The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) has long been the cornerstone of disability rights in Australia. For access consultants, it is more than just legislation – it is the framework that guides how we advise, assess, and help organisations create inclusive environments.
With the DDA currently under review, changes on the horizon could reshape the way professionals in the access sector work. Here’s why this review matters, and how it could impact your practice.
1. Strengthening the Legal Framework You Work Within
The DDA underpins many of the recommendations and compliance strategies access consultants provide. A modernised Act – with clearer definitions of discrimination, stronger duties to provide reasonable adjustments, and possibly a new positive duty – will directly shape the standards and expectations applied across projects.
For consultants, this means the foundation of your work could soon become both stronger and more explicit.
2. Increased Demand for Professional Advice
If reforms introduce new or more proactive compliance obligations, demand for professional guidance will grow. Businesses, councils, developers, and service providers will need expert help to translate legal requirements into practical solutions across design, operations, and policy.
Access professionals will be at the forefront, bridging the gap between legislative intent and real-world implementation.
3. Alignment with Universal Design and Inclusive Practice
The review emphasises proactive, inclusive approaches rather than minimum compliance. This shift closely reflects the philosophy of universal design that many access professionals already champion.
Those who can demonstrate expertise in both compliance and universal design will be positioned as leaders and innovators, helping clients move beyond “meeting the standard” to creating genuinely inclusive environments.
4. Risk Management for Clients
A stronger DDA will raise the stakes for organisations. With increased protections come higher risks of complaints, litigation, or reputational damage for those who fail to comply.
Access consultants provide essential risk management, giving clients the strategies they need to ensure environments, services, and policies are accessible and future-proof.
5. Expanding Scope Beyond the Built Environment
The DDA review is not just about physical access. It extends into education, employment, transport, digital access, and service delivery.
This broader scope presents an opportunity for access professionals to expand their expertise into policy, organisational culture, and digital accessibility – areas of growing importance across all sectors.
6. Professional Recognition and Influence
The review process itself is open for consultation. This is a chance for access professionals to contribute directly through submissions and forums, shaping the future legal environment that governs their work.
Engaging in this process not only influences outcomes but also reinforces the profession’s role as a key interpreter of legislation into real-world solutions.
The Bottom Line
The DDA review matters because it will redefine access standards in Australia. It will increase the demand for expert advice, strengthen the importance of universal design, and expand the scope of access consulting.
For access professionals, this is both a challenge and an opportunity: to stay informed, to engage with the process, and to position yourself as a trusted advisor in an evolving legal and social landscape.
Learn More: Upcoming Training Opportunity
Want to deepen your understanding of the DDA and its implications for your work? Join Access Institute’s live online training sessions. See our website for details.