Have you been involved in the design, building or renovation of a home to suit the lifestyle needs of older Australians?
Master Builders Australia, in partnership with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, has opened nominations for the 2010 National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Awards, which acknowledge builders who deliver high quality, practical and liveable family homes that are adaptable to the changing lifestyles and needs of older Australians.
Launching this year's Award, Master Builders Australia Chief Executive, Wilhelm Harnisch said that as the Australian population matures, it is raising new challenges to the building and construction industry to promote the better design, construction and refurbishment of a home that suits older Australians so that they can live independently for a longer period before having to move to residential aged care facilities.
"The need to provide a broader range of age-friendly housing designs and building options for older Australians is becoming increasingly urgent and cannot be met by simply following standard design practices of the past", Mr Harnisch said.
"This year's Awards will provide the opportunity to showcase new and innovative design approaches to meeting the lifestyle needs of older Australians."
There are two Award categories: purpose-built owner-occupied dwellings including townhouses and apartments, or existing owner-occupied homes that have been purposely extended or modified.
Master Builders invites builders to nominate their project for the 2010 National Lifestyle Housing for Seniors Award. Submissions close 27 August 2010.
The Awards will be presented at Parliament House in Canberra on 19 November 2010.