Pavely

Established: 2023
Employees: Not publicly disclosed
Headquarters: Adelaide, South Australia
Website: www.pavely.com.au

Pavely was created as a digital innovation responding to a government-led accessibility initiative, and has since evolved into a globally scalable platform connecting people, data, and community. Built with empathy and powered by human insight, Pavely continues to redefine what inclusive technology can achieve – setting a new benchmark for accessibility in Australia and beyond.

The South Australian Government challenged the local innovation community to create technology that would improve inclusion, independence, and community participation for people living with a disability.

Before Pavely, no digital platform existed to help people with accessibility needs confidently plan outings, discover suitable venues, or share their experiences. Existing tools like Google Maps offered only limited data on accessibility features, with no way to assess quality, safety, or human experience.

The goal was ambitious: build a world-first accessibility platform that connected people, empowered choice, and encouraged businesses to become more inclusive – while protecting user privacy and dignity.

The Distillery, through its innovation lab Moonshine Lab, partnered with the State Government to prototype and launch Pavely – a mobile platform designed to make communities more accessible for everyone.

Working through a series of 90-day design and development sprints, the team used a continuous service improvement model to evolve Pavely from a proof-of-concept into a fully functional, award-winning app.

Key solution elements included:

• Co-design with disability advocacy groups to ensure real-world relevance and empathy-led UX design.
• Accessibility-first UI/UX that not only met but exceeded WCAG standards, reimagining how people with disabilities interact with technology.
• Crowdsourced community input, allowing users to “pin” and rate venues for accessibility, friendliness, and amenities.
• Integration with national data sources, including the National Public Toilet Map and local government accessibility data.
• Scalable global architecture, enabling Pavely to work anywhere in the world.

The result was a digital ecosystem that elevated accessibility from a compliance checkbox to a human-centred movement for inclusion.

Pavely quickly became a benchmark for accessible technology – proving that inclusive design benefits everyone.

Key outcomes included:

• Thousands of active users contributing accessibility information and venue reviews.
• Three national awards, including Australia’s Most Accessible Technology Product.
• Global reach, with a platform designed to operate in any location worldwide.
• Enhanced community engagement, helping people with disabilities feel more confident and connected.
• Positive cultural impact, driving awareness and improving attitudes toward accessibility in the business community.

The project demonstrated how technology, empathy, and partnership can combine to create measurable social value.