How to choose an accredited access consultant in Sydney

Pick an ACA Accredited Member, check the listing yourself on the Access Consultants Association directory, confirm they cover your stage (DA, CC, as-built) and building type, ask the six questions below, and confirm insurance. Then call for a scoped fee proposal.

Developers, architects and builders in Sydney often receive three quotes after a council DCP or pre-DA note says “access report by a suitably qualified / accredited access consultant”. Accreditation is the first filter, not the whole decision. This guide shows how to check ACA status in two minutes, where Sydney councils name it, and the practical questions that separate a report your certifier will accept from a template.

What “accredited access consultant” actually means

The Access Consultants Association (formerly ACAA)

The peak body is the Access Consultants Association (ACA), formerly known as the Association of Consultants in Access Australia (ACAA). Older council documents and some competitor pages still say “ACAA”. The association now trades as the Access Consultants Association. Its homepage states that ACA accreditation proves high-level competency, and the Find an Access Consultant directory is the public listing. See access.asn.au.

Membership classes

ACA membership classes include Accredited, Associate, Affiliate and Student. Accredited Members must have been Associate Members for the required period, passed the Accreditation Test, take part in the CPD program and agree to the logo policy. Associate membership has required the Certificate IV in Access Consulting since 1 September 2013. The Accreditation Test has been required for Accredited Membership since April 2012. These details come from the ACA apply-for-membership page and FAQ. Affiliate and Student members have an interest in access but are not practising consultants at the accredited level.

How to check a listing in two minutes

Go to the ACA Find an Access Consultant directory at access.asn.au/find-an-aca-consultant/. Search by the person’s name, postcode or distance. Tip: search the individual, not only the company name, because listings are personal. Confirm the class is Accredited Member and note the member number. Gary Finn is listed as Accredited Member 435; you can verify that on the directory and on the badge on this site’s homepage and About page.

When Sydney councils ask for an accredited consultant

Councils that name accreditation

Inner West Council DCP Part 2.17 (Adaptable Housing and Accessibility) requires: “A comprehensive Access Report, prepared by a suitably qualified Access Consultant (ACAA accredited), is to be submitted with the Development Application for all Complex Developments and proposals claiming Unjustifiable Hardship. Access reports are not required for alterations and additions and renovations of existing residential accommodation.” Quote from the live DCP. Link: Inner West DCP Part 2.17.

Councils that say “suitably qualified” or “appropriately qualified and experienced”

Many other Sydney councils use softer wording. Inner West’s own DA documentation guide (June 2024) says the access report “should be prepared by a suitably qualified consultant”. Other DCPs ask for a report by “an appropriately qualified and experienced person”. Certifiers and assessing officers commonly read this as an accredited consultant. Consent conditions sometimes name accreditation explicitly. Do not assume every council requires ACA accreditation by name; check the DCP and any consent condition for the site.

State Significant and Crown projects

SEARs and university design standards often ask for an access strategy or report from a qualified consultant. See the university campus access reports page for campus-specific notes.

Practical line: check the DCP and any consent condition before you hire, because a report by an unaccredited author can trigger an RFI and a re-issue.

Six questions to ask before you engage an access consultant

1. Are you an ACA Accredited Member, and what’s your member number? Then check it on the directory yourself.
2. Have you done this building class and approval route before? Class 2 apartments, 9b schools, SDA, CDC, heritage overlays or co-living all have different common issues. Ask for relevant examples without expecting client names.
3. Which stages does the fee proposal cover? DA report, CC compliance report, design reviews, site inspection, as-built letter? A fixed fee with a clear scope list is clearer than a headline price.
4. Who writes and signs the report, and will that person answer the certifier’s RFIs? Confirm the author will remain available through the certificate stage.
5. Can you prepare and support a performance solution if a Deemed-to-Satisfy item can’t be met? See the performance solutions page. Do not stretch a standard access report to cover a departure.
6. What Professional Indemnity and Public Liability cover do you hold? ACA’s FAQ recommends checking this. Confirm current cover for the project type.

Red flags

• A report that quotes the old Part D3 numbering or AS 1428.1-2009 only, without noting what the project’s NCC edition calls up. Current NSW work is NCC 2022 Amendment 2 until 1 May 2027; Premises Standards reference AS 1428.1:2021 from 29 July 2025. See the NCC Part D4 access guide.
• No site inspection or as-built stage offered on projects that will need one. See existing building access audits.
• A price with no scope list. See access report cost Sydney for what a scoped proposal should include (no figures here).
• Claims of registrations the consultant cannot show on request. Keep verification simple: directory, member number, insurance certificate.

Access consultant vs certifier vs architect

The certifier decides whether the documentation is adequate for consent or a certificate. The access consultant assesses the design against Premises Standards, NCC access provisions and AS 1428 and writes the lodgement-ready report. The architect designs. Longer split is on when do you need an access consultant (Access consultant vs certifier section) and what certifiers want in an access report.

How Sydney Access Consultants measures up

Gary Finn is an ACA Accredited Member, member 435, as shown on the live homepage and About page. The practice has an architectural-practice background (past experience only; Gary is not a registered architect). Work covers DA, CC, CDC, SDA, heritage and performance-solution reports, plus expert witness service. See expert witness. The practice office is in Hurstville, serving Cronulla, the Sutherland Shire and Georges River. See locations. Reports are prepared by Accredited Access Consultants. Do not claim Livable Housing assessor registration. Call (02) 9586 3111 for a scoped fee proposal after we have seen the drawings and stage.

Related pages: DA, CC and CDC access reports, DA vs CC access report, apartment access reports NSW, services.

Frequently asked questions

What is an accredited access consultant?

An accredited access consultant is an Accredited Member of the Access Consultants Association (ACA, formerly the Association of Consultants in Access Australia, ACAA). Accredited Members have served time as Associate Members, passed the ACA Accreditation Test and take part in the association’s continuing professional development program. You can check any consultant’s status on the ACA’s Find an Access Consultant directory at access.asn.au.

Do Sydney councils require an accredited access consultant?

Some do, by name. Inner West Council’s DCP, for example, asks for an access report by an ACAA-accredited consultant for complex developments. Many other councils ask for a “suitably qualified” or “appropriately qualified and experienced” person, which certifiers and assessing officers commonly read as an accredited consultant. Check your council’s DCP and any consent condition before you engage someone.

What should I ask an access consultant before hiring them?

Ask for their ACA membership class and number and check it, whether they’ve worked on your building class and approval route, which stages their fee proposal covers (DA, CC, inspections, as-built), who will answer the certifier’s questions, whether they can prepare a performance solution if needed, and what professional indemnity and public liability cover they hold.

How much does an access consultant cost?

It depends on the scope, building class, stage and whether a performance solution is needed. Call (02) 9586 3111 for a scoped fee proposal. We do not publish a one-size price list.

Is ACAA the same as ACA?

Yes. The Access Consultants Association (ACA) is the current name. ACAA was the former name. Older documents may still say ACAA.

Send your drawings and DA conditions for a scoped fee proposal, or call (02) 9586 3111.