Access Consulting
Architecture & Access is passionate about transforming the lives of people of all abilities by creating environments that are accessible, inclusive and safe.
An accessible environment is one that people of all abilities can safely locate, enter, move around, exit, and find their way to and from.
Our experienced team of qualified and accredited access consultants, including specialists sometimes referred to as disability access and DDA consultants work closely with you to understand your project and develop cost-effective solutions that are functional, safe and meet the needs of all users.
Throughout the lifecycle of a project (from initial concept development through to construction), we provide dynamic specialist advice to ensure new developments, and upgrades to existing buildings, comply with legislative requirements and incorporate the goals of universal design.
Who we work with:
- Architects & Designers
- Project Managers
- Construction Contractors
- Government Agencies
- Community Organisations
- Developers
- Building Certifiers & Surveyors
- Building Managers
- Event Managers
Creating safe, dignified
and equitable access
Frequently Asked Questions
Access consulting is a specialist advice that helps make buildings and spaces accessible, inclusive and compliant with relevant standards and legislation. It supports better outcomes for people of all abilities while reducing design and compliance risks.
Access consulting helps identify accessibility issues early so they can be resolved before they become costly design, approval or construction problems. It also supports safer, more usable environments for a wider range of people.
Access consulting can help architects, designers, project managers, developers, contractors, government agencies, certifiers, building managers and community organisations. It is especially useful for anyone responsible for compliance, usability or inclusive design outcomes.
An access consultant is best engaged as early as possible, ideally from masterplanning and project brief development and then through the early design stages of concept design through to construction. Early advice can assist in setting or defining the accessibility aspirations for the project above minimum standards, improve design decisions, avoid rework and make compliance easier to achieve.
An access consultant may review plans, assess existing buildings, provide accessibility audits and advise on performance solutions where standard compliance pathways are not suitable. They can also assess specialist facilities and housing designs against relevant requirements.
A design review looks at proposed plans or drawings before construction to identify potential accessibility issues. An accessibility audit assesses an existing building or environment to check how it performs against current accessibility requirements.
Yes, access consulting can support both legislative compliance and broader universal design goals. That means the advice is not only about meeting minimum requirements but also about creating spaces that work better for more people.
An accessibility performance solution assessment explores an alternative way to meet the intent of accessibility requirements when a standard deemed-to-satisfy approach is not practical. This can help projects find compliant and functional solutions for more complex design conditions.
Yes, Architect & Access have staff trained and accredited to access and certify Changing Places facilities.
Yes, the page highlights livable housing design assessments aligned with NCC 2022. This can help residential projects understand how proposed designs meet current livable housing requirements.
Relevant experience, accreditation and practical cross-disciplinary knowledge are all valuable when choosing an access consultant. On this page, Architecture & Access highlights more than 20 years of experience, ACAA membership and a team with backgrounds across architecture, occupational therapy, project management and interior design.
Good access consulting can improve usability, reduce redesign costs and support more inclusive experiences for occupants, visitors and stakeholders. It can also help project teams make more confident decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
