How Accessible are our Homes and Apartments?

Issues in the Aged Care Sector over the past 2 years have highlighted how important it is for people to live in their own homes for as long as possible and prevent admission to long-term residential care. Minimum standards for ‘housing liveability’ formed part of the proposed changes to the National Construction Code, agreed to by State ministers earlier this year. These changes have been strongly supported by the AIA and other advocacy groups.

AIA President Shannon Battison argues “with more than half a million people reported as needing assistance with mobility alone in the ABS 2018 Disability, Ageing and Carers survey design standards such as wider doorways, eliminating thresholds into people’s homes, and providing for bedroom and bathroom areas in a dwelling’s entry level need to be factored into our homes"’ 

Australian Institute of Architects...26/8/2022

Brian Mariotti, Director, Allen Jack Cottier Architects says “There is an overlap between general liveability and disability design in apartment buildings. It’s about making buildings more resilient and fit for purpose for longer. Designs that are easy to adapt without making changes in the future – for example, if a cabinet in a bathroom can be removed to make the wash basin work for a wheelchair user, it can allow people to age in their homes” 

The Urban Developer ( 27/6/2022)

Join our panel of experts for our CPD webinar to discuss:

• Liveable Housing NCC 2022 – Class 2 and 1a – upcoming changes to the NCC

• Bringing disability housing into mainstream design – integrating into mainstream developments

• Design principles to ensure that housing meets the needs of all across their lifetimes

• Reconciling accessible housing benefits against the costs of additional space and automation?

• Supported Disability Housing – what is it and who is it for?

• Update on Building Ministers meeting on NCC changes - how do we get coherency and agreement in Legislation?

• Incorporating accessibility through advancements in technology for sensory, cognitive and neurological issues – face recognition, voice cards, lighting, wayfinding features

• Building home modifications for people with NDIS support

• Building Surveyor perspective on Class 3 – supported disability housing

Meet the Experts

Cathryn Grant

Cathryn is a registered Occupational Therapist and ACAA Accredited Access Consultant. As a Unit Manager and Senior Access Consultant, Cathryn is hands-on leading specialist teams to deliver projects covering a full range of service types to ensure buildings are designed and constructed in line with the National Building Code and Disability Discrimination Act, considering the access needs of all users, particularly those with physical and sensory disability. Cathryn has completed a Master’s in Public Health, specializing in health and the built environment. She has a passion for universal design and has partnered with Deakin University to undertake research in this area.

Peter Raisbeck

Peter is an architect, design teacher and a researcher. Since 2006 Peter has been at Melbourne University teaching architectural practice and design. Prior to this he worked in architectural offices, research organizations and in his own practice. He has extensively taught design at RMIT, Melbourne University and Swinburne. Peter researches and write across architecture urban design, technology, financial systems, procurement and architectural history. Peter sees architecture as a domain which requires research that is future driven and yet realistic and practical in its outcomes. He is passionate about making a positive impact on architectural design outcomes via knowledge transfer, teaching and research. I believe that diversity and inclusion go alongside effective leadership and governance in the architectural profession and academia.

Tim Randall

Tim has long believed architecture is not about form, but formations of people. It’s how we relate to architecture that really interests him. Having grown up in the shadow of Kunanyi in Hobart, Tim now lives and works on Wurundjeri land in Melbourne. Tim graduated from Monash University in 2016 and was awarded the RAIA Student Prize for the Advancement of Architecture in 2017. An Architect at Architecture & Access, he specialises in designing spaces for people with a disability, including home modifications and Specialist Disability Accommodation.

Featire

Nicole Levitt

Nicole is a professional Access Consultant and Accredited SDA Assessor with qualifications in Occupational Therapy and Interior Design. She has provided access consulting and home modification services to private and public sector clients throughout Australia. Nicole specialises in working with architects, designers, builders, government agencies and managers of buildings, to ensure the requirements of disability access and universal design are incorporated into proposed developments.

Stuart Brown

Stuart is a BCA Consultant and certifier with over 28 years’ experience in the building surveying industry with local government and various surveying positions in private practice both in Australia and the United Kingdom. His experience covers permit processes, building regulatory plan checking, fire safety risk assessments, building inspections, audits, condition and facilities surveying. A Chartered Building Control Surveyor with the Royal Institution of Building Surveyors (UK) and a Registered Building Practitioner in Victoria under the category of Building Surveyor Unlimited.

Richard Vernon

Richard is registered Commercial and Domestic Builder with over 30 years’ experience in the building industry. Founding Director of two businesses, Building Impressions P/L and ESP Australia P/L. Richard has a vast wealth of knowledge and expertise in providing Disability Access solutions in compliance with the Building Code of Australian and Disability Access Standard AS1428. Building Impressions is a registered NDIS Service provider and has over 15 years extensive experience in the disability access space. Richard personally designed and created a range of ESP Surface applied and cast in place TGSI Access Tile Systems.

CPD - Participation in this webinar will deliver 2.5 formal CPD points.

Learning outcomes - At the conclusion of this webinar, attendees will be able to list the key design considerations to bring accessible housing into mainstream design, describe the main changes in the NCC regulations impacting accessibility, list some of the main technological advances to aid living for all in apartments and describe the key features of supported disability housing

AACA Competencies: Practice Management and Professional Conduct - PC 12

The webinar will include time for Q&A with our speakers. Written CPD questions will be circulated prior to the event. Send your responses to CPD questions to mark@meccaevents.com.au for the issue of a certificate of completion. Keep your receipt, completed questions and certificate for your CPD records.

For more information, contact Mark Gledhill - mark@meccaevents.com.au