Choosing the right consultant?
There’s an increasing number of professionals operating in the building industry who offer access consulting services in addition to their existing business services. This could mean they dont have the expertise and knowledge to provide adequate advice, as its not the main focus of their business.
When you choose an access consultant from a specialist access consultancy, you know you’re dealing with someone who has in depth expertise and knowledge in accessibility that can identify access issues and provide innovative solutions to address the problems.
As there is currently no legislation that requires access consultant to be licensed, we recommend you choose an access consultant that is accredited with the Associations of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA). The ACAA is the peak national body for access consultancy in Australia and, among other things, they administer national competency standards and contribute to the ongoing professional development of its members. This gives you an assurance that the chosen access consultant has met the stringent requirements of the ACAA and have the necessary expertise to provide you with the latest up to date advice.
Before you engage an access consultant, check the following:
Have they worked on similar projects before?
Are they accredited with the ACAA?
Do you have a professional indemnity insurance cover for access consulting?
Do you have a public liability insurance cover?
Do you operate under a “Quality Management System” to work safely as required under health and safety procedures?
Have you a current “Working with Children” check and “Police” check?