Before Compliance

Bernie Clifford
Accredited Access Consultant and Member of Access Consultants Association of Australia (ACAA);

BSc. (Nursing, Biology); B.A. Hons (Media Arts);

Graduate Cert (Arts & Entertainment Management);

Cert IV Workplace Training & Assessment;

Cert IV  Access.

Accredited Assessor:- LHA, Changing Places and SDA;

After losing a leg and other mobility injuries due to an accident in 1992, Bernie went back to university and completed a degree in science with majors in nursing and microbiology. Following this Bernie completed an additional degree with Honors for the media arts and post graduate studies in arts management.  Bernie ran a media production and exhibition company winning two international awards.  In 2006 Bernie became the Industry and Audience Development Manager for Arts Access Victoria (Arts Victoria’s peak body for disability and the arts).

In 2007 Bernie joined Nick Morris at Morris Goding Accessibility Consulting (MGAC) and provided DDA consulting on new and refurbished building projects in sectors such as sports stadiums, hospitals, laboratories, tertiary education and research buildings/campuses. At the same time, Bernie sat on the Disability Advisory Committees for the City of Greater Geelong (DAC & COGG) and the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC).

In 2009 Bernie became the Associate Director of MGAC (VIC) Pty Ltd and continued to be the Senior DDA Consultant with highlights such as the Metricon Gold Coast Stadium development, and international projects such as the 2010 Asian Para Games Guangzhou, China and the 2011 Para Pan American Games Guadalajara, Mexico.

In October 2011, Bernie started his own company ‘Before Compliance’ (B4C) to continue to provide cost-effective, practical DDA recommendations, compliance solutions, and sign-off for new and existing building projects and events. Bernie’s long-term experience living with disabilities as well as a vast relative project experience enables him to provide clear indications  of  DDA  compliance  requirements  for sports projects and  provide  recommendations,  performance  solutions or exemptions where applicable.

Before Compliance

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Bernie Clifford – Access consultant is an Accredited Changing Places and SDA Assessor and Accredited member of the Access Consultants Association of Australia (ACAA). Bernie Clifford / Before Compliance Pty Ltd will ensure the project complies with the NDIS SDA Design Categories as Per NDIS SDA Standards 2019 and when relevant, the Disability (Access to Premises) Standards 2010 and the associated performance requirements of the BCA/NCC. All projects’ scope of works will be reviewed to ensure they can comply with the spirit and intent of Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)..

Design Reviews: Design Reviews: DDA Performance Solutions/Compliance Confirmation – single design phase / Concept/Town Planning/Schematic/Detail/Tender/Construction

• Attend Project Meetings –attend as needed for project meetings  (Plus Up to 2 per Design Phase workshops  and up to 2 site inspections in construction phase)
• Review provided designs, specifications and schedules.
• Identify Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standard 2010 and AS1428 series departures and DDA issues.
• Provide recommendations to ensure DDA compliance.
• Produce design reviews at each of the key stages of design.
• Provide a DDA Compliance Statement including compliance to the Disability (Access to Premises -Buildings) Standards, AS1428.1 and other relevant Australian Standards as applicable to the scope of works and phase of the design.
• Provide BCA& DDA Alternative Solutions, Dispensations and Exemptions when applicable.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) is a Federal Government legislation enacted in 1993 that seeks to ensure all new building infrastructure, refurbishments, services and transport projects provide functional, equitable and independent accessibility.   The DDA is a complaints based legislation, which is administered by the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). For any built environment the key requirement of the DDA is to ensure functionality, equity and independence of movement by people with disabilities, their companions, family and care givers.

For base building compliance to the DDA the development is required to ensure designs will provide components of the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standard (2010)  and the Australian Standard AS 1428.1 (2009) design for access and mobility and AS2890.6 (2009) standards.

Compliance with these elements does not necessarily mean compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act if the elements of equality, independence and functionality remain compromised within an environment.  The use of AS 1428 series provides further accessibility and DDA compliance and enhancement.

A DDA consultant can assist in identifying the DDA issues relating to the Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standard (2010), and provide recommendations, alternative solutions or exemption confirmation to achieve compliance.