Queensland and Tasmania DDA Cases + Panel Discussion

About this event

This webinar focuses on Queensland and Tasmania DDA Cases + Panel Discussion with Bryce Tolliday, Michael Small and our panel on Wednesday 17th August 2022 starting at 12 noon (AEST Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra time)

Bryce will discuss the Ryan V SCHHS complaint, a complaint made by a Blind man who alleged discrimination in access to the built environment, which was eventually heard in the Federal Circuit Court in Brisbane.

Michael will discuss the history of the Parliament Square complaint by David Cawthorn including the outcome of the High Court case. This raised constitutional questions about Tribunal authority to hear complaints in relation to matters covered by Federal regulation and the authority of states to impose access requirements in excess of those in Federal regulation. He will also outline the basis for David’s complaint, discuss the questions raised by the developer about the coverage of the development by the Premises Standards and NCC and provide information on what is next in this 6 year David and Goliath battle.

Following the presentations, there will be a panel discussion and a chance to ask questions of the speakers and the panel.

Our panel will include:

• John Deshon
• Howard Moutrie
• Chris Porter
• Patricia Flores

About Bryce Tolliday - Managing Director of Wayfinding Australia Pty Ltd

Bryce is the Managing Director of Wayfinding Australia Pty Ltd, which trades as Access All Ways Consultants, a Company based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.  Wayfinding Australia provides professional consultancy services, nationally, in the fields of  Disability Access, Wayfinding Design, Environmental Graphic Design, Research, Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA Housing) and Livable Housing.

Bryce has been an accredited member of ACAA since 2001. He is a qualified access consultant and is also a professional member of the Society for Experiential Design (USA). He has also been a member of the ACAA Management & Membership Committees and represents ACAA on the AS1428.4.2 Wayfinding Standard committee and is also currently assisting ME64 on the AS1428.6 drafting group.

Major projects which he has consulted to include Gold Coast University Hospital ($1.1b Teaching Hospital), Moreton Bay Rail Link, Queensland Cultural Centre, Commonwealth Games Village – Gold Coast and Cross River Rail.

Over the years Bryce’s knowledge, particularly in the area of sensory wayfinding has resulted in his involvement in a number of research projects including Main Roads Queensland – Pedestrian Line Marking, CRC – Construction Innovation – Wayfinding in the Built Environment and the Queensland Health – Wayfinding Collaborative. He was also on the drafting committee for the Queensland Health Wayfinding Design Guidelines.

Bryce is a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, having provided support, assistance or acted as an expert witness in numerous complaints taken under both the Queensland Anti Discrimination Act or the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act.

About Michael Small - Director Equality Building

Michael Small runs a consultancy business based in Hobart working with people with disability, businesses, government and the building sector to assist in making buildings and services more accessible.

From 1993 to 2011 Michael worked at the Australian Human Rights Commission developing guidelines and standards to improve access to public transport, the internet, education, local government services, banking and the built environment.

Michael worked on the drafting of the Premises Standards and changes to the National Construction Code as a member of the Building Access Policy Committee and various Standards Australia technical committees.

Michael wrote the Guideline on the Application of the Premises Standards and in 2012 he was awarded the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Disability Reform. In 2016 he was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study access compliance overseas.

Michael is a member of the Association of Consultants in Access Australia and has recently been a member of the Expert Advisory Group responsible for progressing recommendations from the first review of the Premises Standards and the National Accessible Transport Taskforce.

Michael is also a Director of Disability Voices Tasmania and chairs their Systemic Change sub-committee.