Recommendation 6.1 – A national plan to promote accessible information and communications

What has been achieved to date

Work has commenced for the development of the Associated Plan, ‘Improving access to Information and Communications for People with Disability: An Associated Plan under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031’.

An Accessible Communications Technical Advisory Group has been established to support key components of the Associated Plan. The group includes technical experts in communication with either lived experience of disability or a deep understanding of the issues affecting people with disability when accessing government information.

All governments are committed to ensuring people with disability remain at the centre of this work, and an engagement plan is under development. The Associated Plan is expected to be finalised by June 2027.

What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report

The Australian Government and state and territory governments should develop and agree on an Associated Plan in connection with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 to improve the accessibility of information and communications for people with disability. The Associated Plan should be co-designed with people with disability and their representative organisations. It should be finalised by the end of 2024.

The Associated Plan should: 

• consolidate and build on existing initiatives and commitments by governments
• recognise the diversity of people with disability and the many formats and languages that people may require information to be provided in
• consider the roles of various stakeholders, including the Australian Government, state and territory governments, disability service providers, disability representative organisations and organisations representing people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• focus, in the first instance, on information and communications about preparing for and responding to emergencies and natural disasters, and public health
• include targeted actions to ensure access to information and communications for people with disability in the criminal justice system; supported accommodation, including group homes; Australian Disability Enterprises; and day programs
• identify and allocate appropriate funding and resources for delivery
• include mechanisms for review and public reporting of progress made against the Associated Plan.

Joint Government response July 2024

The Australian Government and state and territory governments recognise that people with disability have a right to access information and communications on an equal basis with others. All governments support the development of an Associated Plan to Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 to improve the accessibility of information and communications for people with disability. The Australian Government will lead the development of the Associated Plan, building on existing initiatives to deliver a unified approach. The Associated Plan will be developed in consultation with state and territory governments. The Associated Plan will be developed with people with disability and their representative organisations. This includes First Nations people with disability, people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, people who are blind or have low vision, Deafblind people, people with intellectual disability, and other people with disability who may face additional barriers to accessing the information and communications they need. Scoping and development will commence in 2024.

More recommendations

View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.