Equity & access

The Association assists individuals and groups in dealing with access issues that affect their daily lives. Much of this is the provision of information and advice to help members achieve positive outcomes. Similar assistance is given to the Association’s Member Networks, where local people are seeking to resolve local issues.

In a global context, the Association champions issues of non-discriminatory access and believes that for Australia to grow and prosper, it is essential that mechanisms through design and training be provided to support equitable access and thus allow an inclusive, integrated community to realise its fullest performance both locally and globally.

As issues arise, the Association links with other advocacy groups or community organisations in order to deal with issues at the state or national level. The Association is committed to the ideal of a whole-of-government approach to equity, equal opportunity and An Accessible Australia.

Access is an evolving issue and the Association has supported the advancement of equitable access through its work with:

  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
  • Anti-Discrimination Commission of Queensland
  • Anti-Discrimination Tribunal, Queensland
  • Queensland Legislative Assembly inquiries
  • Queensland Law Society
  • Australian Local Government Association
  • Australian Building Codes Board
  • Standards Australia
  • Queensland Government departments (various)
  • Local Authorities throughout Queensland (various)
  • Building Services Authority Queensland
  • Public Trustee of Queensland
  • Taxi Council of Queensland
  • Queensland Rail
  • Tourism Queensland
  • South East & Inner Northern Busway projects – Queensland Transport
  • Queensland University of Technology – tunnel emergency egress
  • Anti-Discrimination Commission of Queensland Reference Group
  • State Planning Committee

Access

Access is not about so called “disabled access” (a myth).

Strategies to develop An Accessible Australia are based on achieving equity, equal opportunity and equitable access for all the community. It is true that people with a disability are among the strongest advocates for access quite simply because their lives are the most limited without it. However, a parent with a twin side-by-side stroller, the aged, people with temporary mobility impairment (eg. through injury) and people with a medical condition all have similar access needs.