Australia’s federal, state and territory governments have announced significant updates to the nation’s disability strategy, including new measures to address homelessness and improve community engagement for people with disability.
The revised Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031, launched today at VALID’s Having a Say Conference, introduces three new Targeted Action Plans focusing on inclusive housing, safety and justice reforms, and changing community attitudes.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth (pictured above) said the updated strategy reflected extensive consultation with people with disability and their representative organisations.
“These Targeted Action Plans set out specific steps governments will take to drive change,” she said. “For the first time, they include national actions that all governments will work on together with the disability community.”
A key addition to the strategy is a new policy priority addressing homelessness among people with disability, alongside a commitment to develop agreed standards for accessible information and communications.
The update comes as part of governments’ joint response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
Melba CEO Hayley Dean welcomed the strategy’s renewed focus on inclusive housing and community engagement.
“The addition of homelessness as a priority area is particularly significant,” she said. “We regularly see how housing insecurity impacts the wellbeing and participation of people with disability in community life. Having all governments commit to addressing this systematically is a crucial step forward.
“The strategy’s success will depend on sustained commitment from all levels of government – it was encouraging to see both state and federal ministers presenting at VALID’s Having a Say Conference. The real test will be in the implementation.
“We will need to see concrete action and adequate funding to match these commitments.”
The updated strategy includes several supporting documents, including three new Targeted Action Plans, a revised Data Improvement Plan, and implementation guidelines. Full details are available through the Disability Gateway website.
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