What is the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design?

The Australian Network for Universal Housing Design is a group of people and organisations that support and call for universal design for housing.

In particular, the Network supports and calls for

• recognition of the needs of older people, people with a disability or chronic illness, and people recovering from illness or injury, who experience exclusion and discrimination by present housing design and construction practices;
• effective and efficient measures to address those needs;
• universal design, being design for all, which aims to meet everyone's needs and avoids building barriers that exclude and discriminate against any of the people living and working in or visiting a home; and
• access requirements for housing in the Building Code of Australia for all new and extensively modified housing.

What is universal housing design?

Universal design is the design of products and environments to be used by all people to the greatest extent possible without the need for adaptation or specialised design. Universal housing design is intended to support sustainable and inclusive communities by

• meeting the housing needs of people across a range of abilities and ages;
• including people with temporary or long-term disabilities, illnesses and injuries;
• being economically adaptable to meet the changing needs of people throughout their lives and providing people with the choice to remain in their own home;
• ensuring usability and aesthetics are mutually compatible and achieve wider market appeal; and
• increasing safety.

Why do we need universal housing design?

19% of the Australian population has a disability. By 2006 the number is expected to be over 1.3 million and is reflective of an ageing population for which governments must prepare.

Australia lags behind other Western countries in implementing strategic action to meet the increasing demand for safer and universally accessible housing.

There is general agreement that a national approach to this issue is preferable to a variety of regional responses. In particular, the construction industry prefers certainty and consistency at a national level.

Significant secondary environmental, economic and social benefits are likely to result from universal housing design. Greater participation of older people and people with a disability in employment and community life will lead to less demand for institutional care.

New market opportunities are also likely to emerge. The concept of sustainability would be broadened and enhanced positively affecting the quality of housing and the lives of the people who use it.