National Enabling
Architecture Committee
National Enabling Architecture Committee
The National Enabling Architecture Committee is an advocate and advisor on technical matters of enabling design in the Australian built environment. It is comprised of members from most states and territories chapters, There are Enabling Architecture committees in many chapters. Enabling architecture is more than design to improve access into and within buildings for people with mobility impairment. The committee is concerned with many elements of design for people with mobility and movement impairments, as well as sensory impairments and cognitive and other neurological issues which may create challenges for way-finding, and where good design responses better enable people to work, learn, recreate and experience wellbeing in the spaces they regularly use.
Committee members
Allen Kong LFRAIA is Convenor of the National Enabling Architecture Committer (NEAC) and the Past Chair of the Institute’s Victorian Chapter’s Enabling Architecture Committee (formerly Access Committee). Allen is one of the two Co-Directors of the International Union Of Architects (UIA) Architecture for All Work Program, Co-Chair of Indigenous Architecture and Design Australia, a member of the Victorian Building Appeals Board, an Accredited Member Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA) and subject matter advisor advice to the Standards Australia committee, ME-064 Access for People with Disabilities.
Sascha Christensen RAIA (Qld) is an Access Consultant and a Supported Disability Accommodation (SDA) Assessor Registered with Livable Housing Australia.
Francesca Davenport LFRAIA, (Victoria), is the Past Convenor of the NEAC, Chair of Institute’s Victorian Chapter’s Enabling Architecture Committee (formerly Access Committee), member of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA), member of the International Network of designers with Disabilities, and a member of the Global Universal Design Educators Network. Francesca is also an Assessor for Changing Places.
John Deshon AM LFRAIA, (Qld) is the Past Chair of the NEAC.
Stephen Geason, is a Tasmanian Registered Architect and has undertaken a Churchill Fellowship on Design for Dementia.
Farah Madon RAIA (NSW) is the Vice President of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (AACA) and their representative on the NEAC, a member Standards Australia committee ME-064 Access for People with Disabilities, a member of Penrith City Council’s Access Committee, a Director of Livable Housing Australia, and a member of the ABCB (Australia Building Codes Board) LHIAC (Livable Housing Implementation Advisory Committee)
Eric Martin AM LFRAIA (ACT) is a past chair of the NEAC, a Fellow of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (AACA) ACAA, Accredited Member ACAA. a member of the Australian Institute of Architects’ National Practice Committee and the Australian Institute of Architects representative on the Australian Building Codes Board’s (ABCB) Building Codes Committee. Eric is a member of Standard Australia’s committees, ME-064 Access for People with Disabilities and ME-004 Lift Installations. Eric is also aa member of International Standards Organisation’s (ISO) Committee 59/SC 16/WG4 Accessibility of immovable cultural heritage.
Toni Neck RAIA (WA) Toni is a member of the Australian Institute of Architects’ Western Australia Chapter’s Enabling Architecture Committee (WAEAC), and State Design Review Panel,
Martin O’Dea is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA) and has been the AILA representative on the National Enabling Architecture Committee since 2004. Martin is Principal Landscape Architect at CLOUSTON Associates (a Division of Beveridge Williams). Martin is Chair of the AILA Climate Positive Design Working Group and an AILA 2022 President’s Award winner.
Ross Sands FRAIA (SA)
Belinda Seale RAIA (Vic) is the Chair of the Institute’s Victorian Chapter’s Enabling Architecture Committee (formerly Access Committee), and an Accredited Member of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA). Belinda has 25 years’ experience as a practicing architect in design and delivery of enabling and therapeutic environments and is currently a PhD candidate for cross disciplinary research in Stroke Rehabilitation Research at the Florey Institute. Belinda is also an Australian representative and member of the International Union of Architects Architecture for All, Work Program.
Angela Roennfeldt FRAIA, (Victoria), is the Australian Institute of Architects representative and Chair of the Standards Australia committee, ME-064 Access for People with Disabilities and the Australian delegate for the International Standards Organisation (ISO) on Accessibility and the Built Environment. Angela has also undertaken a Churchill Fellowship looking at adaptable housing.
Meetings
Meetings are held:
The meetings are held via:
LATEST NEWS
May 9th 2023 – read the Institute’s analysis of the Federal budget. We are pleased to see that the Federal Budget is re-establishing a Cities and Suburbs Unit and the Government will develop a comprehensive National Urban Policy to address urgent challenges facing our major cities including equitable access to jobs, homes and services.
May 6th 2023 – visit this page on the Australian Building Codes Board website to see how States and Territories are adopting the NCC 2022 Livable Housing Design Standard and other NCC 2022 energy efficiency and condensation provisions.
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Committee update
The Committee met most recently on [ ].
The Committee is currently considering matters of….
The Committee recently worked with the Insititute to make a submission to….
The Committee recently provided advice to the Institute’s Acumen Content Review Panel (ACRP) for a new practice note on…. and the revision of the practice note…..
The Committee is working with the National Education Team of the Institute on a half day formal CPD called …. to be held in September this year…
useful links
UIA Architecture for all.
The International Union of Architects (UIA )Architecture for All [AfA] Work Programme raises awareness of the architect’s responsibility to ensure that accessibility and inclusive design are essential components of architectural design, construction and education. The programme promotes good practice in accessible and inclusive urban design and architecture.
AS 1428.1:2021 Design for access and mobility, Part 1: General requirements for access – New building work.
Note this must be purchased fro Standards Australia or other subscription service. Australian Institute of Architects members can access a copy at no additional cost online by logging into their member benefits portal.
Interested in joining the committee?
If you are interested in joining the committee please email policy@architecture.com.au and state “I wish to join the National Enabling Architecture Committee” in the subject line.
Please note that Australian Institute of Architects committees are ordinarily only open to Institute members, unless by specific invitation.
