There are already a range of great examples of initiatives that set a new standard for inclusion and accessibility within the built environment.

Stockland has already developed 11 inclusive play spaces for children around the country, delivered two quiet rooms at Stockland Shellharbour designed to create a safe place for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and an adult-sized change facility at Stockland Wendouree in Victoria.

While accessibility is written into the building code, and most institutional landlords and major occupiers well exceed the minimum requirements, it will be the next phase of accessibility that can truly transform the working environment for those with a disability.

This includes the use of textures, colours and direction lighting to assist the vision impaired to navigate physical spaces, sensor technology to provide wayfinding support and indicate the availability of meeting rooms and other shared spaces, as well as the use of acoustics to differentiate spaces for easier identification.

Technology also continues to play a substantial role in facilitating greater inclusion, and we are starting to see new applications for emerging technologies. Stockland, for example, has is currently investigating opportunities with autonomous vehicles, virtual reality and other technologies which provide exciting opportunities for the future of inclusive property in Australia.

Ultimately, as an industry we are well placed to further embrace inclusion to provide equal opportunity for all Australians to participate in the cities, urban and work spaces of tomorrow. And this isn’t restricted just to the physical spaces we inhabit but the mental ones as well.

James Patterson is the chief executive of Australia and New Zealand at Cushman & Wakefield.

*Cushman & Wakefield, Charter Hall, Stockland, ARA Group, Australia Post and Westpac, collaborated to launch the Tumbalong Lights, Vivid Sydney’s inclusive play space.