Balancing inclusivity, privacy and choice in public amenities.
Written by: Ilianna Ginnis, Neuro-Inclusive Design & Access Consultant and Cathryn Grant, Access Leader Victoria
At Architecture & Access, we recently conducted a public survey to better understand community attitudes toward public toilet facilities, including the implementation of all-gender toilets. This research is part of our ongoing commitment to promote inclusive design and aligns with evolving National Construction Code (NCC) requirements and best practice accessibility standards.
The Australian Building Codes Board is considering introducing provisions in the NCC that support the inclusion of all-gender sanitary facilities in public buildings, reflecting broader societal shifts toward gender inclusivity. While these changes promote more equitable design, understanding community comfort and expectations is essential to ensure dignity, safety, and usability for all.
Survey Findings: A call for Choice and Flexibility
Our survey revealed a range of perspectives and highlighted the importance of offering diverse options in public toilet design:
- 56% of respondents preferred gender-specific toilets, especially female-only spaces.
- 0% selected all-gender toilets as their first choice.
- However, 67% said they would feel comfortable using all-gender toilets if male and female options were also available. This demonstrates user choice significantly influences comfort.
- 74% were comfortable with shared handwashing areas.
- Cultural or religious concerns were significant, with more than half of the participants emphasising their religious preferences in choosing gender-specific toilets.
- Respondents strongly emphasised the importance of privacy, cleanliness, and functional features such as full-height doors, shelves, sanitary disposal bins, and hooks.
These insights suggest that inclusive toilet design should not follow a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, it should offer multiple options, that accommodate social, cultural, and sensory needs while supporting universal access.
Community Voices: What Matters Most
Respondents provided thoughtful feedback on how public toilets can better serve a wider range of users, including people with disability, neurodivergent individuals, families, carers, and people from diverse gender identities. Key themes included:
- Cleanliness and maintenance: “Ensure they are regularly cleaned and maintained.”
- Women’s Needs: “Females have more issues sharing an all-gender toilet than men do. And a lot of this is not the design, but rather the cleaning of the facility.”
- Family-friendly and accessible design: “Increase consideration of children or people with children. Safety at entrances. More space around basins for carers. Alternatives to loud hand dryers. Sinks and soap that children can reach. More all-gender options so fathers or male caregivers can take children as well.”
- Privacy: “Full doors instead of half-doors.”
- Lighting and self-care: “Lighting is often too dim to use the mirror… I prefer sharing a basin, but not for things like fixing makeup.”
- Choice and social change: “Providing choice is important. But ultimately, changing people’s attitudes will make the biggest difference.”
- Education and signage: “Better signage and gradual integration of all-gender toilets. Education and communication will help normalise these spaces.”
- Neurodiverse considerations: “A seating area outside would be help…, especially for companions. Sometimes I need to stop and check I’ve got everything before I go. As someone with ADHD, I often forget my phone and double back. Having a small bench would help with this.”
Looking Ahead
This survey reflects an important conversation around how we can create safe, inclusive, and dignified public amenities. All gender toilets are not a replacement for gender-specific ones – but when thoughtfully designed, they offer flexibility, equity, and a more inclusive built environment.
At Architecture & Access, we remain committed to advocating for design solutions that respect everyone’s right to access public space comfortably and safely.
