How we consulted on the development of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031

The voices of people with disability were central to the development of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (ADS).

Consultations took place in stages over three years to enable people with disability to have a say during all phases of developing the new Strategy.

Stage 1 consultations

In 2019, around 3,000 people with disability, their families and carers, advocacy organisations, peak bodies and service providers took part in the first stage of community engagement and consultation around Australia.

Consultation included face-to-face community workshops, a public survey and an online forum, as well as targeted consultations for and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

picture of 5 titles, 1st tile states 599 participants in 17 community workshops, 2nd tile states 474 aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people consulted, 3rd tile states 2649 public survey responses, 4th tile states 15 in-depth discussions and 5th tile stats 14 participants in online form.

Stage 1 consultation report

A report, ‘Right to opportunity: Consultation report to help shape the next national disability strategy’, on the stage 1 consultation process is available in the following accessible formats:

Stage 2 consultations

The feedback received during stage 1 consultations, as well as other reviews and inquiries, was used to inform the development of a National Disability Strategy Position Paper (the position paper). The position paper outlined governments’ proposals for ADS and formed the basis of stage 2 consultations held in the second half of 2020.

During stage 2 consultations:

237 people and organisations provided submissions containing their feedback on the National Disability Strategy Position Paper, which proposed features to be included in ADS. More than 800 people registered for a webinar (link is external) on ADS, hosted by the Australian Human Rights Commission and Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health. 132 people participated in 18 focus groups with cohorts of people with disability who did not participate in high numbers during stage 1 consultations.
102 people participated in five cross-sector collaborative workshops. 5 workshops were held directly with Disability Representative Organisations. 74 submissions were received on the Improving outcomes of people with disability under the National Disability Strategy and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Introductory Paper.

Stage 2 consultation reports

Stage 2 consultation reports are available in the following accessible formats:

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