Practical DDA access advice for new developments, alterations and existing buildings across Victoria and Australia.
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) creates important responsibilities for organisations that provide access to premises, services, employment, education and public facilities. For building owners and project teams, the challenge is understanding how the DDA relates to the National Construction Code (NCC), the Premises Standards and referenced Australian Standards.
ASN provides independent DDA access consulting that turns these overlapping requirements into clear project actions. We help clients identify barriers, understand risk and make informed decisions about accessible design and reasonable improvements.
Request a fee proposal or call 1300 276 222 to discuss your project.
What does a DDA access consultant do?
A DDA access consultant assesses how people with disability can approach, enter, move through and use a building or service. The work may include reviewing proposed designs, inspecting existing premises, identifying access barriers, interpreting technical requirements and recommending practical improvements.
The appropriate scope depends on the building, its use, the project stage and the client’s objectives. A new development may need detailed drawing reviews, while an existing facility may benefit from an onsite audit and prioritised action plan.
DDA, NCC and AS 1428: how do they relate?
These instruments are connected, but they are not interchangeable:
- The DDA is federal anti-discrimination legislation. It provides a legal framework for addressing discrimination against people with disability.
- The Premises Standards help align certain building access requirements with the building approval system.
- The NCC contains mandatory technical requirements used in building design and approval.
- The AS 1428 suite provides technical design requirements referenced by the NCC and other documents.
Meeting the deemed-to-satisfy provisions of the NCC is important, but it does not mean every possible DDA concern has automatically been removed. The building’s use, existing conditions and the experience of people with disability may also need consideration. ASN explains these distinctions in plain language so the client can make a properly informed decision.
DDA access consulting services
- Desktop access audits for plans, specifications and design documentation
- Onsite access audits of existing premises and completed work
- Access advice during concept design and design development
- Reviews of accessible paths of travel, entrances, circulation spaces and facilities
- Advice for proposed alterations, upgrades and changes of use
- Prioritised recommendations for reducing barriers in existing buildings
- Performance Solution reports where an alternative compliance approach is appropriate
- Luminance contrast testing of relevant building elements and finishes
When should you seek DDA access advice?
Access advice is valuable whenever a decision may affect how people with disability use a place. Common triggers include:
- Planning a new building, fitout or major refurbishment
- Preparing documents for building approval
- Purchasing or leasing a property
- Responding to an access complaint or identified barrier
- Developing an accessibility improvement program
- Changing a building’s use or service delivery model
- Reviewing older premises that pre-date current access requirements
Early advice generally provides more options. It allows accessibility to be integrated into the design rather than treated as a late correction.
What will you receive?
The deliverable is agreed before work begins. Depending on the engagement, it may include a marked-up drawing review, written access assessment, onsite audit report, schedule of findings, photographic evidence, recommendations and advice to the project team.
ASN reports are designed to be useful. Findings identify the relevant location or drawing reference, explain the issue and state the recommended action. Where priorities are required, we can help distinguish immediate risks from longer-term improvement opportunities.
Why ASN?
Access Solutions National has provided disability access and inclusion advice since 2002. Our consultants are qualified and Accredited Members of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA). Director Dale Sheppard combines industry knowledge and academic qualifications with more than 20 years of lived experience of disability.
That combination supports advice that considers both technical compliance and how accessibility decisions affect people using the built environment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a building be NCC compliant but still present a DDA risk?
Potentially, yes. The NCC and DDA have different legal functions. Compliance with building requirements is a critical part of accessibility, but a broader access issue may still arise depending on the circumstances. Project-specific legal advice should be obtained where required.
Is a DDA access audit only for public buildings?
No. Access considerations may apply across many premises and service settings, including workplaces, education, retail, hospitality, community facilities, accommodation and government buildings. The correct scope depends on the site’s use and the client’s objectives.
Can ASN advise on an existing building?
Yes. An onsite access audit can document barriers and provide practical, prioritised recommendations. It can support maintenance planning, capital works, due diligence or a broader accessibility action program.
Does ASN provide legal advice?
No. ASN provides specialist disability access and built-environment consulting. Where a matter requires a legal opinion about DDA obligations or a complaint, the client should also obtain advice from an appropriately qualified legal practitioner.
Request DDA access advice
Send ASN the project address, building use, current drawings or photographs, project stage, required service and any deadline. Request a fee proposal, view our other access consulting services or call 1300 276 222.