The Rodney Warmington Churchill Fellowship to identify the most effective ways to ensure buildings are accessible to people with disability

Recommendations The Premises Standards must be reviewed every five years. The first review took place in 2016, with the review report and Government response released in 2017.2 While some of the review recommendations are already being actioned, the major work on a range of recommendations is yet to be completed. This report (including my recommendations) will be provided to politicians, the Review Team, disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), human rights agencies, regulators and building professionals in the hope that they may influence discussions during the review over the next year, and beyond.

• Increase the availability of information, training and resources to assist with understanding and applying the standards
• Address the need for more flexibility in relation to upgrades and extensions to existing buildings while retaining the integrity of the Premises Standards
• Extend the scope of Disability Standards to ensure a more holistic approach to the built environment, employment and service delivery
• Provide a timely, low-cost, expert-driven appeals process in relation to substantial questions of unjustifiable hardship and appropriate Performance Solutions
• Establish better compliance monitoring, enforcement and auditing systems
• Ensure access issues are integrated into the earliest stages of a project