MEDIA RELEASE
12 February 2019
Kiwi organisation Lifemark named: “Most outstanding Universal Design innovator in Australasia”
Accessible design organisation Lifemark took out the top Universal Design award at the Australasian Enablement Awards.
The Enablement awards celebrate the top performers in the Disability Care, Housing and Services sector. Lifemark was
recognised as “the most outstanding Universal Design Innovator in Australasia in 2018.”
Lifemark advocates for and provides universal design guidelines to improve the accessibility of New Zealand housing.
“It was a great honour to be recognised for the strength of the work we’re doing in New Zealand,” says Geoff Penrose,
General Manager Lifemark. “Lifemark rated homes are designed to be usable and safe for people of all ages and stages.
They are easy to live in – for a lifetime.”
Lifemark is a commercial division of CCS Disability Action and works alongside designers and builders to offer advice on
how to make best use of space in a home, based on the principles of Universal Design.
“With all the opportunities ahead in the construction sector it’s the perfect time to embrace universal design as an
approach to designing and building. This award shows that we can provide some real leadership in New Zealand and
Lifemark is ready to provide the support to the industry to make that happen,” explains Geoff.
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For further information contact:
Geoff Penrose
General Manager
Lifemark A division of CCS Disability Action
Phone: 027 205 2206
Email: Geoff@lifemark.co.nz
Lifetime Design background information
Lifemark is the commercial division of CCS Disability Action that was formed in 2006 and merged back into the
organisation in 2018. The Lifemark division works with Access Advisors & Educators and directly with developers, architects, home builders, social housing trusts, retirement operators, local
and central government to provide professional services on accessibility and universal design.
The team engages at the earliest stage of any new development in the built environment to ensure accessibility is
included. They deliver a set of star rated residential design standards (Lifemark standards version 2, 2016), conformity
to NZS 4121 (2001) reporting and best practice universal design advice for public and commercial buildings.
The team also works with manufacturers and has a growing range of approved products that are universally designed for
ease of use and safety. Individual home owners ask to have their home built to a Lifemark 3, 4 or 5 star rating as the
team work with the architect and builder to ensure these specifications are achieved.
For more information go to www.Lifemark.co.nz
CCS Disability Action background information
CCS Disability Action is a community organisation that has been advocating for disabled people to be included in the
community since 1935. We provide direct support to approximately 5,000 children, young people and adults through our 18
branches, which operate from Northland to Invercargill. Our support focuses on breaking down barriers to participation.
We receive a mixture of government and private funding.
CCS Disability Action has a national network of access coordinators, who work with local government and transport
operators to create a more inclusive society. We also run New Zealand’s nation-wide Mobility Parking Permit scheme. This
scheme currently supports more than 150,000 people to more easily access their communities and facilities. Our fully
owned subsidiary, Lifetime Design Ltd, advocates for and provides universal design guidelines to improve the
accessibility of New Zealand housing.
For more information go to www.ccsDisabilityAction.org.nz
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