SDA Project in SA, Bowden for

Client: Enliven

Access Consultant / SDA Assessor: Vista Access Architects

Completion date: Jan 2022

Photo courtesy of Enliven Group. 

Caroline Chisholm College

Architects: Stanton Dahl Architects
Access Consultants: Vista Access Architects

Completed 2020

Photo courtesy Staton Dahl Architects

High Rise- SEPP Housing project- Seniors and People with a Disability

Client: Eventide Homes, 18 SEPP Seniors Apartments.
Architect: Mahi Lau Stanton Dahl Architects
Builder: Mono Constructions
Access Consultants: Vista Access Architects

Photo courtesy Staton Dahl Architects

This SEPP Housing development for Seniors and People with a Disability project was for Social housing developer - NSW LAHC (Land and Housing Commission).

Architects Stanton Dahl Architects

Access Consultant Vista Access Architects

Photography by Evan Maclean

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 latest SDA Project in QLD for BlueCHP just achieves certification.

These lovely apartments are designed as per SDA (Specialist Disability Accommodation) HPS (High Physical Support) design category

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

It was a lovely surprise to receive a Certificate of Appreciation for providing Pro-bono services for a Respite home for People with disabilities in Winmalee, NSW from Denise Heath, CEO of NADO (Nepean Area Disability Organisation)

Farah Madon and Vanessa Griffin from Vista Access Architects have recently provided pro-bono Accessibility related services to Nepean Area Disabilities Organisation Limited (NADO)to transform an industrial unit into the first of its kind Sensory Gym in Penrith.

Article from Western Weekender HERE

An existing dwelling can be refurbished to qualify as a 'new build' for SDA (Specialist Disability Accomodation) funding. But have you considered the minimum refurbishment cost ?

SDA Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2021-22 (previously the Price Guide for Specialist Disability Accommodation) notes the following:

To qualify as a 'New Build' under the NDIS SDA, the dwelling needs to comply with the following 5 conditions:

1. Date of Certificate of occupancy.

There are 2 options to comply with this first requirement, noted below as Option A and Option B.

Option A: The very FIRST certificate of occupancy (or equivalent) was issued on or after 1 April 2016 when it complies with the requirements of SDA dwelling. This is important to note the use of the word 'FIRST' in this requirement; or

Option B: The dwelling has been renovated or refurbished and issued with a certificate of occupancy (or equivalent) after 1 April 2016, and:
i) because of the renovation or refurbishment the dwelling meets the Minimum Requirements for a Design Category other than Basic design as noted in Table 5 of SDA Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits 2021-22 (previously the Price Guide for Specialist Disability Accommodation) and
ii) the cost of the refurbishment is equal to or greater than the amount set out in Appendix F as shown below.

SDA developer will be required to prove that the amount of money listed in Appendix F has been spent 

For example to refurbish an existing 1 bedroom apartment for HPS (High Physical Support) design category a minimum refurbishment spent amount of $457,363 is required

This will usually make the project unviable.

Disclaimer:

This article is based on Vista Access Architect’s personal interpretation of what constitutes as a new build. This article is not endorsed by the NDIA and users are advised to make their own inquires directly with NDIA.

It is with great joy that we announce that Vista Access Architects are a finalist in the; 

2021 Altitude Awards in the Excellence in Inclusion category

This award is for an outstanding individual or organisation who are working in community to include disadvantaged or minorities, close gaps or deliver opportunities and transformation in society, environment and career opportunities.

With over 250 entries we are truly humbled to be declared as Finalist 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.

The Altitude Awards are presented by Women with Altitude. They are held annually to provide an opportunity to acknowledge those who have made outstanding contributions.

Women with Altitude founder, Andrea Turner-Boys said, ‘We look forward to this time each year when we celebrate and champion the achievements of individuals and businesses from our regions. Each finalist has been chosen for their outstanding contributions in their field.'

SDA Project in SA, Bowden for

Client: Enliven

Access Consultant / SDA Assessor: Vista Access Architects

Completion: 2021

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

The new NSW Housing SEPP will consolidate five existing housing-related NSW SEPPs:

1. State Environmental Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009 (ARHSEPP);

2. State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing for Seniors and People with a Disability) 2004 (Seniors SEPP);

3. State Environmental Planning Policy No 70 – Affordable Housing (Revised Schemes) (SEPP 70);

4. State Environmental Planning Policy No 21—Caravan Parks; and

5. State Environmental Planning Policy No 36—Manufactured Home Estates.

A Housing SEPP consultation draft has been prepared to provide all stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback on new and amended planning provisions prior to the making of the Housing SEPP.

The Housing SEPP is intended to be finalised in October 2021.

Copy of the public consultation draft is available HERE

Deadline for public consultation is on the 29th of August 2021. Have your say HERE

Event Details

In this webinar, Farah will be introducing the updated version of AS1428.1:2021 which was released in June 2021. It is anticipated that the updated AS1428.1:2021 will be incorporated in the BCA/NCC 2022. Updates provide clarity to AS1428.1:2009. This webinar will take you through what has changed and how it will impact design with an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation.

Webinar will be hosted by ACAA (Association of Consultants in Access Australia) on Friday 30th July from 3pm till 5pm.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS OR TO REGISTER

Vista Access Architects were the Access Consultants for the latest additions to St Lucy’s School which was designed by Stanton Dahl Architects

St Lucy’s School is for students with a wide range of disabilities including mild to severe intellectual disability, autism and sensory impairments. The design goes above and beyond the mandatory minimum accessibility requirements under the BCA/ NCC and provides a truely inclusive approach to design. Well done to Stanton Dahl Architects on a fantastic outcome.

Photo courtesy Stanton Dahl Architects. Video courtesy St Lucy's School