The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released a report that explores adaptable housing for people with disability in Australia.
The report was commissioned by the AHRC and produced by Monash University’s Urban Lab in line with Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Ben Gauntlett’s goal to increase accessible housing for Australians with disability.
The report found that 4.4 million people lived with disability in Australia, and 96 per cent of people with disability lived in private homes.
“Many existing homes are inaccessible and finding appropriate housing remains a challenge for many Australians with disability,” the report said.
“Improving housing accessibility can and should be achieved in two ways: By ensuring that new homes are constructed to meet minimum accessibility requirements, and by modification or adaptation of existing homes.”
The report considered design-informed approaches and new innovations to adapting, retrofitting or fabricating existing homes to improve accessibility for people with disability who were capable of independent living or assisted independent living.
Mr Gauntlett said the report was an opportunity to synthesise the work of diverse fields, including design, human rights, regulation and funding and to consider new and innovative approaches to improving housing accessibility for Australians with disability of all kinds.
“Accessible housing benefits all Australians,” Mr Gauntlett said.
“It enhances economic and social participation, reduces the need for care and keeps people out of care institutions, hospitals and aged care facilities.”
He said the ability to transform existing housing stock into accessible housing quickly and affordably was an important piece of the accessible housing puzzle.
The report is the first stage of a broader project, which includes exploring adaptable housing through design research units being taught at Monash University.
The AHRC’s 54-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
