Australia's Disability Strategy

Disability in Australia

One in 5 Australians have a disability. That is one in 5 of the people who share our homes and workplaces, our streets and cities, our lives and hearts. They are our siblings, parents and children, colleagues and co-workers, partners and friends.

Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031

Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (ADS) is a national framework that all Australian governments have signed up to. It sets out a plan for continuing to improve the lives of people with disability in Australia over 10 years. ADS replaces and builds on the first National Disability Strategy 2010–2020.

The strategy’s vision is for an inclusive Australian society that ensures people with disability can fulfil their potential, as equal members of the community.

The strategy is based on the social model of disability. It recognises attitudes, practices and structures can be disabling and act as barriers. These can prevent people from fulfilling their potential and exercising their rights as equal members of the community.

There are 7 outcome areas that people with disability told us need to improve to achieve the strategy's vision:

• employment and financial security
• inclusive homes and communities
• safety, rights and justice
• personal and community support
• education and learning
• health and wellbeing
• community attitudes.

All levels of government play a role in services, supports and infrastructure for people with disability. Governments are obliged to provide services to all citizens. They also need to make reasonable adjustments to ensure people with disability can access those systems and services.

Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub on the Disability Gateway website provides information on how people can connect with the strategy. It outlines how governments are acting on the strategy. It also explains how you will know the impact of these actions and what difference this has made.

Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub has Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 in various formats. It includes key actions under ADS. The hub also has information on the following:

• the rights of people with disability
• data and research
• how you can stay informed
• roles and responsibilities
• key systems outside of government
• points of contact for services and support
• relevant legislation and agreements for funding, regulation and operational responsibilities
• NDIS Applied Principles and Tables of Support, setting out responsibilities between the NDIS and other service systems.

The Disability Gateway can also help you find the information you need.

Development of Australia's Disability Strategy

Australia's Disability Strategy was guided by several reviews and inquiries and extensive consultation. 

The first review of the strategy was undertaken in 2024. The review included public consultation and targeted conversations. The report on the review will be published in December 2024 along with a refreshed Australia’s Disability Strategy. 

An independent evaluation of the strategy will start in 2025. We would like you to be involved. We will provide an update when we are ready to start work on the evaluation. 

Reviews and inquiries

Several reviews and inquiries looked at the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 (original strategy) implementation. 

Major reviews

Visit the Australian Parliament House website for the Senate Inquiry – Community Affairs References Committee: Delivery of outcomes under the National Disability Strategy (2017).

Read the Review of implementation of the National Disability Strategy (2019). 

The independent review found that parts of the original Strategy were working well. The principles and goals were valuable. There were areas for improvement, particularly how it was being implemented. 

Visit the Productivity Commission website for the Productivity Commission (PC) review of the National Disability Agreement (2019).

Development of the ADS considered the findings from the PC review. The review proposed a model to make the National Disability Agreement and the original Strategy more effective. This was particularly in an environment where the NDIS had commenced. 

United Nations reports

Australia periodically reports to the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the most recent report was considered by the UN Committee in September 2019. 

Development of the ADS considered these reports: 

• Combined second and third periodic reports submitted by Australia under article 35 of the Convention, due in 2018
• Australian Civil Society Shadow Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Concluding observations on the combined second and third periodic reports of Australia. 

Position paper

Australian, state, territory and local governments used these reviews and evidence to develop the National Disability Strategy Position Paper. Consultation on development of the ADS considered this paper. 

Consultation

The voices of people with disability were central to the development of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031. 

Consultation to inform development of ADS took place over 3 years with the following: 

• people with disability
• families and carers
• advocacy organisations
• peak bodies
• service providers
• targeted consultations for and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Read about consultation for Australia’s Disability Strategy on the Trove website archive.

Final progress report on the National Disability Strategy

The final progress report under the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 combines the strategy’s third and fourth progress reports, covering 2017–18 and 2019–20. It also includes the additional calendar year 2021, during which all levels of government remained committed to the Strategy while Australia’s Disability Strategy was finalised.

Read the final progress report.

Other disability strategies and plans

The National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 was the original national strategy. It was the first time all levels of government committed to a unified, national approach to building inclusion for people with disability. The Strategy aimed to create a more inclusive society. One that enabled Australians with disability to fulfil their potential as equal citizens. 

Read about the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 on the Trove website archive. 

State and territory governments have their own disability plans in place or are developing plans. Many local governments (commonly known as councils) also have disability plans in place. Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub has more information about state and territory disability plans.