Our Services

Disability Access Compliance Audits

Ensuring the environments that are existing or new meet ever changing disability access standards, universal design standards or even specific disability needs requires a high level of research based knowledge, understanding of both Australian and relevant International Standards and specific needs of people with a range of disabilities.

Our team of accredited access consultants have years of experience auditing some of the major infrastructure in Australia including Queensland Cultural Centre Precinct, Southern Cross Station (Melbourne) and numerous public use precincts and sites.

Our system wide audits include a close examination of relevant Laws and Standards and can include a risk analysis and condition reporting.

Accessible Wayfinding, Design Reviews and Advice

Being one of the principal drafters of AS1428.4.2:2018, we have a unique knowledge of what make a wayfinding design accessible to everyone, including people with sensory disabilities. Overuse of tactile ground surface indicators is far to common when good accessible wayfinding design will reduce the need for these critical devices. As well understanding how to uncomplicate wayfinding to ensure comprehcnsion by people with a range of disabilities as well as ensuring messages can be read by people who a Bling or have a vision impairment is a unique skill which has been enshrined in our work for over 20 years now.

Wayfinding Designers are a very important part of any major public project but who checks their work to make sure it will provide an accessible outcome. That’s what we do.

Livable Housing Australia (LHA) Assessments

Having a number of Livable Housing Assessors in our team provides enormous benefits to people who are designing and building in this space. Housing projects usually require quick turn arounds for both design assessments and as built assessments.

We have undertaken LHA Assessments for thousands of dwellings including the Athletes Village at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Also some of our consultants have participated in the development of the Livable Housing Design Guidelines which means using our team for your next :HA project will bring great value to the design and compliance outcome.

Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessments

One of the most important programs ever introduced by the Commonwealth has been the National Disability Insurance Scheme and for people who are participants in the Scheme another major positive outcome has been the Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) program.

Within our team of access consultants are a number of accredited SDA Assessors. Again some of our assessors were involved in the development of the SDA Design Standard so we know what we are doing. Our work as SDA Assessors covers every Australian State and Territory with hundreds of projects currently being assessed. Whether it be a Villa, Townhouse, Granny Flat, Home or Apartment project we have a wealth of experience in assessment and assisting with the design which our clients benefit from.

Research

Over the many years we have been providing access consulting services we have also participated in a number of important research projects for people like Main Roads Queensland, Department of Main Roads WA, the CRC for Construction Innovation and Queensland Health.

This research has played an important part in some ground breaking publications like the Wayfinding Design Guidelines and Audit Tool (CRC Construction Innovation Project) and Queensland Health Wayfinding Design Guidelines.

If you have a research project in the disability access field we may be able to assist you.

Performance Based Design Briefs and Performance Solutions

Building Solutions proposed under the National Construction Code (NCC) must achieve the Performance Requirements of the NCC by either demonstrating compliance with the Deemed to Satisfy Provisions or through a Performance Solution. It is also possible to develop a Building Solution which is part Deemed to Satisfy and part Performance Solutions. Regardless of which compliance path is chosen the Performance Requirements must be achieved.

Under building control legislation it is mandatory to achieve the Performance Requirements of the NCC for all building work which requires a building approval.

Where compliance with the NCC is proposed to be achieved through the use of a Performance Solution, the Building Certifier is responsible for assessing the Performance Solution and determining whether it meets the applicable Performance Requirement.

It should also be noted, in Queensland, that whilst building control legislation provides the certifier with powers of assessment under the Building Act, these powers of assessment do not extend beyond building control legislation ie., the certifiers powers of assessment do not extend into the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) and the requirements of its Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 (DAPS). A Performance Solution which meets the Performance Requirement of the NCC, if tested through the complaints processes of the DDA, may prove to be unlawful.