Welcome to the Australian Network for Universal Housing Design (ANUHD).

ANUHD is a national network of housing industry bodies, housing professionals, government professionals, designers & builders, researchers and home occupants who believe that the homes we build for today’s Australia should be fit for all of tomorrow’s Australians.

The Network’s vision is for all new and largely renovated homes to be built to accommodate universal and lifecycle sensitive design features. We believe that a universal design approach to housing will ensure that that homes we build are capable of accommodate our changing needs across the lifespan.

The Network supports this vision by:

• Supporting nationwide housing initiatives which promote and incorporate universal design principles;

• Promoting universal housing design principles and practices to home occupants;

• Encouraging and educating the housing design, development and construction industry to incorporate universal design to enhance the marketability of new home developments;

• Building networks and alliances with key housing industry bodies and professional associations;

• Collaborating on housing and construction industry initiatives which are focused on promoting socially sustainable housing design;

• Actively encouraging all levels of Government to consider universal housing design in the development of new policies and initiatives which are aimed at promoting lifecycle sensitive, liveable communities.

The Network maintains active representation in each State and Territory around Australia and is aligned with universal design initiatives internationally.

The Network meets monthly by teleconference and all new and existing Network members are welcome to join these meetings. Should you be interested in attending our next teleconference please contact the Network Secretariat, Dean Price at secretary@anuhd.org

Should you have a new initiative which you would like us to know about please contact the National Convenor, Amelia Starr at nationalconvenor@anuhd.org

What is universal housing design?

Universal design is an approach to building homes and living spaces which:

1. meet the needs of home occupants regardless of age or ability;

2. are capable of adapting to meet the changing needs of home occupants;

3. can be economically adapted to respond to the current and future needs of homes occupants.

With housing affordability at an all time low, building homes which are capable of accommodating the changing needs of the home occupant just makes good sense. This is not to say that the home you live in today should be the home you occupy for life, or to imply that people only move because of a change in life circumstance. People move for all sorts of reasons however in many cases it’s because the home can no longer sustain the home occupants whether they are first home buyers, retirees or growing families.

We are not promoting the notion of a home for life. Rather, we are committing to ensuring that we start building homes for a lifetimes use. If your home can accommodate your changing needs your decision to move will always be based on choice rather than necessity.

Instead of building dream homes which become tomorrow’s prison’s we believe in ‘building in’ possibility so that the home you love today is still the dream home you want to live in tomorrow.

Upcoming ANUHD events

 National Forum on Universal Housing Design November 2008

Email register your interest: secretary@anuhd.org