The ACT Government has released the Disability Health Strategy 2024-2033 and the First Action Plan 2024-2026, which set out its direction and priorities to build a more accessible and inclusive healthcare system in the ACT.

The Disability Health Strategy is a 10-year plan that aims to make sure people with disability have equitable and appropriate access to healthcare in the ACT. The First Action Plan is a three-year plan that sets out actions and activities to meet the goals, principles, and focus areas in the Disability Health Strategy.

Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said every person has the right to healthcare that meets their needs, without fear of experiencing prejudice or discrimination.

“Unfortunately, we know that this is not always the case for people with disability. This can lead to people with disability experiencing poorer health outcomes and facing barriers when engaging in health services.

“This Strategy and Action Plan have been developed with and for people with disability, family members, carers and advocates. It details how we can better support people with disability and carers through their healthcare journey.

“It has also been developed for all healthcare providers in the ACT, supporting them to improve their services and responses to people with disability.”

The Strategy focuses on:

• Health information and literacy – Ensuring accessible information to support health outcomes, and helping people with disability, their family, carers and advocates to make informed health choices.
• Service access, design and delivery – Ensuring healthcare is accessible, integrated, and appropriate for people with disability.
• Emergency planning, preparedness and management – Creating a healthcare system that is prepared to meet the needs of people with disability in an emergency, and making sure health-related services, communication, and information are appropriate and accessible.
• Workforce – Making sure people with disability are a part of the healthcare workforce, and providing disability training to build the workforce’s capabilities to meet the needs of people with disability, their family, carers and advocates.
• Data and research – Ensuring data provides healthcare services with knowledge and evidence for change, and using research to drive healthcare innovation and improvements.

The Disability Health Strategy builds on previous work by the ACT Government to improve health outcomes and access for people with disability, including the Canberra Health Services Disability Action and Inclusion Plan released in 2022.

Renee Heaton, Chair of the Disability Reference Group and a member of the Disability Health Strategy Steering Committee, said the ACT Disability Health Strategy was an important piece of work. 

“Access to health care and services are a fundamental human right but unfortunately for people with disability it isn’t as simple as it should be,” Ms Heaton said. “When I needed to have a mammogram recently, as a wheelchair user this proved almost impossible. We can encounter a range of barriers from physical spaces, equipment, information, and attitudes and knowledge of the health workforce. Nearly every person with disability will have a story.

“So that’s why it was non-negotiable that the Strategy was built on the experiences of people with disability and what they need. People with disability, their carers, advocates and supporters were involved throughout the process, including through a comprehensive steering committee where community members voices were prioritised.

“I am, and we all are, so proud of this work and looking forward to it resulting in tangible improvements for people with disability. We all know that this stuff doesn’t just happen, it requires real commitment and then action. I’m looking forward to better services for people coming in to and leaving hospital that connects with community supports, and health practitioners knowing about the social model of disability and using that in their delivery of care so I don’t have to continually explain how I expect to be treated. And this is just the start of a while 10 years of action and improvements!”

Ms Stephen-Smith thanked everyone who helped to develop the Strategy – particularly those who generously shared their personal experiences and members of the Disability Health Strategy Steering Committee for their invaluable contribution.

Kim Adams, ACT Down Syndrome Australia Health Ambassador and member of the Disability Health Strategy Steering Committee, said: “I felt very comfortable working with the ACT Disability Health Strategy Steering Committee team and was able to give answers at the online webinar meeting on what to say to people with disabilities.

“Sometimes people with disabilities don’t understand everything, but the key is always to politely ask a person that we trust to explain. It is all about communication!”

Shannon Kolak, CEO of the ACT Down Syndrome Association, said: “We have been thrilled to work with ACT Health and people with disabilities to create such an important strategy. We congratulate ACT Health and the ACT Government for their commitment to co-design and we look forward to working with them in the future to advocate for better health outcome for people with disabilities.”

The Disability Health Strategy and First Action Plan can be found at www.health.act.gov.au/about-our-health-system/planning-future/act-disability-health-strategy

“We will continue working in close partnership to ensure every person has equal and appropriate access to the healthcare they need,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.