Lyla Lindsey
Australia's banknotes have several features that assist people with impaired vision to recognise different banknote denominations. These include bright colours, large and contrasting numbers, and variable sizes for each denomination. The $5 banknote has a raised bump on each of the long edges, while other denominations have different numbers of bumps. These tactile features are not Braille, but were developed in consultation with the vision-impaired community, who wanted a feature directly on the banknote that was durable, simple, and readily usable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Does Australian money have braille? | No, the tactile feature on the Australian banknote is not braille. |
| What is the tactile feature on the Australian banknote? | The tactile feature on the $5 banknote is a raised bump on each of the long edges of the banknote. The other denominations will have different numbers of bumps. |
| Why do Australian banknotes have tactile features? | To assist people with impaired vision. |
| What are some other features of Australian banknotes that assist people with impaired vision? | Bright colours, large and contrasting numbers, and variable sizes for each denomination of banknote. |
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What You'll Learn
Australian banknotes have a tactile feature to assist people with impaired vision
Australian banknotes have a range of features designed to assist people with impaired vision. These include bright colours, large and contrasting numbers, and variable sizes for each denomination of banknote.
In addition, Australian banknotes also have a tactile feature in the form of raised bumps. The $5 banknote has one bump on each of the long edges, the $10 banknote has two bumps on each edge, the $20 banknote has three bumps, the $50 banknote has four bumps, and the $100 banknote has five bumps. This means that the bumps always appear slightly left of centre on the top edge, regardless of how the note has been placed in a wallet or purse.
The tactile feature is not Braille, and it is also not a security feature. It should not be used to check the authenticity of a banknote. Instead, it was developed in consultation with the vision-impaired community, who wanted a feature directly on the banknote that was durable, simple, and readily usable.
The use of polymer in Australian banknotes, rather than paper or cotton, also contributes to their accessibility for people with impaired vision. The polymer material is more durable and allows for the moulded tactile bumps, which would not be possible on paper notes.
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The tactile feature is not braille
Australian banknotes have a number of features that assist people who are blind or have low vision in recognising different banknote denominations. These features were developed in consultation with groups that represent the vision-impaired community. The new series of banknotes has a tactile feature that was developed in collaboration with the vision-impaired community, who requested a feature directly on the banknote that was durable, simple, and easy to use. The tactile feature on the $5 banknote is a raised bump on each of the long edges of the banknote. The other denominations will have different numbers of bumps. For instance, the $10 banknote has two bumps on each edge, the $20 banknote has three, the $50 banknote has four, and the $100 banknote has five. The location of the bumps means that they always appear slightly left of centre on the top edge, regardless of the orientation of the note in a wallet or purse.
Australian banknotes are made from polymer, a type of plastic that is more durable than traditional paper or cotton banknotes. This material is also flexible and has some texture, making it distinct from smooth plastic. The use of polymer allows the banknotes to last 2-3 times longer than other currencies and ensures that they never really go out of circulation unless deliberately torn or damaged.
The introduction of tactile features on Australian banknotes has been well-received by many individuals, including those with low vision, who find it easier to identify different denominations using the tactile dots rather than relying solely on size or other visual cues.
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Banknotes are made from durable polymer, not paper
Australian banknotes are made from a durable polymer, not paper. This means they last 2-3 times longer than other currencies. They never really go out of circulation unless they are deliberately torn, and they can withstand being put through a washing machine or left in a wallet for a year.
The Reserve Bank of Australia designs and produces banknotes that meet community needs. One aspect of functionality is that the banknotes are accessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Australia's banknotes have a number of features that assist people who are blind or have low vision to recognise different banknote denominations.
The existing Australian banknote features that were designed to assist people with impaired vision include bright colours, large and contrasting numbers, and variable sizes for each denomination of banknote. The new series of banknotes also has a tactile feature, developed in consultation with the vision-impaired community, who wanted a feature directly on the banknote that was durable, simple, and readily usable.
The $5 banknote has one bump on each of the long edges of the banknote next to the top-to-bottom window. The $10 banknote has two bumps on each edge, the $20 banknote has three bumps, the $50 banknote has four bumps, and the $100 banknote has five bumps. The location of the bumps means that they always appear slightly left of centre on the top edge, regardless of which way the banknote has been placed in a wallet or purse.
The tactile feature is not Braille. It is also not a security feature and should not be used to check the authenticity of a banknote.
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Each denomination has a different number of bumps
Australian banknotes have a number of features that assist people who are blind or have low vision in recognizing different banknote denominations. The Reserve Bank has consulted a wide range of subject matter experts and stakeholders to ensure that the banknotes are accessible to everyone. One such feature is the number of bumps on the banknote. Each denomination has a different number of bumps. The $5 banknote has one bump on each of the long edges of the banknote, the $10 banknote has two bumps on each edge, the $20 banknote has three, the $50 banknote has four, and the $100 banknote has five. The location of the bumps is such that they always appear slightly left of center on the top edge, regardless of the orientation of the note.
These bumps are a tactile feature that was developed in consultation with the vision-impaired community. The community wanted a feature directly on the banknote that was durable, simple, and readily usable. The tactile feature is not Braille and should not be used to check the authenticity of a banknote. Other features that assist people with impaired vision include bright colors, large and contrasting numbers, and variable sizes for each denomination of banknote.
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Banknotes have bright colours and large, contrasting numbers
Australian banknotes have bright colours and large, contrasting numbers to assist people with impaired vision. The Reserve Bank has worked with a wide range of subject matter experts and stakeholders to ensure that the banknotes are accessible to people who are blind or have low vision.
The $5 banknote has a raised bump on each of the long edges, while the $10 banknote has two bumps on each edge, the $20 banknote has three bumps, the $50 banknote has four bumps, and the $100 banknote has five bumps. The variable number of bumps on each denomination helps people with impaired vision to distinguish between different banknote values.
The bumps are moulded into the plastic of the banknote, which is made from durable polymer. This means that the bumps are long-lasting and do not easily flatten from being in and out of wallets and pockets. The polymer material also makes the banknotes last 2-3 times longer than other currencies, as it is more durable than paper or cotton.
In addition to the bright colours, large numbers, and tactile bumps, Australian banknotes also have variable sizes for each denomination, providing multiple ways for people with impaired vision to identify the different banknote values.
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Frequently asked questions
Australian money has a tactile feature with raised bumps to assist people with impaired vision. However, the tactile feature is not braille.
The raised bumps on Australian currency are designed to assist people who are blind or have low vision in recognising different banknote denominations.
The $5 banknote has one bump on each of the long edges, the $10 banknote has two bumps on each edge, the $20 banknote has three bumps, the $50 banknote has four bumps, and the $100 banknote has five bumps.
Yes, the bumps are moulded into the plastic polymer material of the banknotes, making them durable and long-lasting.
Yes, in addition to the tactile bumps, Australian currency also features bright colours, large and contrasting numbers, and variable sizes for each denomination to assist people with impaired vision.
