Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan midway report 2022–2024

Inclusive Victoria is our state disability plan for 2022–2026. It is all about making sure people with disability can take part in the community.

I am pleased to share this report on what we have done during the first 2 years of the plan.

We have made a lot of progress. However, there is still more to do. This midway review sets out what we will focus on over the next 2 years.

The state disability plan is making changes for people with disability in Victoria. We are giving people with disability more chances to join in. We are also breaking down the barriers that stop them.

Government departments are changing the way they do things. These changes are in 6 areas, which we call ‘systemic reforms’ in the plan.

The changes will improve how we support people with disability when we create policies, programs and services.

As we put these changes into practice, we recognise the need to give First Peoples with disability a say in matters that affect them.

We will also think about how we support all people with disability as they may experience more than one type of disadvantage.

Our work will use a co-design approach. This means people with disability will be involved in designing policies, programs and services.

I want to thank everyone who has helped with our work so far. This includes the Victorian Disability Advisory Council, disability sector agencies, advocates and the broader community.

In the next 2 years, we will keep working to make things better. The Disability Royal Commission and the Independent NDIS Review have made recommendations to governments for how we can do things better. This is a big chance for us to work together and create lasting change for people with disability.

Victoria continues to advocate for an agreed plan to implement disability reforms to be developed with input from people with disability.
When the state disability plan ends in 2026, we will use the work we have done as the foundation for a new state disability plan.

I want to celebrate what we have achieved so far, which has made life better for people with disability. I am excited to keep working together to make our plan’s vision a reality: a fully accessible and inclusive society for all Victorians.

The Hon. Lizzie Blandthorn MP
Minister for Disability
Minister for Children

I want to assure you that Victorians with a disability have a very committed council of Victorians with a lived experience of disability.

The group includes Jen Hargrave, James Griffiths, Gabrielle Hall, Amir Brand-Abdi, Diana Piantedosi, Caitlin Syer, Laura Pettenuzzo, Martin Heng, Amanda Lawrie-Jones, Mija Gwyn, Akii Ngo, Samantha Lily and myself.

We all have experience of disability. All of us are advocates for people with disability. We use what we have learned to advise the Minister for Disability and the Victorian Government.

The previous council led by Dr George Taleporos helped design Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022–26. We will make sure the plan continues to move forward. The recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review will also guide us.

Over the past 2 years, we have met with many Victorian Government departments to help them understand how Inclusive Victoria can be put into action.

As Chair, I thank my fellow councillors for sharing their stories and representing the views of the different disability communities they serve.

I am pleased to say we have made good progress on the 175 actions in the plan. However, there is still more to do.

The plan’s focus on co-design means people with disability are having a say when the government makes decisions about services and programs that affect them.

We are seeing progress in health care and mental health programs. We are seeing universal design used in more infrastructure projects. We are seeing more workplaces becoming inclusive.

We will continue to provide our advice and guidance to the Minister for Disability. We want to make sure all people with disability – no matter who they are or where they live – are treated fairly in policy decisions.

We will help government departments finish the work they started. We will also help them deliver the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review.

Next year, we will start planning for the new state disability plan. We know it will be ambitious. We are ready to bring the voices of Victorians with disability to the table.

Chris Varney
Chair
Victorian Disability Advisory Council

We proudly acknowledge the First Peoples of Victoria as the Traditional Owners and custodians of the land, waters and skies on which we live and work. We honour and pay our respects to Elders past and present.

We recognise the strength and resilience of First Peoples in the face of historical and ongoing injustices, and the survival of their living cultures, knowledges and traditions. We also acknowledge the experiences and contributions of First Peoples with disability, and the crucial role of their families, communities and caregivers.

Pursuit of Treaty and Truth

The Victorian Government recognises that First Peoples have endured historical and ongoing injustices, including racism and discrimination, and have been excluded from social and economic opportunities.

We acknowledge that the systems and structures of colonisation have caused harm to First Peoples, including First Peoples with disability. We know we still have much to learn about the intersection of ableism, racism, dispossession and colonisation.

In working towards Treaty, we are committed to acknowledging the truth of Victoria’s past and present through the work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the lived experience of First Peoples.

