A period of disability, whether permanent or temporary, is a normal part of the human life cycle for a majority of Australians. There are physical and non-physical barriers within the built environment which can limit freedom of movement and choice for a significant number of people, especially people with disabilities, people with limited mobility and older people. Universal access, which accommodates the needs of all people regardless of age and ability, benefits the whole community and is, therefore, a community responsibility. The Institute recognises that the architectural profession has a significant role in determining the level of accessibility in the built environment, including heritage buildings, public and private housing, and outdoor built environments. We affirm the responsibility of the architectural profession to contribute to the provision of universal access throughout the built environment as a basic human right.
Existing rights of access to public facilities and buildings are governed by the combined effect of the prohibition on discrimination contained in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA92) together with the provisions of the applicable State or Territory Equal Opportunity legislation and the technical requirements contained in the Building Code of Australia (BCA).
In recognition that the BCA does not completely capture the intent of the DDA, a review of this regulatory framework has been underway since 2000, led by the Australian Building Codes Board. A Draft Disability Standards on Access to Premises was submitted in 2005 to the Federal Attorney General and the Federal Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources for their endorsement.