“We believe that the homes we build for today should be fit for all of tomorrow’s Australians.”
ANUHD calls for an access standard in the National Construction Code for all new and extensively modified housing.
This should be supported education and training for the housing industry.
ANUHD considers the minimum standard is
Gold Level as outlined in the Livable Housing Design Guidelines.
ANUHD convenors


Dr Margaret Ward PSM
Formerly an architect, public servant and advocate, Margaret Ward has spent much of her career working towards the adoption of housing design which includes everyone regardless of age and ability.
Phone +61 409 898 498
View professional profile
David Brant
Originally a high school teacher, David Brant now contributes to a wide range of community organisations. He has supported ANUHD since he established the Victorian Universal Housing Alliance, which catalysed the Victorian Government to consider regulation in 2010.
Phone +61 402 540 383
Activities and reports
Below is a list of the most recent events that support the regulation of an access standard in all new housing in the National Construction Code.
- October 2020 – ANUHD submission to the New National Disability Standard
- October 2020 – ANUHD submission to the review of Premises Standard
- August 2020 – ANUHD submission to the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement for accessible housing
- June 2020 – ANUHD submission to the Disability Royal Commission: Rights and Attitudes Issues Paper
- December 2019 – ANUHD submission to the Disability Royal Commission
- November 2019 – ANUHD submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission
- October 2019 – ANUHD submission to the City of Canterbury-Bankstown
- September 2019 – UNCRPD Committee Concluding observations on the combined second and third reports of Australia
- July 2019 – Minister Karen Andrews grants request for ABCB submissions to the Consultation RIS to be publicly available
- April 2019 – ABCB Accessible Housing Options Paper Consultation Report is released.
- October 2018 – ANUHD submission to ABCB Accessible Housing Options Paper
- June 2018 – ANUHD Survey report released
- June 2018 – Disability Discrimination Commissioner calls for accessible housing for all
- October 2017 – Building Ministers Forum undertakes a RIS to consider access in all new housing in the National Construction Code
- February 2016 – Proposal for Change to the ABCB (refused)
- January 2015 – Progress Report on the National Dialogue on Universal Housing Design
List of supporters
These organisations and individuals support the regulation of accessibility in housing in the National Construction Code. See our Position Statement.
- Access 2 Place Housing
- Access Australia
- Access Designs
- ACOSS
- Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation (AMIDA)
- ADACAS
- Alwyn Friedersdorff
- AMPARO Advocacy
- Andrew Cross, Architect & Occupational Therapist
- Annabel Drynan
- Anthony Nolan
- Araluen Centre
- ARATA
- Architecture & Access (Aust) Pty Ltd
- architecture.access.advocacy
- Association of Consultants in Access Australia
- Australia for All Alliance
- Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
- Australian Network for Universal Housing Design
- Avenues Lifestyle Org
- Bamford Godfrey & Assoc. Pty Ltd
- Bespoke Lifestyles
- Blesing Design
- Blind Citizens Australia
- BRIC Housing Company
- Brisbane City Council
- Brownstowe Pty Ltd
- Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF)
- Carers Queensland
- Carolyn Bennett
- Carolyn Vimpani
- Centre for Universal Design Australia
- Cerebral Palsy League
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia
- City Futures University of New South Wales
- City of Whittlesea
- City of Yarra
- Claire Orlowski
- Clark Corporate Consulting
- CMS Architects
- Co-Effective Solutions
- Community Housing Limited
- Community Resource Unit
- Community Resourcing
- COTA
- COTA NSW
- COTA Queensland
- COTA Tasmania
- COTA Victoria
- Darmah Nrs
- Decision Easy
- Deicke Richards Architects
- Didactic Enterprises
- Digby Hughes
- Disability Consultancy Services Pty Ltd
- Disability Justice Advocacy Inc
- Domestic Violence Victoria
- Dr Rhonda Galbally AO
- EcoCentre
- Economic Security for Women
- Egress Group Pty Ltd
- Emily Steel, OT
- Emma Lennon
- Enabled Quality Living
- Enabling Built Environments Program
- Endeavour Foundation
- Equality Rights Alliance
- Eric Martin
- Eric Martin and Associates
- Erika Webb Enterprises
- Every Australian Counts
- First Peoples Disability Network (Australia)
- Functional Access Solutions
- Gillian McFee &Associates
- Gillian Turnbull
- Heather Falkiner
- HLS Healthcare Pty Ltd
- Home Design for Living
- Home Modification Information Clearinghouse
- Home Modifications Australia
- HSPC Disability Access Consultancy
- Ian and Vivienne Hawkins
- IDEAS NSW
- Inclusion Plus Family Support Inc
- Independent Advocacy Townsville
- integratedDESIGNgroup
- Integrated Disability Action Inc
- Jade Daddo
- Jean Cotchin
- Jean Prentis
- Jeffrey Soar
- JFA Purple Orange
- Jo-Anne O’Neill
- John Deshon Pty Ltd
- Kay Maclean Disability Consultant
- Kelly Vincent
- Kerry Hunter
- Kristine Olaris
- Kyabra Community Association Inc
- Lauren Farrell
- Lee Wilson
- Limbs 4 Life
- Lisa Edwards
- Lisa Stafford
- LivingCare Consulting
- Living Systems Research
- Mal McKenna
- Malcolm Merrett
- Margaret Stevens
- Marie Coleman AO, PSM
- Marija Groen
- Marilyn Adams
- Montrose Access
- Moreton Bay Regional Council
- MS Queensland
- Natalie Walsh
- Natalie Wright–QUT Lecturer in Interior Design
- National Affordable Housing Coalition
- National Disability Services
- National Ethnic Disability Alliance
- National Foundation for Australian Women
- National Rural Women’s Coalition
- National Shelter
- Neroli Moran
- Northcott
- Office of the Public Advocate
- Older people Speak Out
- Patrice Latcham
- Pearl Drolet
- Penelope Price
- People with Disabilities ACT
- People with Disability Australia
- People with disability Western Australia
- Phillip Chun Access Consulting
- Physical Disability Council of NSW
- Place Mate Architects
- PM&D Architects
- QCOSS
- Queensland Action for Universal Housing Design
- Queensland Advocacy Inc.
- Queensland Aged and Disability Advocacy
- Queensland Alliance for Mental Health Inc
- Queensland Country Women’s Association
- Queensland Greens Party
- Queensland Nurses Union
- Queenslanders with Disability Network
- Rights and Inclusion Australia
- Rights in Action
- Rod Hyatt
- Roslyn Sackley
- Ross Howard, Building Designer
- Salwood Asia Pacific Pty Ltd
- SBH Queensland
- Scope (Aust) Pty Ltd
- Sisters 4 Sustainability
- Sophie Thomas
- Special Care Central
- Spinal Life Australia
- STAR Victoria Inc
- Stephanie McLeish
- Stephen Kelly
- Summer Foundation
- Sunshine Coast Independent Living Service Inc
- Sunshine Coast Special Olympics
- Sydney Access Consultants
- Tammy Aplin
- Tanisha Cowell, Occupational Therapist
- Unis Goh
- Uniting Care Queensland
- VALID
- Victoria Jones
- Victorian Universal Housing Alliance
- Visionary Design Development Pty Ltd
- Vista Access Architects
- Wayfinding Australia
- Wendy Banfield
- Whittlesea Disability Network
- Women with Disabilities Australia
- Women with Disabilities Vic
- WSD Access Consultants
- Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance
- YoungCare
- YWCA Canberra
- Zel Iscel-consultant
Contact Us
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