We know Truth and Treaty seek to enable self-determination for First Peoples in Victoria, including Traditional Owners. Victoria’s pathway to Treaty recognises that First Peoples are best placed to make decisions about their own futures.

We will continue to listen and learn as we move forward with a shared understanding of our past and our present and work together towards better outcomes for all Victorians.

Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022–2026 is a 4-year plan for the whole Victorian Government.

It sets out the actions the Victorian Government is taking to ensure our community is inclusive and accessible.

The plan puts the voices, experiences and aspirations of people with disability at its centre.

Inclusive Victoria has 175 original actions that involve all Victorian Government departments. It aims to transform the way the Victorian Government works by undertaking systemic reforms in 6 areas:

1. Co-design with people with disability – make sure people with disability are at the table in designing policies, services and programs
2. Aboriginal self-determination – work with Aboriginal Victorians with disability and listen to what works best for them
3. Intersectional approaches – recognise and address the intersection of ableism with other forms of discrimination
4. Accessible communications and universal design – build accessibility into everything the government does
5. Disability-confident and inclusive workforces – train workforces to understand the social and human rights model of disability, and employ more people with disability
6. Effective data and outcomes reporting – measure and share progress on the actions in Inclusive Victoria.

Midway review

In Inclusive Victoria, we said we would provide a review of our progress at the halfway point of the plan.

This document is our midway review.

We have organised the actions under the 4 pillars:

1. Inclusive communities (31 actions)
2. Health, housing and wellbeing (48 actions)
3. Fairness and safety (49 actions)
4. Opportunity and pride (47 actions).

Of these actions:

• 28 have been completed
• 139 are on track with 11 revised
• 8 are still to be progressed. The reasons some actions are still to be progressed include:
  • some actions have been completed in part, but not yet in full
  • some actions have been revised due to changes within Victorian Government departments
  • some actions need us to work with other states and territories at the national level.

11 new actions have been added.

The outstanding and new actions respond to identified needs and will be implemented in the final two years of Inclusive Victoria (July 2024 to June 2026).

The status of each action in Inclusive Victoria, at the midway point, is listed at the back of this report.

The Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) will continue to work with the Victorian Government to monitor progress of Inclusive Victoria. VDAC will also support departments to implement actions.

We will release a final report on Inclusive Victoria in 2026.

Disability reform context

Our work on Inclusive Victoria takes place in the context of the recommendations of:

• the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission)
• the Independent Review into the NDIS (NDIS Review).

These recommendations are an opportunity for all governments to work together to build a more inclusive society. We want to support people with disability to be independent and live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

The Victorian Government will work with people with disability, their families and carers, the broader disability sector, the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.

We developed an outcomes framework for the previous state disability plan Absolutely everyone: state disability plan 2017–2020. We used the outcomes framework to track our progress.

When we developed the outcomes framework, it aligned closely with the priority areas under the previous plan.

The current plan has 4 pillars. Across the 4 pillars, there are 14 outcomes that reflect the goals and objectives of Inclusive Victoria.

We have already done work to find out what is important to people with disability.

We wanted to simplify the outcomes framework.

We asked Melbourne University’s Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) to review the outcomes framework. MDI told us the outcomes framework is comprehensive and complex.

MDI worked with VDAC to develop new headline indicators. These now provide a simple, informative view of progress.

MDI have refreshed the indicators in the outcomes framework and have produced a midway outcomes report using readily available public data sources. The midway outcomes report provides a clearer and understandable story about whether or not we are making progress for people with disability.

MDI have also identified limitations in the available data and made recommendations to improve the outcomes framework. This includes engaging with Victorian Government departments to identify additional data sources and leveraging the development of the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA).

You can find out more about the refresh of the state disability plan outcomes framework and the outcomes report at the back of this document.

Community attitudes – 5 actions

The Victorian Government is working with people with disability, along with disability sector providers and agencies, to co-design campaigns that change perceptions about inclusive employment, challenge views on family violence, and profile positive representation of LGBTIQA+, First Peoples, multicultural and multi-faith communities.

All 5 actions are on track.

Transport – 8 actions

The Department of Transport and Planning has appointed the Chief Accessibility Advocate. Since the appointment, the department has progressed strategies including a tram-stop rollout strategy and expansion of the Multi-Purpose Taxi program.

