Australians with Disabilities

For over a decade, accessibility standards have been regulated by a voluntary set of Livable Housing Design Guidelines. Over that time, only 5% of new home builds have complied with these guidelines.

As a result, tens of thousands of Australians with disabilities are currently unable to access housing that meets their needs.

Australians with disabilities would have greater choice about where and how to live

Current housing stock already fails the needs of Australians with disabilities and yet demand for accessible housing is anticipated to almost double over the next 40 years.

This will lead to:

  • the need for expensive home modifications
  • the need for additional paid and unpaid care
  • diminished employment opportunities
  • and an increased risk of social isolation and lonliness
A woman smiling and surrounded by a man and two young children; the woman is in a wheelchair
We look at design and think oh yeah, just get him through a door. But no, get him through a door to get to work, to get on the train. That's what the right door does, it provides an opportunity. It's all about opportunities. And that's what design does
- Survey respondent 2020
On the topic of NDIS: because my housing is inaccessible I have basically $25,000 a year funding purely to supervise me [while] showering, which would be completely unnecessary if I had an actual accessible bathroom. It is completely bonkers
- Survey respondent 2020

Hear from prominent Australians

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