Identify access barriers and plan practical improvements across shopping centres, retail precincts and mixed-use centres.
Access Solutions National (ASN) provides detailed accessibility audits for shopping centre owners, asset managers, facility teams, developers and leasing teams. We assess how people arrive, enter, move through and use the facility, then document clear priorities for action.
Request a fee proposal or call 1300 276 222 to discuss your site.
Why accessibility audits matter for shopping centres, retail precincts and mixed-use centres
Accessibility affects participation, safety, service delivery and the everyday experience of people with disability. An audit creates a reliable picture of current conditions before upgrades, budgets or project briefs are finalised. ASN considers the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), the National Construction Code (NCC), the AS 1428 suite of Australian Standards and the agreed operational context.
The assessment is not a generic checklist. It follows representative user journeys and considers how individual barriers interact across the property.
What the audit can cover
Depending on the agreed scope, the audit can review site arrival, accessible parking, public transport links, entries, malls, lifts and travelators, food courts, customer service, sanitary facilities and tenancy interfaces. Relevant elements may include parking, paths of travel, ramps, stairs, doorways, circulation spaces, lifts, sanitary facilities, signage, tactile ground surface indicators, luminance contrast and service points.
Common accessibility risks
- multiple arrival points with inconsistent wayfinding and routes
- changes of level across large retail floorplates
- temporary kiosks, queuing and promotions affecting circulation
- landlord and tenant works creating gaps at tenancy boundaries
Findings are supported by site observations and photographs where relevant. The report explains why an issue matters and provides practical recommendations for the next decision.
What you receive
- Defined audit scope: a clear record of the areas, routes and facilities assessed.
- Documented findings: identified access issues with locations, photographs and relevant references.
- Practical recommendations: actions suitable for operational change, maintenance, design development or capital works.
- Prioritised planning: findings that can inform asset planning, centre upgrades, redevelopment, leasing standards and customer access programs.
- Post-report support: clarification for the client and project team within the agreed service.
Desktop and onsite audit options
For proposed work, ASN can complete a desktop access audit of drawings and documentation. For existing buildings or completed works, an onsite access audit records physical conditions and measurements. Projects can use both services at different stages.
ASN also provides access consulting for retail environments, Performance Solution reports and luminance contrast testing where required.
Why engage ASN?
- Accredited expertise: ASN consultants are qualified and Accredited Members of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA).
- Established experience: ASN has provided disability access and inclusion advice since 2002.
- Lived experience: Director Dale Sheppard brings more than 20 years of lived experience of disability alongside academic qualifications and industry experience.
- Practical reporting: findings explain the issue, relevant requirement and recommended response.
- Independent advice: our focus is an accessible, compliant and workable built environment.
Frequently asked questions
Can an audit cover common areas and individual tenancies?
Yes. Scope can focus on landlord-controlled common areas, selected tenancies or the interface between them.
Can ASN audit accessible parking and external approaches?
Yes. Parking, set-down, pedestrian links, kerb ramps and entrances can be included as part of the visitor journey.
How are findings prioritised across a large centre?
The report can group findings by impact, urgency, location and opportunity to coordinate with planned maintenance or redevelopment.
Request a fee proposal
Send ASN the property address, building type, areas to be assessed, available plans and your required timeframe through our fee request form. You can also email info@asnpl.com.au or call 1300 276 222.