Here are three apartment design guides: Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.
Reference to accessibility is the last item in the list of design considerations in the 2021 better apartment standards from Victoria. However, it is a good reference with technical advice.
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- A clear door opening of at least 850mm at the entrance and main bedroom
- A clear path of 1200mm between entrance and main bedroom, bathroom and living area
- A main bedroom with access to an accessible bathroom
- At least one accessible or adaptable bathroom
New South Wales
The NSW Department of Planning Apartment Design Guide includes a small section on universal design (Section 4Q). In explaining the concept, it states that all members of the community benefit, not just older people or people with disability. It also points out that universal design is not the same as the Australian Standard, AS4299 which is about adaptable housing.
In the design guidance section, it continues to refer to the Livable Housing Design Guidelines (Silver Level, equivalent to visitability). However, it should update this to align with the 2022 National Construction Code and the Livable Housing Design Standard.
The guide also continues to advise a proportional number (20%) of apartments be provided, which means universal design is not universally applied. Consequently, this becomes specialised housing rather than mainstream housing. The new apartment guide replaces the NSW Residential Flat Design Code. The guide was published in 2015.
South Australia
The Housing for Life: Designed for Living guide was developed for the South Australian Government. Population ageing and ageing well polices underpin the report and guide. The features and factors that older people identified as important are documented as well as industry perspectives. It also outlines the economic arguments for considering the housing needs of older people. Examples of floor plans are included in the 2019 report which is 16 pages in PDF.
Note: In October 2022, the National Construction Code made Silver level mandatory in all new dwellings. However, as at January 2025 NSW has not agreed to adopt the nationally agreed standard. The government claims it is doing sufficient housing for ‘those who need it’. Queensland adopted the new standard in October 2023, ACT in January 2024 and Victoria in May 2024. However, due to continued pressure by the housing industry, the Queensland government is considering rolling back universal design requirements.
Good design for social housing
Good design for social housing creates neighbourhoods where people feel they belong. The NSW Government has produced a four page brochure outlining their goals for social housing. Wellbeing, Belonging, Value and Collaboration are keywords. There is no explicit mention of universal design principles in this document, but there is in the one that links with it. This is the one on dwelling requirements for good design in social housing.
The more detailed document of dwelling requirements leads with legislation and codes. It follows with universal design principles. They require all new stock to apply a minimum level of Silver as outlined in the Each development may require a percentage of Gold level as well.
The documents are titled, Good Design for Social Housing, and Dwelling Requirements.
The NSW Government Architect has also introduced a universal design approach into its overarching document, Better Placed. While the term “universal design” is not used explicitly, it is inherent in the way the document is written.
2023 Update
The 2022 edition of the National Construction Code includes the new Livable Housing Design Standard. The accessible features are based on the Silver Level of the Livable Housing Design Guidelines. There are two handbooks: one for the minimum requirements (silver) and enhanced features (gold).