There is greater awareness today about the needs of people living with disability. Building regulations mandate the integration of disabled-friendly features in building design to improve accessibility. However, people living with severe disabilities continue to be confined to their homes in the absence of suitable toilet facilities in public places that would, for instance, allow their carers to change their continence pads without compromising their dignity.
There are more than 200,000 Australians living with a severe disability and requiring assistance to use the bathroom. Conventional accessible toilets are not sufficient for their level of disability, which may require the use of equipment and the aid of one or more carers to use the toilet or even change. Unfortunately, this situation restricts them to their homes, depriving them of the freedom to be part of the general community and the opportunity to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.
The Changing Places project was initiated in 2006 in the United Kingdom to address these inadequacies in public toilets. The increasing acceptance of the program has seen an initial number of nine Changing Places facilities in 2006 grow into a network of over 800 facilities across the UK covering shopping centres, parks, stadiums and even pubs.
Changing Places in Australia
Inspired by the success of the UK campaign, the Changing Places Australia consortium was formed in 2012 with the program getting its first major push from the Victorian Government, which invested $750,000 for six new Changing Places facilities at various locations. The Western Australia Government stepped up in 2015 with a $2 million commitment to fund a network of Changing Places facilities in the state.
The objectives of the Changing Places program are closely aligned with the core policies of the National Disability Strategy including increased participation of people with disability, their families and carers in the community as well as improved accessibility of the built and natural environment.
Similarly, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) initiated by the Australian Government aims to change the way people with disabilities are supported in the wider community. NDIS is expected to help them gain unprecedented access to the community by improving infrastructure in public places, with Changing Places becoming an increasingly important element of public architecture.
Designing a Changing Places facility
A collaborative effort involving access consultants, architects and organisations representing the disability segment, the recommended Changing Places design takes into consideration the need for specialised equipment, sufficient space, and a safe and clean environment. Incorporating all the standard features of an accessible toilet, a Changing Places facility will feature a height adjustable, adult-sized changing bed and a constant charge ceiling hoist or portable hoist. Additionally, the facility should provide adequate space in the changing area for the disabled person and up to two carers, a centrally placed toilet with space on either side for the carers, wide tear-off paper roll to cover the bench, a large waste bin for disposable pads, and a non-slip floor.
Considered best practice under the Disabilities Discrimination Act with no mandate from the BCA to implement the program in Australian buildings, Changing Places will continue to depend on governments, architects, designers, building owners and the broader community to help create an inclusive built environment for people with disabilities as a social responsibility.
Embracing the change with Enware
An industry champion of the Changing Places program since its introduction to Australia, Enware is also the country’s primary supplier of specialised Changing Places equipment. Enware’s nursing bench meets the requirements of a height adjustable adult-sized changing bench as specified in the Changing Places design recommendation.
Enware also provides free consultation to architects and project managers to assist with the design and implementation of Changing Places in Australia.
Click here to download this white paper examining the push for Changing Places in Australia from government, industry and the community, and the role of architects and designers in helping to create a more inclusive environment for everyone.
