Access Central - Universal Access Consultants

The new design specifications say that "Changing Places provide suitable facilities for people who cannot use standard accessible toilets. A Changing Places facility allows people with high support needs to fully participate in the community. This may include people with an acquired brain injury, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, and motor neurone disease, as well as many other people with a disability."

Changing Places facilities provide:

• a height-adjustable adult-sized change table 
• a constant-charging ceiling track hoist system 
• a centrally-located peninsula toilet 
• circulation spaces as defined in the design specifications 
• an automatic door with a clear opening of 950 mm at a minimum (1100 mm for beach and lake locations) 
• a privacy screen.

Changing Places Assessors are independent contractors. They are not employed

directly by Changing Places Australia or the Victorian State Government DHHS. The role of the Changing Places Assessor is to conduct assessments of the design and inspect as-built facilities against the design specifications described in the Changing Places

Design Specifications 2020.

The process includes an assessment in three stages:

• Stage 1: Schematic design review
• Stage 2: Construction documentation review
• Stage 3: As-built final review

If the facilities are constructed, we can be engaged to undertake an As-built Final Review only.

We need the following to complete the Schematic Design review:

• Plans
• Architectural Schedules
• Door Schedule
• Fixtures & Fittings Schedule
• Finishes Schedule

We need the following to complete the Construction Documentation design review:

• Final Plans
• Architectural Schedules Final version
• Door Schedule Final version
• Fixtures & Fittings Schedule Final version
• Finishes Schedule Final version

If we didn't complete the first two design review stages, we need a copy of all Construction Documentation.

An inspection will be undertaken to ensure the as-built works are consistent with the design documentation.

If everything is compliant, a Statement of Compliance will be issued, and you can then contact www.changingplaces.org.au to have your facility added to their website.

Accessible facilities in public spaces are prone to misuse, vandalism and poor treatment by people who fail to understand their importance in society. To address this problem the Master Locksmiths Association of Australia (MLAA) developed a new master key system in 1994-95, and after a trial with Pittwater Council, this was rolled out nationally. This system is known as the Master Locksmiths Access Key or simply ‘MLAK’ for short.

People wishing to use these accessible facilities can obtain a key from MLAA or in some cases, from their local Council. In fact, some more progressive Councils will even provide these keys for free. To control the use of the MLAK system, eligibility has been restricted to:

• people who have a disability
• people who care for someone with a disability
• the owner or manager of a building with an accessible facility
• disability organisations
• community health centres

To help people plan their trips, Spinal Cord Injuries Australia maintains a directory of MLAK-enabled facilities across Australia. Information is also available on the National Public Toilet Map which provides details of over 17,000 publicly available toilets across Australia, including those with accessible features such as adult change facilities and those that use of an MLAK. Additionally, many Councils promote the use of the MLAK.

The MLAK system is increasingly becoming popular for these reasons in many public spaces, such as:

• Railway station facilities, including passenger lifts;
• Accessible toilets in public parks;
• Changing Places facilities;
• Playground equipment, such as the wheelchair accessible ‘Liberty Swing’; and
• Some public buildings are using the MLAK to secure their own facilities.

Yes, key personnel have undertaken extensive studies in building surveying, access, performance-based fire & building code and project management. These include undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Simply email your project scope, address, client's details, drawings, building surveyor's checklist, architect's comments, etc., to our office and we'll review then and call you or email you to discuss your needs.

DDA stands for the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and has become a title for a person or product that aims to meet the needs of people with disability. As a DDA Consultancy, we work on many projects across Australia attempting to improve the physical environment for everyone.

We are located in the Waterman Business Centre, 72 / 44 Lakeview Drive, Scoresby, Victoria, Australia, but we also have satellite offices in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.