An opportunity for Local Government Areas (LGA’s) to improve the freedom, inclusion and participation of people with severe disabilities by providing them dignity and choice.
Changing Places and Adult Change Facilities (which are based on the Changing Places design) are intended to meet the needs of people with high support needs who are unable to use a typical accessible toilet. Without a toilet facility that meets their needs, the lived experience of this group of people, their families, friends and carers is very restricted.
Changing Places include:
- A height adjustable, adult sized change table
- A constant charge ceiling track hoist
- A centrally located peninsula toilet pan with grabrails and backrest
- Generous circulation spaces
- A large automatic door
- A privacy screen
As of 1 February 2024, the Commonwealth has increased the funding offer and has made all Local Government Areas (LGA’s) eligible to receive funding for a Changing Places facility, regardless of existing facilities.
The Commonwealth has committed to contribute to improve the lives of people with high support needs and their families and carers by contributing up to half of the total build cost for each facility agreed to under the funding offer. This offer is being implemented in four tranches with the final two tranches being 2024-2025 and 2025-2026. There is still funding available under this offer.
Other requirements which form part of the funding agreement are:
- All Changing Places must be accredited by a Changing Places assessor. Accreditation ensures that Changing Places are built to standard, ensuring users can be confident that design is fit for purpose.
- Once a Changing Places Assessor has assessed a facility and is satisfied it meets the requirements of the Changing Places Design Specification 2020, a Statement of Compliance will be issued. The funding recipient must provide a copy of the Statement of Compliance to Department of Social Services (DSS).
- Recipients must ensure that once the Changing Places facility is accredited, it is listed on the Changing Places website and the National Public Toilet Map
How Architecture & Access can help you realise a Changing Places in your LGA
Our in-house Changing Places Assessors can review the documentation for the facility during the design stage to ensure the completed facility can be registered as an accredited Changing Place. This will allow the facility to be included on the Changing Places website and National Public Toilet Map.
Design reviews of your facility will be completed at the schematic design and construction documentation stage of the project.
Architecture & Access will conduct a site inspection to review the ‘As-built’ structure for final accreditation with Changing Places. At the completion of construction, a Certificate of Compliance will be issued, which is suitable to submit to register the facility with Changing Places and achieve compliance with DSS’s funding requirements.
