What an access consultant actually does
"Access consultant" gets used loosely, so it's worth being precise about what the role covers and how it differs from an architect's.
Advisory, auditing and certification, not design authorship
An access consultant's work is compliance and inclusivity focused: auditing existing buildings and plans against standards like AS 1428.1, advising on universal design during a project, certifying Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) against the NDIS Design Standard, running training, and contributing to accessibility policy. An architect's role is broader: holistic design, documentation and project delivery. The two are complementary, and a project is usually better for having both involved rather than one instead of the other.
Where an access consultant fits on a project
Early input is cheapest: an access consultant reviewing a scheme at concept stage can flag issues, like door widths, circulation, or bathroom layout, while they're still a redline on a plan rather than a variation on site. Later in the project, that same input shifts to compliance review against the National Construction Code, and eventually to SDA or DDA certification once the building is complete.
A background in architectural practice is a genuine asset here: it means the access consultant can read a construction set the way the project architect and the certifier both will, and raise issues in language the design team can act on immediately.