We are also considering ways to make sure National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants who transition out of the Multi-Purpose Taxi Program can maintain appropriate access to wheelchair accessible vehicle services.

The department is also applying universal design principles to the planning of future infrastructure projects across the network. Co-design with people with disability will occur at the design and manufacturing stages for Next Generation Trams.

The implemented and planned upgrades to the transport network aim to improve whole-of-journey experiences for people with disability.

We have completed 3 actions. A further 5 actions are on track.

Digital inclusion – 3 actions

We have completed research on digital inclusion issues across Victoria. This work focused on people with disability, people living in regional and remote areas and other intersecting factors.

Improving digital inclusion is an ongoing action. Victoria is participating in various stakeholder forums to identify opportunities and priority areas to progress this action.

We continue to advocate to the Commonwealth to assist in addressing digital inclusion to foster more inclusive communities.

We have completed 1 action. A further 2 actions are on track.

Assistance animals – 2 actions

Victoria has endorsed the national guiding principles for the recognition of assistance animals. The guiding principles were co-designed with people with disability.

Victoria continues to advocate to all states and territories to support the national guiding principles.

1 action is on track. 1 action is still to be progressed. This is because we are continuing work to reach national agreement on the guiding principles.

Sport and recreation – 3 actions

Sport and Recreation Victoria’s Together More Active 2023–2027 secured program investment of $1.74 million to support 15 inclusive participation or workforce development projects. The funding has 4 streams:

• stream 1: foundation funding – to support the operations of 34 organisations and assist with planning, policy, and business development
• stream 2: sector capability funding – prioritise initiatives that support the capability of the sport and active recreation sector to create safe, welcoming and inclusive environments and increase inclusive participation opportunities
• stream 3: inclusive participation project funding – supports the development and delivery of programs that encourage inclusive participation for targeted groups
• stream 4: workforce development funding – will support the development and delivery of programs and initiatives that build an inclusive and diverse workforce, and its capability by recruiting, engaging, supporting and retaining volunteers and paid staff.

Sport and Recreation is also funding programs that are driving inclusion of people with disability by implementing systemic reforms:

• The Access for All Abilities (AAA) Play service 2023–2025 website is currently being redeveloped and co-designed with people with disability, delivering on the principles of accessible communication and universal design
• The Change Our Game Ambassador Program 2023–2024 aims to build greater visibility for women and girls in sport and active recreation, including those who have a broad range of lived experiences. Three ambassadors are people with disability. They use their platforms to influence social change so that women with disability have more opportunities through sport and active recreation.

All 3 actions are on track.

Parks and tourism – 10 actions

Parks Victoria co-designed a number of nature-based and infrastructure programs with people with disability. These programs incorporated universal design principles. They will support more Victorians with disability to experience nature and the outdoor environment.

Parks Victoria partnered with Traditional Owners (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation). This project used the Managing Country Together Framework to design the physical accessibility of seating and picnic shelters. It incorporated cultural designs reflecting nature into amenities at several locations.

Accessible tourism reporting includes co-design, accessible communications and universal design. Visit Victoria works with businesses to help them cater for people with disability and their access requirements.

Visit Victoria’s Marketing Excellence Program and International Mentoring Program include a module on accessible tourism. The module covers:

• the importance of the accessible tourism market
• an explanation of all the accessible tourism markets (for example, sighted, hearing, physical accessibility et cetera)
• what businesses can do to become accessible tourism ready.

The objective is to raise awareness of opportunities associated with being accessible and increase the number of accessible products available in Victoria.

The Experience Victoria 2033 strategic plan has guiding principles. These include accessible and inclusive tourism. This will be a key focus of the Regional Tourism and Events Fund Industry Uplift programs.

Victoria is hosting the 2024 Accessible and Inclusive Tourism Conference.

All 10 actions are on track.

Health – 12 actions

Hospital and health services are changing their policies and procedures to provide improved health care for people with disability.

One such initiative is the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) program, which started in 2020, and has now been evaluated.

From July 2021 to the end of April 2024, the DLO program responded to around 37,500 referrals from people with disability seeking support to access vital healthcare. Most people sought support to address barriers to booking appointments, arranging reasonable adjustments including mobility or physical supports, communication assistance and psychosocial support.

