Building Better Communities Through Universal Access: Reimagining Accessibility in Strata Living

In strata communities, where neighbours share more than walls, including responsibility, governance, and lived experience, accessibility is not just a feature; it is a foundation. As our population diversifies and ages, universal design is fast emerging as both a moral imperative and an innovation frontier in the built environment. Within the strata sector, embracing accessibility offers an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine not only how we live, but also how we belong.

A Changing Landscape

Australia’s demographic trajectory tells a clear story. By 2050, over 20% of Australians will be aged over 65. Simultaneously, nearly one in five Australians already live with a disability. Add to that the daily challenges faced by young families or those temporarily recovering from injury, and the case becomes obvious: accessibility affects us all, if not now, then eventually.

Despite this, strata communities have historically approached accessibility reactively, retrofitting where necessary and often only after someone speaks up. However, proactive, intentional design and management represent a shift in mindset from compliance to leadership, from accommodation to inclusion.

Innovation Rooted in Inclusion

Accessibility is not only an ethical choice but also a driver of innovation. When developers incorporate universal access into strata properties from the outset, the result is not just physical usability but broader appeal and future-proofed value. Ramps, wide doorways, automatic entry systems, and elevators are not niche additions; they are features that improve life for everyone.

Properties designed for accessibility perform better financially. They attract a wider market, experience lower turnover, and foster long-term residency. The value proposition is clear: when people can stay in their homes as their needs evolve, the community becomes more stable and connected. For investors and developers, that translates to resilience and desirability in a competitive market.

From a sustainability perspective, accessibility aligns with long-term planning. Retrofitting is expensive and disruptive, while designing inclusively from the outset is cost-efficient and environmentally sound. Forward-thinking developers who embed accessibility into the DNA of their buildings demonstrate not only compliance, but foresight and social conscience.

The Role of Strata Managers as Accessibility Advocates

Strata managers are uniquely positioned to champion accessibility, not just as facilitators of compliance, but as leaders of cultural and practical transformation. They liaise between developers, residents, and service providers. They understand the built form as well as the people who live within it. They are, in many ways, the stewards of community.

Practical advocacy starts with education. Strata managers must be conversant in evolving building codes and access requirements. But it’s the next step that sets leaders apart; identifying gaps, initiating improvements, and supporting residents through the approval and funding processes needed to implement them.

From ensuring the correct tactile indicators are installed on staircases, to coordinating emergency exit plans that account for sensory and mobility impairments, small details can have a life-altering impact. Where necessary, managers should seek grants or funding for upgrades, which can lessen the financial burden on owners while amplifying social impact.

Importantly, this work must be informed by open dialogue with residents. Accessibility audits, surveys, and structured feedback loops create an environment where lived experience informs decision-making. This isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about asking the right questions and really listening to the answers.

Beyond the Built Environment

Accessibility is also about attitude. Cultural accessibility, the openness to diverse communication styles, social norms, and lived experiences, underpins functional design. Strata communities thrive when residents feel they are seen, valued, and supported. When someone needs grab bars installed in their unit, or a fire alarm with a visual indicator, the response shouldn’t be confusion or delay. It should be understanding, dignity, and timely action.

Unit-level modifications, where permitted, should be processed through clear, supportive policies. Too often, the path to small but necessary changes is mired in uncertainty or bureaucracy. Empowering owners and tenants to request modifications, without stigma or resistance, is a crucial step toward meaningful inclusion.

Collective Wellbeing Through Design

The benefits of accessibility extend beyond those who require it directly. Parents with prams, residents recovering from surgery, couriers, and visitors all benefit from level entries, functioning lifts, and clearly marked pathways. Accessibility is not a niche concern; it is a shared asset.

When buildings are designed for everyone, they nurture a sense of safety, belonging, and permanence. These are not intangible ideals; they are foundational elements of a functioning strata community. They reduce churn, lower vacancy rates, and cultivate neighbourliness. In short, accessibility builds community.

Looking Forward

The strata sector stands at a turning point. As we respond to increasing complexity in building types, ownership structures, and resident expectations, accessibility offers a unifying thread, a principle that connects innovation with ethics, business with humanity.

True leadership in the strata sector means moving beyond minimum standards. It means imagining what communities could look like if inclusion were our default, not our afterthought. It means recognising accessibility not as a cost or a challenge, but as an investment in resilience, reputation, and social cohesion.

The most successful strata communities of the future will not be the flashiest or the most expensive. They will be the ones where everyone can get in the front door, and once inside, feel like they belong.

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References

Australian Bureau of Statistics. Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2022. ABS. 2024. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/latest-release

Australian Government. Universal Design in Housing: An Example of People Power. Universal Design Australia. 2024. https://universaldesignaustralia.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Ward-Bringolf-Australian-housing-camera-ready.pdf

Australian Government. Draft Design Guidelines for Access and Inclusion in Residential Development. Human Rights Commission. 2024. https://humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/202404/Draft%20Design%20Guideline%20for%20Access%20and%20Inclusion%20in%20Residential%20Development%20Exhibition%20Version%2016.04.24.pdf

Government of Western Australia. Universal Access Guidelines. WA Government. (Including Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standard 2010 and its relation with the National Construction Code.) https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2021-08/Universal%20Access%20Guidelines.pdf

National Construction Code (NCC). National Construction Code of Australia. Australian Building Codes Board. https://ncc.abcb.gov.au/#:~:text=The%20National%20Construction%20Code%20is,and%20sustainability%20of%20certain%20buildings

People with Disability Australia. Australian Bureau of Statistics releases new disability statistics. 2024. https://pwd.org.au/australian-bureau-of-statisticsreleases-new-disability-statistics/

Universal Design Australia. Housing: Social and Economic Benefits. Universal Design Australia. 2024. https://universaldesignaustralia.net.au/housing-social-and-economic-benefits/

World Health Organization / United Nations. Accessibility Design Guide: Universal design principles for Australia’s inclusive built environment. Australian Government (DFAT). 2009. https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/accessibility-design-guide.pdf