What is an access audit?
An access audit reviews how accessible your organisation’s environment, building, service, or event is for people with disability.
Our audits go beyond checklists – we provide real-world insights and practical recommendations based on lived experience and inclusive design best practices.
What is Universal Design?
Universal design considers how environments can be accessed, understood, and used by all people – regardless of ability or background.
Whether it’s an office, a stadium, or a one-off event, universal design and accessibility benefit everyone.
Key benefits
Around 5.5 million people in Australia (21.4%) have disability (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2022). Research shows a potential return on investment of $13 for every $1 invested in universally accessible environments.
An access audit provides:
- Actionable recommendations to allow people with disability to access your space in an equitable and dignified way.
- Customised, practical advice on improving accessibility across your physical environment.
- Clear insight into barriers that may be affecting staff, customers, or visitors.
- Support to meet standards and align with inclusive best practice.
Our approach
Our GSA team, which includes people with disability, lived experience of disability, and allies of disability inclusion, will:
- Visit your site and assess the physical environment against access and inclusion benchmarks
- Provide a detailed access audit report identifying existing barriers
- Work with your team to co-design practical actions that address the gaps
We offer access audits for a range of environments – from corporate offices to venues, public spaces, and one-off events.
Case study: Rod Laver Arena
We worked with Rod Laver Arena to review access in their elite recovery facilities, designing inclusive ice baths for athletes with disability.
This project shows that universal design isn’t just about compliance, it can elevate performance and inclusion at the highest levels.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between an access audit and a building compliance check?
A compliance check ensures your building meets minimum legal standards. An access audit goes further, it evaluates how usable and welcoming your space is for people with disability. We consider not just physical access, but dignity, independence, and real-world usability.
Who conducts your access audits?
Our audits are led by GSA consultants with professional expertise and lived experience of disability. This combination means you’ll get both technical insight and genuine understanding of how barriers affect real people.
Do you assess temporary or event-based spaces?
Yes – we provide access audits for permanent facilities, one-off events, and pop-up environments. Whether you’re designing a new event layout or reviewing an existing venue, we tailor our audit to suit the timeframe and space type.
What kind of recommendations will we receive?
You’ll receive a clear, practical access audit report highlighting current barriers, prioritised action steps, and suggestions grounded in universal design principles. Our goal is to help you implement meaningful, achievable improvements.
Can you help us implement the recommendations?
Absolutely. While we’re not a building contractor, we can work with your facilities team, architects, or contractors to interpret the audit report and support inclusive decision-making during upgrades or new designs.