The program is also leading co-designed health service improvements. This includes trialling a disability identification question set in the electronic medical record system of some health services. This initiative supports people with disability to communicate their needs.

Many hospitals are also establishing disability champions as part of their disability action plans. These initiatives ensure hospitals and health services can provide support for people with disability while they receive health care. They can include forming specific disability inclusive committees, with the disability champion as the chair. They may also employ disability project officers to provide resources and training to staff across the organisation.

To address intersectional health care, health agencies have funded and engaged disability organisations to develop inclusive practice programs. Examples are health promotion and training materials about sexual and reproductive health for women with disability, and training toolkits which address stigma and unconscious bias for LGBTIQA+ and migrant communities.

These measures will ensure people with disability and other identified priority populations receive a more inclusive and safer health care experience.

We have completed 2 actions. A further 6 actions are on track.

We are still working on 4 actions:

• The Department of Health will explore opportunities to develop e-learning and other training packages that can provide disability awareness training to health services. This action has been implemented by several health services, who are already delivering disability awareness training.
• Some health services and their DLOs have started delivering training that includes a focus on inclusion of people with disability in health settings.
• The Department of Health will engage with peak bodies to work on professional development and disability awareness strategies.
• Some universities are already delivering disability awareness training as a pre-service qualification. The department will engage further with universities and professional bodies.

Mental health – 3 actions

Following the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the Victorian Government established the Diverse Community Working Group. This group included people with lived experience of disability. The final meeting of the working group was held on 28 February 2024, attended by the Minister for Mental Health.

The working group provided expert advice to guide the development of the Diverse Communities and Mental Health Framework. The framework is in the final stages of approvals. It aims to:

• deliver safe and inclusive mental health treatment, care and support
• better integrate community organisations including mental health and wellbeing services
• promote good mental health and wellbeing.

The framework is co-designed with people from diverse communities, organisations and services that represent and work to support and promote mental health and wellbeing. It is also informed by mental health service providers and organisations.

The Victorian Government allocated 3 years of funding from 2024–2027 towards a Mental Health Interface Program that will strengthen the interface between consumers, mental health inpatient services and the NDIS.

The program aims to:

• improve consumers’ discharge outcomes (in both inpatient and community settings)
• build the capability of the clinical mental health workforce to support consumers and their carers and families to access the NDIS
• provide a contact point at state funded clinical mental health services for consumers and the NDIS
• proactively work with the NDIS to address both systemic issues and individual matters such as delayed discharge of NDIS applicants and/or participants from mental health inpatient services.

We have completed 1 action. A further 2 actions are on track.

Housing – 14 actions

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has integrated 4 of the systemic reforms into the Big Housing Build program. They are universal design, intersectional approaches, co-design and Aboriginal self-determination.

The department is using best practice universal design principles in social housing. This means houses and apartments will meet the Liveable Housing Design, Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Standard in accordance with the National Construction Code 2022. These homes will be built with higher accessibility standards. They can be adapted to meet the residents’ changing needs.

The department also completed improvements and upgrades to 450 government-owned Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes in December 2022. This improved the quality and amenity of homes, supporting the independence of around 1,800 residents.

The Victorian Government as a SDA provider is no longer building group homes (SDA homes with 4 or more bedrooms). The department will continue to work with residents who want to move from larger homes to alternative and more contemporary accommodation.

Mana-na woorn-tyeen maar-tarkoot is a self-determined housing and homelessness framework. It was developed by First Peoples for First Peoples. The Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Forum (AHHF) is part of the framework’s governance. AHHF drives the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing’s priorities for First People's housing. This includes a 10% target that all new housing funding should be for First Peoples. The Big Housing Build commits to leasing 400 homes to registered community housing organisations for First Peoples housing and for the eventual transfer of ownership to Aboriginal community-controlled housing organisations.

We have completed 3 actions. A further 9 actions are on track. We are still working on 2 actions involving the coordination of housing and supports.

Supporting a high-quality NDIS – 11 actions

The Victorian Government works with the Commonwealth and other states and territories as co-governors of the NDIS. The aim of this work is to secure the future of the NDIS and make sure the scheme stays true to its original intent.

