea builds on the sensory spaces which are becoming more common at big events, including LIV Golf and Adelaide Oval.
It was while visiting one of these spaces that Adelaide couple Annie and Nathan Hull first came up with the concept of a Sensory Bus that could be driven from location to location.
Parents to Eli, 7, who in Autistic and has an intellectual disability and ADHD, the Hulls wanted a space that could be closely incorporated with events.
“The idea came from a place of inclusion, first and foremost,” Nathan says.
“We wanted to make sure that kids like Eli, and their families and siblings, have the chance to engage with events and get to part of what’s on.
“Inclusion is not only beneficial for kids with special needs, but also for their families and their siblings and for the wider community too.”
Annie says that attending crowded places with Eli could be quite challenging.
“There are the sensory aspects, and for our little guy there are a lot of safety risks too,” she says.
“So for us, a space like this is not only great from a sensory perspective but it also means he has a safe space, and that means that we will be able to access our community a lot more than we have been able to.
“This will be life-changing, both for Eli and for us. He will have a lot more opportunity to get out and engage with the world around him.”
Autism SA has been selected to operate the new Sensory Bus, which has been specially repurposed from an old Adelaide Metro bus.
The bus will travel to up to 15 government and community events each year, with the Office for Autism working with the SA Tourism Commission to determine locations.
Outside of these events, the bus will be available for organisations to book for their own events and activities – further promoting access and inclusion across the state.
The project is proudly backed by Kelsian Group, which is providing support to Autism SA through driver training, storage and bus maintenance.
Construction of the new Sensory Bus, designed by Cox Architecture and delivered by local company McMahon Services, is due to be completed by September.
Call for Entries: Spaces We Shape Art Competition
To strengthen community connection, an artwork competition invites Autistic South Australians to submit creative designs to wrap the bus.
Separate designs, in both child and adult categories, will feature on the outside of the bus, reflecting Autistic experience, identity and sensory expression through the competition’s “Spaces we Shape” theme.
Bus artwork entries close on Monday 25 August and applications are available on the Office for Autism site here.
This article first appeared on WE ARE.SA on 29 July 2025.
Find the article here: All aboard South Australia's new Sensory Bus | WE ARE.SA