Melbourne Town Hall 13-14 October 2025.
Written by: Stephanie Loria, Access Consultant
The Access 2025 Conference, hosted by the Access Consultants Association (ACA), brought together over 250 in-person attendees each day, all united by a shared commitment to shaping a more inclusive future through Universal Design.
Attendees included access consultants, building surveyors, community advocates, government, health and other industry professionals with many participants with a lived experience of disability. The Architecture & Access team made a strong presence, with around 20 Melbourne-based staff and several colleagues from our Brisbane Team making the trip to join us.
Held at the iconic Melbourne Town Hall, the two-day event featured a dynamic program of keynote presentations, interactive panels, and industry exhibitions, all centred on the theme “Universal Design – Inclusive Futures.” The conference explored how inclusive design can transform built environments, products, services, and communities to be accessible to all — regardless of age, ability, gender, or neurodiversity.
The conference demonstrated inclusive design in action by providing live captioning and Auslan interpreters. Architecture & Access contributed by helping set up and provide a Reset Room, an assistance animal relief facility/area, and a team of conference supporters to assist attendees with various needs – from finding a bathroom to locating a pen. Due to a high demand, the event was also streamed live, enabling remote participation. This option was particularly valuable for people who experience fatigue or social anxiety and may find in-person attendance challenging. Inclusive conferences aren’t just about the physical environment – they also depend on how events are organised and managed to ensure a welcoming experience for all.
Keynote Speakers & Panels
Experts from across the access and inclusion landscape shared insights on designing for diversity and accessibility. Topics ranged from inclusive architecture and urban planning to community engagement and cultural considerations.
Our own Access Leader, Cathryn Grant, presented on Day One on Designing Sensory-Friendly Spaces For Everyone, supported by a panel of our neuro-inclusive experts – Ellen Naismith, Ilianna Ginnis and Tina Merk. Their session sparked an engaging conversation about designing spaces that support neurodivergent individuals and introduced our recently released Reset Room Guide. Well done team!
Organising Committee
The event was coordinated by a dedicated team from ACA, including our Senior Access Consultant, Stephanie Loria, who serves as Chairperson for ACA’s Victorian Sub-Committee.
Chris Porter, Director shared:
“I was incredibly proud of our team for participating in the organisation of such an inclusive event, presenting ‘Design for Neurodiversity’, and putting these principles into practice through the Reset Room at the conference. “
The next in person conference will be held in 2027 with the hosting state to be announced!
