Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031

The Australian Government’s Vision for Disabilities

The Australian Government is leading the development of a Disability Strategy for 2021-2031, which will guide how we improve outcomes for people with disability and their families.

The strategy will be underpinned by five key priorities:

• Achieving equality and equity in education and employment opportunities for people with disabilities;
• Increasing access to early intervention services for children with developmental needs
• Building capacity of families, carers and communities through better information and support services
• Improving access to affordable housing options that meet individual needs;
• Improving access to health services, including mental health care (including culturally appropriate services) through better coordination between states/territories and other providers such as primary care services or aged care facilities

The objectives of the Strategy are:

• To improve the lives of people with disabilities in Australia;
• To close gaps in opportunities for people with disabilities;
• To ensure that Australians understand that all Australians should have equal rights irrespective of whether they have a disability or not

Collaborative Efforts for Inclusive Community Life

The Australian Government and state and territory governments have committed to supporting people with disabilities, their families and careers to participate in all areas of community life. This is a priority across all levels of government.

The Australian Government supports people with disabilities through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The NDIS provides funding to help people with permanent disabilities achieve their goals for independence and quality of life by providing them with choices about how they can spend their time; access to services; support from others; opportunities for work or study; and participation in community activities that make them feel good about themselves.

The Australian Government also funds specific programs under its Better Access initiative which provides free or low-cost psychological services for individuals who meet certain criteria such as being aged between 5-17 years old, experiencing moderate to severe mental illness or having experienced trauma earlier in life (such as childhood abuse).

States/territories may also provide additional support such as respite care packages that allow families time away from caring duties so they can restock energy levels before returning home again – this can be particularly beneficial during periods when children are younger because they require greater amounts of attention than adults do!

Advancing the National Disability Strategy’s Objectives

The Australian Government is working with states and territories through the National Disability Strategy to drive action and reform.

The National Disability Strategy (NDS) is a key part of the Australian Government’s response to the Productivity Commission’s report into disability services, Achieving Better Outcomes for People with Disability: Final Report of the Inquiry into Disability Support Services. The NDS will guide reform in Australia’s disability sector over 2021-2031. It sets out our shared vision for improving opportunities for people with disabilities, their families and carers by addressing barriers that prevent them from having equal access to community life and participation in society at large.

Purpose and Structure of the Strategy

The purpose of the strategy is to provide a framework for action and support. It does not have legal status or impose obligations on people with disabilities or others but rather sets out what we want to see happen over the next decade.

The structure of the strategy has been developed based on extensive consultation with people with disabilities, their families and carers, representatives from government departments, non-government organisations and other stakeholders.

 The four key areas are

• Participation (including access to services)
• Inclusion (promoting social participation)
• Community life (connecting with your community)
• Employment (finding or keeping a job).

Who has been Consulted in Developing Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031?

The Australian Government consulted with people with disabilities, their families and carers, state and territory governments, service providers, the disability sector and other stakeholders. The consultation process included forums in Sydney and Melbourne as well as online surveys.

Why does Australia need a new National Disability Strategy?

Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031 is a government initiative that aims to improve the lives of people with disability and their families.

The strategy sets out how we can work together as a community, across all levels of government and business, to create a more inclusive Australia where everyone feels welcome and able to participate in all areas of community life.

This includes:

• making sure people with disabilities can access education, training and employment opportunities;
• reducing discrimination so that people with disabilities feel safe;
• increasing awareness about how best we can support each other in our daily lives;
• ensuring every Australian has access to good healthcare services when needed;
• working together so our towns are safe places for everyone – whether they have an intellectual impairment or not!

What are the Principles Underpinning Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031?

The principles underpinning Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031 are:

• Respect and dignity
• Equality of opportunity
• Social inclusion
• Independence (self-determination)
• Participation in society – being able to access the same opportunities as others, including education, employment, recreation and leisure activities.

How will Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031 be implemented?

The strategy will be implemented by the Australian Government, state and territory governments and the disability sector. It will be achieved through several actions including:

• A national approach to supporting people with disabilities to find jobs that are suited to their needs. This includes more support for workplace training, better-targeted access to flexible work arrangements, and greater use of technology solutions such as remote working technologies where appropriate.
• Continued growth in participation rates for school students with disabilities by improving funding models that focus on outcomes rather than inputs (such as teacher ratios). This will include expanding funding for early intervention services so children can start school on equal footing with their peers; providing new incentives for schools who take action on inclusive education; extending funding beyond 2020-21; investing $100m in new digital learning resources available online 24 hours a day seven days a week; increasing incentives offered under the Schooling Resource Standard Scheme (SRSS) until 2022-23; continuing rollout of e-books across all primary schools from 2022 onwards; developing new curriculum materials around literacy which reflect contemporary Australian society including increased emphasis on Aboriginal languages/culture/history etcetera.”

What Happens Next?

The strategy will be released in June 2019, and a full public consultation period will run until October 2019.

After the consultation period has ended, it’s time for government to get down to business. The government will then develop an implementation plan based on your feedback and advice – this will be released in 2020.

Once that’s done, it’ll be time for state/territory governments (which are responsible for disability services) to start implementing their plans based on what has been recommended by the federal government’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031: A Bright Future For All People With Disabilities In Australia report. States and territories must have these plans up to date by 2022 at the latest so that everyone knows where their money is going when they need help or support through these services.

It’s time for Australia to have its first National Disability Strategy

It’s time for Australia to have its first National Disability Strategy.

The strategy will provide a framework for action on people with disabilities, their families and carers, as well as the organisations that support them. It will be a living document that is reviewed regularly by government and non-government stakeholders to ensure it remains relevant in response to emerging issues and opportunities.

Conclusion

Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031 is a bold, ambitious and visionary document that will be a game changer for people with disabilities, their families and carers. It is our opportunity to put people first and make sure everyone has the support they need to participate in all areas of community life.