Responsibility: Australian Government and non-government
Response: Accept in principle
Status: Further work required
What work is currently in progress
Recommendations 6.29(a) and 6.29(b) are the responsibility of National Boards and peak professional bodies for non-registered health professions.
In relation to Recommendation 6.29(c), the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability (the ID Roadmap) is already in year 4 of implementation with both short- and medium-term actions prioritised.
The Australian Government is continuing to provide training and resources to general practitioners and health professionals and improve access to resources and quality care for people with intellectual disability. This has been enabled through the continuation of the Primary Care Enhancement Program (PCEP) for People with Intellectual Disability. The PCEP has been extended for two years, until 30 June 2026. This extension includes further evaluation to inform the government about opportunities for a national rollout of PCEP activities.
What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report
a) The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Australasian College of Emergency Medicine and Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine should each:
- develop specialised training content in cognitive disability health for different areas of specialisation, building on the capability framework and the core set of learning resources, so that future specialists can develop skills and competencies in cognitive disability health
- expand and promote pathways for sub-speciality training in cognitive disability health.
b) These groups, as well as the Australian Dental Association and professional bodies responsible for continuing professional development (CPD) in the nursing and allied health professions should each:
- review CPD programs in their respective health discipline or specialty to determine whether CPD for the provision of health care to people with cognitive disability, including intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, should be enhanced
- promote the development of CPD opportunities on the provision of health care to people with cognitive disability, including intellectual and/or developmental disabilities
- raise awareness of such CPD opportunities among members.
c) The Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing should reprioritise the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability action to embed training and CPD within all specialist training programs from a medium-term action (four to six years), to a short-term action (one to three years)
Australian Government Response July 2024
The Australian Government accepts in principle recommendations 6.29 (a) and (b) on the promotion and development of continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities on the provision of health care to people with cognitive disability, noting this is the responsibility of national boards and professional associations.
The Australian Government accepts in principle recommendation 6.29 (c), noting the Government’s efforts to provide supports through the Primary Care Enhancement Program (PCEP) for People with Intellectual Disability.
Through its initial response to the Disability Royal Commission, the Government has dedicated $3.7 million to continue PCEP. This will enable Primary Health Networks to continue providing training and resources to general practitioners and health professionals and improve access to resources and quality care for people with intellectual disability.
More recommendations
View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.