Australia’s modern identity is one of rich heritage, home to more than 300 ancestries and the world’s oldest continuing culture of Australia’s First Nations people.
More than one in six Australians have disability.
The Australian Government has committed under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31 to create an inclusive community in which all people with disability can participate as equal members of society.
This commitment is based on respect for the diversity of people with disability.
This commitment tailors actions to take account of this diversity including gender equality; and involves people with disability in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them.
Australia is fortunate to have many non-government organisations representing the diverse interests of people with disability, including underrepresented groups.
We work with these organisations to understand the lived experience of people with disabilities and to improve services for them.
For example, we worked in partnership with the First Nations Peoples Disability Network – an organisation governed by First Nations Australians with lived experience of disability – to develop a national framework to build a First Nations community-controlled sector where sustainable, high-quality services are delivered by First Nations-owned service providers.
The Australian Government is also strengthening the representation of Australia’s First Nations people with disability across all policy areas to ensure their needs, expectations and priorities are met.
Vice-President,
Australia has responded to the diverse needs of people with an intellectual disability by developing a National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability, to improve access to services and support.
To support the roadmap we are also establishing a National Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability Health, bringing together people with disability, experts, resources, and research on intellectual disability health care.
Disability equity and realising the rights of people with disabilities is a cross-cutting priority of Australia’s international engagement.
Over the next year, Australia will develop an international disability equity and rights strategy to guide our international engagement.