Accessibility

buildingappeals.vic.gov.au has been developed to ensure its content is available to the widest possible audience, including readers using assistive technology or accessibility features. By adhering to guidelines for accessible web design, the diversity of communication methods, available technologies and abilities of web-users in the community is acknowledged. The Building Appeals Board (BAB) strives to maintain conformance to W3C's Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 at Level AA.

The BAB is committed to assisting people with disabilities to access the buildingappeals.vic.gov.au website. In addition the website also conforms to the Victorian Government's Accessibility Standard.

Accessibility in the built environment

Accessibility in the built environment means designing and building homes, and commercial and institutional buildings, which are suitable for any occupant, regardless of their age or ability.

Accessible design complies with certain rules that are intended to ensure that the design is accessible for most people irrespective of ability.

Several Australian Standards apply to the design of access ways, ramps, lifts, car parking, signage, sanitary facilities and other parts of buildings.

If a building is designed to comply with these standards, it is expected that 80-90 percent of people will be able to use the building.

Complaints about accessibility

A number of options are available to you if you believe you have been discriminated against because of your disability.

You can initially lodge a complaint with the building owner or occupier. If your complaint relates to buildings that are under construction or have recently been completed, talk with the practitioner responsible for the project.

If you wish to complain about the conduct of the practitioner or other building professionals, you can contact the BAB.

If you are unable to resolve the situation through talking with the person responsible for the discrimination, consider lodging a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

If you are thinking about making a complaint, you might want to consider getting free legal advice from the Disability Discrimination Legal Service or a community legal centre.

Premises Standards

The Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010, known as the Premises Standards, were created under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. They apply to every new building project for which an application for a building permit is lodged with the relevant building surveyor (RBS) on or after that date.

The Premises Standards are available online from the Commonwealth Government ComLaw website.