The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) require public transport operators and providers to ensure their services are accessible for people with disability. This can be achieved by complying with the requirements outlined in the Transport Standards or by providing equivalent access.
What is equivalent access?
Equivalent access is a process through which an operator or provider is allowed to vary the equipment or facilities they provide to support the use of their service. This is only allowed if an equivalent standard of amenity, availability, comfort, convenience, dignity, price and safety is maintained and appropriate consultation with people with disability takes place.
Guidelines for using equivalent access
The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) has published guidelines to provide clear and practical information to support operators and providers to use equivalent access as a method of compliance. The guidelines provide information on the operation of the equivalent access provisions, interactions with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, and practical guidance about the development or assessment of equivalent access solutions.
You can read the guidelines on the Commission's website: www.humanrights.gov.au/resource-hub/by-resource-type/publications/access-under-disability-standards-accessible-public.
Examples of equivalent access solutions
Through the reforms to the Transport Standards, the Australian Government has agreed to create a public repository of equivalent access solutions. The repository will show how equivalent access is used across Australia. Examples will be published on this page as they become available.
If you have an example to share, please email disabilitytransport@infrastructure.gov.au.