The Albanese Government is continuing its support for people living with disability to improve their opportunity for employment.
The Government will strengthen employment services so Australians with a disability can improve their lives at the same time as helping to reduce cost pressures on Government services.
Labor’s plan for strengthening employment outcomes for Australians with a disability includes $19.4 million towards Disability Employment Services (DES) to extend DES for two years while innovative work is undertaken to build an improved model for disability employment.
The previous government undertook two-years of public consultation on potential reforms. Despite this, no plan for reform was developed prior to the election. Immediate adjustments will be made to DES to improve quality, while the Government conducts the detailed reform work to implement a new system.
The Albanese Government thanks the disability employment sector for their substantive feedback to date and will take their views into account in the next detailed design phase.
As a first step towards a more contemporary disability services system, the Government will shortly open consultation on modernising the Disability Services Act 1986, seeking to put people with disability and their views at the centre of policy design.
We’re investing in the services and changes needed to improve the lives of the 4.4 million Australians living with disability.
The development of a National Autism Strategy will receive $5.3 million in this Budget, to allow for initial research and consultation, and to support existing services.
Autism Spectrum Australia and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute indicate at least 1 in 100 Australian children are being diagnosed with autism.
Yet autistic people experience some of the poorest outcomes of any group living with disability and a 20-year gap in life expectancy compared with the general population.
Investing in better support for people with autism through a National Autism Strategy will have broader economic and social benefits.
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to leaving no one behind and holding no one back and, importantly, that includes people living with disability,” said Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth.
“We want to improve the lives of all people living with disability. We know for many who are not connected to the NDIS, getting the right support can be crucial to their lives.”
“We are delivering on our election commitments and showing our sustained commitment to people living with disability in Australia.” Minister Rishworth said.