Research and Data

DSS works to improve the lives and outcomes for people with disability. It is committed to the development of evidence-based policy and programs, underpinned by the Department’s research and data activities.

Within the disability sector, research and data are built upon partnerships and collaborations, inclusion of disability issues in mainstream Australian research funding and activities, effective participation of people with disability and the provision of accessible research and data that is applied in practice.

The National Disability Research and Development Agenda sets out national priorities and provides focus and direction for disability related research.

For further information visit the Research projects under the National Disability Research Special Account: 2012, 2015 and 2020 webpage.

Research

Making it Easier for Small Business to employ people with disability - Research Report

Data for the Disability Support Pension can be found on the Data.gov.au website.

National Disability Research Partnership

The Australian Government has provided $15 million to establish the National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP), which is a key initiative under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031.

Following a two-year establishment phase, which resulted in a set of recommendations by the NDRP Working Party, the NDRP is being set up to be an independent not-for-profit company governed by a board of directors.

The NDRP will facilitate collaborative and inclusive disability research, so we have better policy and practice for people with disability in Australia. It will achieve this through:

  • funding research done by and with people with disability
  • implementing the NDRP research agenda
  • strengthening disability research capacity
  • making findings accessible to the disability community and policy and decision makers.

The NDRP is currently being led by an interim Board, which will be replaced by a full Board around mid-2024. All of the NDRP’s decisions will be guided by the NDRP Principles.

For more information, please visit the NDRP Website at www.ndrp.org.au

The National Disability Data Asset

Australian, state and territory governments are working together with the disability community to create a National Disability Data Asset.

The disability data asset will bring together de-identified information from different government agencies about Australians with disability and without disability. This will help us to better understand the experiences of people with disability. The asset will give us more information about programs and services. This will help us to better support people with disability, their carers and the community.

We will use the National Disability Data Asset to:

  • give a more complete picture of the programs and services people with disability use
  • share information about how we can improve opportunities and outcomes for people with disability
  • help governments improve supports and services for people with disability
  • improve how we report on outcomes for people with disability under Australia's Disability Strategy 2021–2031.

You can learn more about the disability data asset in our fact sheet and Easy Read document or by visiting the National Disability Data Asset website.

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