Universal and adaptable housing design in Australia: Policy, progress and problems

Abstract

As the Australian population ages and the number of people with disabilities subsequently rises, it will become increasingly important to support ‘ageing in place’. However, without mandatory legislation or policies at the Commonwealth level in relation to planning for an ageing population or housing design, there will be a continuation of the disjointed approach currently evident both between and within the states and territories of Australia. This paper recommends a shift in the attitudes of government, developers and consumers towards the design of mainstream housing stock which needs to be flexible and useable to a wide range of users in order to meet the variable needs of current and future occupants. As part of the broader picture, such philosophies towards building practice have the potential to create more equitable built environments.