Expression of thanks from Farah Madon on being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List, for ‘significant service to architecture and to people with disability’.

'This recognition is incredibly meaningful to me. Throughout my career as an Architect and Access Consultant, my work has been driven by the belief that architecture has a responsibility beyond buildings — to support dignity, inclusion and independence for all.

From being the lead author of the NDIS SDA Design Standards to serving as National President of the Access Consultants Association (ACA), I've been privileged to learn from people with lived experience whose voices continue to shape how I think about design and access.

Whether through work on Australian Standards committees for accessibility standards for the built environment, serving on advisory bodies including the Penrith City Council’s Access Committee, Australian Institute of Architects's National Enabling Architecture Committee, Changing Places Australia's Technical Advisory Panel, Australian Building Codes Board's Livable Housing Implementation Advisory Committee, or through practical project delivery— each opportunity has reinforced my commitment to creating environments that truly work for everyone.

I'm sincerely grateful to the colleagues, collaborators, clients and organisations who have walked this path with me — including the ACA community, and the many dedicated professionals championing accessibility across Australia. Thank you for challenging my thinking and sharing this vision of inclusion.

Thank you also to my family, mentors, and the team at Vista Access Architects for your constant encouragement and support throughout this journey.

I'm proud to be part of a profession that can make a real difference in people's everyday lives. I look forward to continuing this work with genuine passion and contributing, however modest, to support a more inclusive and accessible Australia.' 

Farah Madon AM

December 2025 marked 15 years of voluntary service of Farah Madon as a Community Representative Member of Penrith City Council's Access Committee, having joined the Access Committee in 2010

[Image of the Acknowledgement letter received from Mayor Todd Carney for voluntary contributions by Farah Madon on the Penrith City Council's Access Committee]

Farah notes, 'what began as a fight to ensure that accessibility to the built environment was not overlooked has grown into a shared journey of transformation.

Over these years, Penrith Council has made extraordinary strides in improving accessibility and inclusion. We have seen infrastructure such as pathways, bus stops, play areas improved and attitudes shift toward genuine inclusion, resulting in independence, and opportunity for all members of our community.

I am humbled to have played a small part in this journey.

My thanks go to the dedicated staff, Councillors of Penrith City Council, Mayor Todd Carney (GAICD), Access Committee Chairperson Hollie McLean, fellow Access Committee members who have been on this journey with me.'

It is a huge honour for a project to be nominated as a Finalist in UDIA NSW AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2025, but to have 9 of our projects where we have been the Access and Inclusion consultants, completed in the past 12 months to be nominated as Finalist in 8 different categories, means we must be doing something right !

Our thanks go out to our Clients and their fabulous Architects and team of consultants. Accessibility and Inclusion being part of the project from the very beginning can provide some truly amazing resultants. Congratulations to all involved !

1. Apartments- High-Rise category
Charlie Parker - Coronation Property & Nation

Architect- FJMT Architects
Builder - MN Builders/Coronation

2. Apartments- High-Rise category

Mason & Main - Coronation Property

Architect -Kann Finch
Builder - MN Builders/ Coronation

3. Apartments Mid-Rise <200 category
Solis by Astina

Architect- Integrated Design Group
Builder Astina

4. Boutique development category
The Henley, Enfield by Decode and Tian An Enfield

Architect - DKO Architecture
Builder - Decode

5. Affordable housing category
289 Beauchamp Rd, Matraville

Architect- Collard Maxwell Architects
Builder - Degree Constructions

6. Retirement Living category
Uniting Leichhardt

Architect- Group GSA
Builder- Growthbuilt

7. Design Category
Mira by Clutch

Architect- PBD Architects
Builder - Lords Group

8. Industrial Development category
Astina Space by Astina

Architect- Integrated Design Group
Builder- Astina

9. Social and community infrastructure
Gipps Street Recreational Precinct, by Penrith City Council

Architect- Group GSA Pty Ltd
Builder - Coverit Building Group Pty Ltd

Farah Madon was included on the NSW Local Women of the Year Honour Roll and received the 2023 Mulgoa Local Woman of the Year Award. 

