Universal Design and Accessibility - Seamless Experience for all

Nick is an internationally recognised expert in Universal Design and accessibility having consulted all over Australia and internationally. His lived experience, along with tertiary qualifications and Paralympics excellence, presents a unique perspective, that he applies across many sectors in particular major events and infrastructure.

For 25 years, Nick alongside David Goding, directed MGAC to become the pre eminant accessibility consultancy in Australia, particularly around technical compliance. In 2022 MGAC was acquired by Jensen Hughes.

Now as an indepedant consultant, Nick provides high level Universal Design and Accessibility strategies and guidance to ensure outcomes that are not only aligned to the reasonable adjustment provisions of the DDA but also sustainability requirements.

The key outcome from his his advice is that infrastructure, operations & communications are seamlessly delivered for all people including those with accessibility needs

Who Nick has worked with

About Nick

Meet Nick Morris OAM

Nick Morris was an accomplished junior athlete, however at the age of 16 he had a motorcycle accident that left him a paraplegic. Undetered he returned to Wangaratta High School becoming Head Prefect and completing his VCE. With sport as his driving passion, Nick moved to Melbourne to train in wheelchair basketball and complete a degree in Human Movement at RMIT. In 1996 at Atlanta, Nick was a member of the Aussie Rollers who won Paralympic gold medal in wheelchair basketball at the Paralympic games. In parallel to his sport achievements, Nick transitioned to being an accessibility consulting across all sectors but in particular the Sydney 2000 and Beijing 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He won a SportBusiness silver medal for his work in Beijing, in particular assisting the creation of accessibility to the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City.

In Australia and internationally, Nick consulted on many other projects including Commonwealth Games, World Expo’s, AFL Elite performance centres along with advising many of Australia’s top 200 companies on how to implement universal design and accessibility

His qualifications include Bachelor of Applied Science in Human Movement, Diplomas in Education and Accessibility Consulting, and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. Nick is also an accredited accessibility consultant with the Association of Consultants in Access (ACA), and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He is Liveable Housing Australia (LHA) and Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) certified.

Key career highlights:

Advisor to the International Paralympic Committee and co-author on IPC Accessibility guidelines (2000 - 2010)
Overlay and compliance delivery for the Australian Open Tennis (2010–2025)
Universal Design strategy for the 2020 Dubai World Expo
Accessibility strategy for NAB’s national branch redevelopment and ATM design
Infrastructure and event planning for the Commonwealth Games (2006, 2010, 2018, and upcoming 2026)
Venue and overlay design and event operations for Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008 and Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic games
Olympic and Paralympic Bid team for Rio 2016, Budapest 2020, Istanbul 2024

Expert Accessibility Consulting Services

PEER REVIEWS

Nick knowledge of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), Australian Standards (AS1428), and Specilaised Disability Accommodation (SDA) allows him to provide expert and “independant” asessment of planning, design or construction issues on a current project. The resulting assessment provides clear direction on the current approach or will propose appropriate compliant alternatives .

Universal Design Strategy

Nick works with the project team to embed universal design principles and goals into your project from planning through construction and operation. The strategy will consider the project or event as a whole, providing direction where design or operational enhancement can be achieved.

Accessible Event Planning

Nick’s background in international sport and major event logistics uniquely positions him to guide accessibility planning for events of all sizes. From seating and transport coordination to volunteer training and contingency planning, he ensures events meet both compliance requirements and inclusive excellence.

Training & Capacity Building

Nick offers tailored workshops and training modules for architects, property developers, government staff, and construction professionals. Sessions cover legislative requirements, design best practices, and hands-on application of universal design principles. His goal is to raise awareness, build confidence, and enable teams to deliver with inclusion in mind.

Policy Advisory & Strategic Planning

Nick has supported national organisations and local governments in creating accessibility policies, inclusive action plans, and citywide frameworks for disability access. His work includes reviewing and drafting accessibility guidelines, preparing briefing notes for ministers, and providing expert advice in public inquiries and tenders.

Client Workshops & Design Reviews

In addition to formal reports, Nick regularly facilitates stakeholder engagement sessions, co-design workshops, and design reviews with multidisciplinary teams. These activities ensure a range of perspectives are integrated into the design process—leading to better, more inclusive outcomes for everyone.

What NICKS's Clients Say

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Nick’s involvement gave our Olympic venue a world-class accessibility rating. He was able to pinpoint issues we didn’t see and helped us solve them before construction began.”

Director of Venue Operations, Tokyo 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“We knew our civic upgrade had to be compliant. Nick showed us how to go beyond compliance and genuinely serve our whole community.”

Project Manager, Local Government Authority

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Nick brings unmatched clarity and calm to fast-moving projects. He translated complex legislation into design advice we could act on immediately.”

Principal Architect, National Design Firm

★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“After one workshop with Nick, our team saw accessibility not as an afterthought, but as a design strength.”

Development Director, Commercial Property Group

Contact Nick

Whether you’re working on a building, city plan, national event, or policy review, Nick Want to discuss an upcoming project or get advice on how to improve accessibility in your environment? Let’s start a conversation.work for everyone—without compromise.