Recommendation 7.34 – Include homelessness in Australia’s Disability Strategy

What has been achieved to date

The updated Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 released on 29 January 2025 includes a new policy priority on access to services and supports to prevent and reduce homelessness under the Inclusive Homes and Communities Outcome Area.

The Australian Government and state and territory governments recognise the additional barriers people with disability face in accessing appropriate housing, and the disproportionate risks and impacts of homelessness among people with disability. 

All governments have committed to an ambitious housing reform agenda to boost the supply of all housing, and deliver housing and homelessness supports for vulnerable communities. To prioritise accessible housing for people with disability, governments will continue working together to develop integrated responses, for example:

• The National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness (replacing the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement) is designed to help people who are experiencing, or are at risk of, homelessness and support the effective operation of Australia’s social housing and homelessness services sectors. It provides jurisdictions with flexibility to address issues for cohorts with disproportionate disadvantage, such as people with disability.
• The enabling legislation for the Supply Council, the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Act 2023, acknowledges the importance of accessibility for people with disability as it is one of the areas of expertise considered when appointing members.
• New homes delivered under the National Housing Accord and the Housing Australia Future Fund are required to meet standards in the 2022 National Construction Code relating to the Liveable Housing Design Standard.
• The Safe Places Inclusion Round focuses on increasing access to appropriate emergency accommodation for women and children experiencing family and domestic violence (FDV), including women and children with disability.

What the Disability Royal Commission said in the final report

The Australian Government should increase the focus on homelessness in Australia’s Disability Strategy by:

• ensuring consultations concerning, and reviews of, Australia’s Disability Strategy include people with disability at risk of experiencing homelessness and their representative organisations
• expressly including homelessness as a policy priority within the ‘Inclusive Homes and Communities’ key outcomes.

Joint Government response July 2024

The Australian Government and state and territory governments agree to increasing the focus on homelessness in Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 and are prioritising consideration of this through the review of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 being undertaken in 2024 in response to recommendation 5.2.

More recommendations

View progress on other recommendations made by the Royal Commission.