Recommendation 5.2 – Review and update of Australia's Disability Strategy

What has been achieved to date

The Australian Government, state and territory governments and the Australian Local Government Association worked with the disability community to complete a focused review on Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031. Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31, 2024 update: Building a more inclusive Australia was released on 29 January 2025, signed by First Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association.

The review considered issues raised in the Disability Royal Commission and feedback from the first three years of delivering Australia’s Disability Strategy with a focus on implementation mechanisms.

The review actively involved Australia’s Disability Strategy Advisory Council (the Council) and included focused engagement with Disability Representative Organisations and the public. Feedback reinforced the importance of:

• active engagement of people with disability throughout implementation
• coordinated efforts across governments, including through new Targeted Action Plans (TAP) to drive a focus on accessible homes and communities, community attitudes and safety rights and justice
• the need for enhanced transparency of reporting; and a focus on addressing homelessness and improving accessible information.

The findings and actions were published online on 3 December 2024.

The updated Australia’s Disability Strategy includes:

• updated data and evidence under each priority area
• a new policy priority on access to services and supports to prevent and reduce homelessness (DRC recommendation 7.34)
• updates to reflect the current disability reform environment
• a foreword by Jane Spring AM, Chair of the Council
• references to State and Territory Disability Plans.

Governments are now progressing implementation of the new Targeted Action Plans, the development of the Guide to Engaging People with Disability in Evaluation, and a Community Engagement Plan, working closely with people with disability, representative organisations and the Council.

See Australia’s Disability Strategy Hub

What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report

The signatories to Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (the Strategy) (the Australian Government, state and territory governments and the Australian Local Government Association) should review and update the Strategy to ensure it reflects the issues raised and recommendations made by this Royal Commission.

This review and update should:

• consider the Strategy and all its implementation mechanisms, including Targeted Action Plans, Engagement Plan, Outcomes Framework, Guiding Principles, reporting arrangements and Data Improvement Plan
• be undertaken in partnership with people with disability and their representative organisations.

An updated Strategy should be released by the end of 2024.

Joint Government response July 2024

The Australian Government, state and territory governments, and the Australian Local Government Association have commenced a focused review of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 to consider the issues raised in the Disability Royal Commission and to take account of feedback from the first two years of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 implementation.

The review is being undertaken with the active involvement of the Australia’s Disability Strategy Advisory Council and will consider the Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 and its artefacts and processes, including Targeted Actions Plans (concluding and new). It will focus on identifying practical process, governance and reporting improvements, and addressing key gaps or missing elements.

The review will inform the publication of changes to Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 and implementation processes before the end of 2024.

A separate major evaluation of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31, focused on outcomes, is due to commence in 2025 and be completed in 2026.

More recommendations

View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.