We continue to advocate to the Commonwealth to ensure the NDIS’s intersecting systems and structures are developed in ways that avoid discrimination and disadvantage.

We also continue to fund programs for people with disability who are not eligible for the NDIS. This includes work to ensure that people with disability can access the supports they need outside the NDIS.

The Disability Royal Commission and NDIS Review recommended significant changes to the way disability services are regulated. This includes changes to registration requirements for providers, adult safeguarding functions, and complaint handling.

The Victorian Government is committed to continuing to strengthen the regulatory framework for the benefit of people with disability.

We have completed 3 actions. A further 8 actions are on track.

Children and families – 8 actions

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing delivers programs for children and young people with disability and it also supports families to access the NDIS and necessary supports, with the goal of sustaining care in the home.

The Parenting Children with Complex Disability program supports families with children with complex needs to access the NDIS and to secure necessary supports. This includes advocacy and advice, practical support and/or material aid, counselling, parent–child interaction and community connection and social inclusion. The program helps to sustain care and is essential in preventing family breakdown.

The department funds 34 specialist disability practitioners. Practitioners support families with disability to access the NDIS and necessary supports. The program also boosts the capability of the child and family workforce to build skill and expertise.

The Steps to Confident Parenting program supports parents with cognitive disability. It is successful in sustaining care and keeping families together. Deakin University is evaluating how well the program performs against its stated objectives.

All these programs build skills and knowledge for children and families and create a disability confident, skilled and inclusive workforce. They also provide opportunities for us to gather effective data for outcomes reporting.

For children in out-of-home care services, the Victorian Government has:

• improved access to therapeutic supports for young people in residential care. Therapeutic specialists work with NDIS practitioners (where there is a NDIS plan) or support the young person’s care team to complete a NDIS access request (where the young person has a disability and there is no NDIS plan). As part of the assessment process, therapeutic specialists must also identify any additional assessments required and link children with other services as needed. This includes referring children for disability assessments if needed.
• improved health assessments and management plans through the statewide rollout of Pathway to Good Health. This helps us to identify the disability and health needs of children in the child protection care system. The health services that deliver this program can help children access services including the NDIS.

We have completed 1 action. A further 7 actions are on track.

Safety in emergencies – 5 actions

Emergency Recovery Victoria uses co-design in its emergency response, relief and recovery planning. This includes involving more people with disability, their families, and experts when we plan community-led emergency relief and recovery efforts.

Emergency Management Victoria created a Senior Advisor for Accessible Communications role. This role supports accessible and public communications in emergency preparation, response and recovery. The role works closely with the Principal Advisor, Accessible Communication in Department of Premier and Cabinet. Both these roles work alongside the Emergency Management Victoria Diversity and Inclusion team.

In 2023–24, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing undertook a State Crisis and Resilience Council priority project. This led to the development of the Victorian emergency management planning toolkit for people most at risk. The Planning Toolkit supports agencies and services to identify the most at-risk groups in different types of major emergencies (floods, fires et cetera). This information is at a group and not an individual level, so it is de-identified. It can be shared with other agencies and services to support people with disability to prepare for emergencies.

All 5 actions are on track.

Disability advocacy – 6 actions

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is developing and co-designing the Victorian Disability Advocacy Program outcomes framework with advocacy sector agencies. Co-design and testing will ensure the measurement tool is fit for purpose. This includes making sure it captures future program directions and identifies intersectional approaches.

The Victorian Disability Advocacy Program continues to fund agencies that support systemic and self-advocacy for people with disability.

This includes funding for a diverse range of disability peer support and self-advocacy groups for 2024 and 2025. The groups’ activities contribute to implementing state disability plan priorities, including celebrating disability pride.

All 6 actions are on track.

Preventing abuse and neglect – 9 actions

From 1 July 2024, the Victorian Government introduced a robust regulatory framework for social services. This will be enforced by a new independent Social Services Regulator.

This will improve the protection of service users from harm and neglect. It includes disability service providers funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

We have also developed an accredited micro-credential course, which improves the capacity and capability of Behaviour Support Practitioners. This ensures the practitioner’s skill and knowledge align with the NDIS Positive Behaviour Support Capability Framework.