Text below from Mulgoa Valley Gazette

Farah Madon, an architect dedicated to making housing more accessible for those living with disabilities, has been awarded the Local Woman of the Year Award by Tanya Davies MP. The award recognises her significant contribution to the local community, Western Sydney, and her unwavering commitment to making the region more equitable. Member for Mulgoa, Tanya Davies, congratulated Farah on the honour and acknowledged her hard work for the region.

“Farah’s contribution to our community is immeasurable. Her work as an architect is making a significant impact, ensuring that those living with disabilities have access to safe and secure housing. It’s a privilege to recognise her as Local Woman of the Year” Mrs Davies said.

Farah expressed gratitude for the recognition and emphasised the importance of accessible housing for people with disabilities. 

“It’s an honour to be awarded local woman of the year, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to raise awareness about the need for accessible housing. Everyone deserves to have access to safe and secure housing, regardless of their abilities. I’m grateful for this award, but there is still much work to be done,” Mrs Madon said.

The Local Woman of the Year Awards is an annual program which recognises and celebrates the support women give to their local communities throughout NSW. Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor congratulated all the Local Women of the Year Award recipients. “I would like to acknowledge their significant efforts to support their local communities and thank them for all the work they do.”

The Local Woman of the Year Awards are a way the NSW Government celebrates the achievements of women as part
of International Women’s Day on March 8. The NSW Women of the Year Awards was held at the International Convention Centre, Sydney on March 9, 2023.

It gives us great pleasure to announce that our Paper Mill Precinct project is a finalist in the UDIA National 2023 Awards for Excellence in the Masterplanned Communities category.

The Paper Mill Precinct project was by our long standing client's Coronation Property.

Vista Access Architects provided Access Consultancy services as well as NDIS SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) related services for this project.

Congratulations to all those involved with this awesome project:

SJB, Woods Bagot, ASPECT Studios, City Plan Services, Mecone - Urban Planning , EWFW, Mance Arraj Engineering Pty Ltd

Farah Madon awarded ACAA Fellow Membership

Farah Madon was awarded ACAA (Association of Consultants in Access Australia) Fellow membership at the 2022 ACAA AGM for her significant contribution to ACAA and to the field of disability access.

Farah has served as a management committee member of ACAA for numerous years since 2010 and is the current Vice President of ACAA. As part of the management committee, she has organised 4 (four) ACAA National Conferences and was the founding editor of the association's Access Insight magazine.

She has also represented ACAA on multiple committees such as Standards Australia Committee ME-064 responsible for the suite of Australian Standards AS1428, RAIA’s (Australian Institute of Architect's) National Enabling Architecture Group, NDIS SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) Reference Group and most recently on the ABCB's (Australian Building Codes Board's) LHIAC (Livable Housing Implementation Advisory Committee).

Vista Access Architects were the Access Consultants for William Clarke College that has been awarded the Master Builders NSW, Excellence in Construction Award. Our congratulations to Architects PMDL Architecture + Design and The Rohrig Group.

Photos courtesy of The Rohrig Group post on Linkedin

Vista Access Architects are delighted to have been the Disability Access consultants for the Inclusive playground - Variety Livvi's Place at Glenfield.

Place Design Group were the Landscape Architects for this project.

The project won the

2021 Playground Design and Development Award at the Australian Sport, Recreation and Play Innovation Awards

Farah Madon was recognised by the WWA’s Altitude Awards as their

2021 Award winner for “Excellence in Inclusion Award"

"This award is for an outstanding individual who is working in community and within their organisation to include disadvantaged minorities, closing gaps, transforming society, reflecting inclusivity and working to create social change"

With over 250 entries received for Altitude Awards, we are truly humbled to be declared as a Winner in these prestigious awards.

Through Vista Access Architects, we provide Pro-bono access related services to a number of Disability related organisations every year as a part our Social responsibility to the local Community.

Our

SDA Tools App

designed for NDIS Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) assessments has won the

2021 Australian Access Awards

Presented by Centre for Accessibility for the

Educational App of the Year !

 The Awards are presented by the Centre For Accessibility Australia which is an industry and not-for-profit collaboration working to promote digital access. 

Vista Access Architects have developed the SDA Tools App which are a series of 3 calculators designed to assist and educate Designers,Certifiers and Developers with 3 key areas required for compliance with the NDIS (National DIsability Insurance Scheme) SDA (Specialist DIsability Accomodation) Design Standards.

1. NDIS SDA Density Calculator:

This calculator is to determine the number of participants permitted on a single parcel of land based on our interpretation of the NDIS SDA Rules 2020

2. Luminance Contrast Calculator:

This calculator is to select colours to satisfy the minimum 30% luminance contrast requirements as noted in the NDIS SDA Design Standards for Improved Liveability Design category dwellings.

3. Slope / Gradient Calculator:

This calculator is to assist designers to convert measurements of slope and gradients between a percentage, degrees or as a ratio.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE APP ON THIS LINK

DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP FROM THE APP STORE VIA LINK BELOW

Don't have an Apple device ? CLICK HERE for an online version of the Calculators on our website

2021 saw the release of the much-anticipated -

AS1428.1-2021 Australian Standards for Access and Mobility. 

It takes a substantial amount of time commitment to contribute to the development of these standards and all contributions made to the development of these standards are by experts in the field on a pro-bono basis

Therefore, it was lovely to receive a 

Certificate of Appreciation from Standards Australia

for work done by

Farah Madon on ME-06 Committee AS1428- Access for People with Disabilities

Farah Madon has been selected as a Finalist in the 

2021 Western Sydney Executive Woman of the Year Award, alongside the wonderful Lori Modde and Sara Ang.

Thank you Amanda Rose and the entire WSW team for this recognition. I'm truly humbled by your support.

Western Sydney Executive Woman of the Year recognises excellence in the corporate world from C-Suite to Board level. 

Western Sydney Women Awards are the only awards program representing women at all stages in their life, business & career across the Inner West, Greater West, North West & South West of Sydney and are for:

- Women who excel in business
- Inspiring female role models
- Women who have demonstrated excellence in their career and elsewhere
- Women who have made significant contributions in their community
- Women who have made a difference to Greater Western Sydney

This award is sponsored by KPMG

'LRV Contrast' App developed by Farah Madon and BEZAPPS for calculating LRV Contrast has been judged as a Finalist in the 2019 Australian Access Awards for the Educational App of the Year category by the Australian Centre for Accessibility. Free download of the App is available on the AppStore 

 CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

CLICK HERE FOR A WEB BASED ONLINE VERSION

Master Builders QLD - Wide Bay Burnett Housing & Construction Awards 2021

It is with immense pleasure that we announce that the very first project certified by Vista Access Architects in QLD for SDA at both the Design and As-built stages, has won the Master Builders Queensland Award- Wide Bay Burnett Housing & Construction Award 2021

This beautiful home was certified to SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) HPS (High Physical Support) Design category and is constructed by our clients JRZ Constructions.

Everyone working within the SDA space is familiar with the magnitude of work required in an SDA development and we congratulate the entire team at JRZ Constructions for this wonderful achievement.

 Photo Gallery

Farah Madon was awarded the 2019 Access Inclusion Award for being the Access Consultant for a Specialist Disability Accomodation designed by Stanton Dhal Architects which demonstrated an outstanding level of Access and Inclusion. 

The award was presented by the Australian Disability Discrimination Commissioner Dr Ben Gauntlett at the National 2019 Access Conference Dinner hosted by the Association of Consultants in Access Australia.

Farah Madon was awarded the 2019 Penrith Citizen of the Year.

Below are the details as presented by Penrith City Council.

Mrs Farah Madon supports our local residents living with a disability and champions accessibility equality for all on a national level. 

Farah has dedicated herself to helping people with a disability who live, work or utilise services within the Penrith and surrounding areas. As a management commitee member of Penrith Disabilities Resource Center and Chairperson of Penrith Disabilities Action Forum she has been a key voice in advocating for and representing the needs of local residents with access needs. As a long-serving community representative member of Penrith City Council's Access Committee, Farah's knowledge has been invaluable in assisting Council to continue improving access for people of all abilities across the City.

Farah is Vice President of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia, the peak national body for access consultancy and a major partner in advancing equity of the built environment for people with a disability. Based on her thorough knowledge of the Australian Standards and the Australian Disability Discrimination Act she is also held in esteem as editor of the association's magazne, 'Access Insight'.

 Read more about the awards on https://westernweekender.com.au/2019/01/council-honours-dedicated-citizens/