In addition, we are undertaking the adult safeguarding legislative review to respond to the abuse of elder Australians.

We are also strengthening compliance and reporting of safeguards for people with disability. This work includes:

• compliance with the National Framework for Reducing and Eliminating the Use of Restrictive Practices in the Disability Service Sector
• strengthening legislated frameworks under the Residential Tenancies Act 1997
• strengthening the Community Visitor Program and the role that it plays for NDIS participants.

We have completed 3 actions. A further 6 are on track.

Family and sexual violence – 8 actions

Family Safety Victoria has embedded universal design, intersectional approaches and disability confident and inclusive workforces into its policies and program planning for people with disability and their families who are victim survivors of family and sexual violence.

We have designed refuges and accommodation dwellings to take into consideration all intersecting aspects of a person’s life. This includes complexities of disability, cultural background and gender identity to support all victim survivors.

Family Safety Victoria continues to co-design with disability service providers, both state and federally funded, to develop resources, practice guidance and tools to support people with disability and their families experiencing family violence, and those seeking crisis supports.

We are also continuing to develop the resources, best practice guidance and tools that will support the workforce to be more disability confident and inclusive. This also promotes a social and human rights model of care for people seeking help.

We have completed 1 action. A further 7 actions are on track.

Justice system – 19 actions

The justice system has implemented systemic reforms of co-design, intersectional approaches, Aboriginal self-determination and disability confident and inclusive workforces in a number of programs.

The Disability Advice and Response Team (DART) is being delivered by a non-government disability organisation in partnership with an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation. It operates in select locations of the criminal division of the Children's Court and at Marram-Ngala Ganbu (Koori Family Hearing Day) in Broadmeadows and Shepparton.

The Just Voices project has strengthened the capability of frontline justice staff to respond to service users with lived experience of disability. The project engaged people who had interactions with the justice system to co-design workforce guidance materials. This included a video and engagement plan to be incorporated into policy and practice by Youth Justice and Corrections.

The Disability Justice Operational Forums held in 2022–2023 will help the Department of Justice and Community Safety to include the voice of people with lived experience into policy design and service delivery.

The Intermediary Program is for children and adults with a cognitive impairment who are the complainant in sexual offence matters or are a witness to homicide. The program operates in Children’s, Magistrates’, County and Supreme Courts in Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and Warrnambool. It has received ongoing funding, and an impact evaluation is under way.

In 2024, Victoria Police launched the Disability Liaison Officer (DLO) program and 70 DLOs are now in place across the state. DLOs are responsible for building knowledge and skills of Victoria Police employees. They help to ensure consistent, fair, and accessible policing services for people with disability.

We have completed 6 actions. A further 12 are on track. 1 action is still to be progressed as part of phase 5 of the Aboriginal Justice Agreement (AJA5).

Right to expression of sexuality and gender identity – 2 actions

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has established an LGBTIQA+ Disability Inclusion Expert Advisory Group. The group will co-design and develop policies to enable people, including those living in supported accommodation, to connect and live well in all aspects of their life.

The Victorian Government continues to advocate to the Commonwealth and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to end discriminatory policies and practices. This includes practices that disadvantage people with disability in relation to their expression of sexuality and gender identity.

2 actions are on track, although the following components are still to be progressed:

• The Forensic Disability Practice Manual is being updated to include a section on gender identity and sexuality.
• The LGBTIQA+ Disability Inclusion Expert Advisory Group is assisting government with ideas to improve experiences, wellbeing and connection for LGBTIQA+ people living with disability.
  

Education – 17 actions

The Department of Education is using disability confident and inclusive workforces, co-design with people with disability and peak agencies, and universal design approaches to improve the achievement, participation, and wellbeing outcomes for students with disability.

Training, peer-to-peer discussions and funded supports assist educators and teachers to build capability, practice and confidence to better meet the learning and wellbeing needs of all students with disability from kindergarten to school.

The department continues to implement the Victorian Government’s Disability Inclusion reform, which represents the biggest investment in disability support for Victorian government schools in the state’s history.

Over a staged rollout between 2021 and 2025, Disability Inclusion is replacing the existing funding and support model for students with disability with a new strengths-based model.

The model’s key features include:

• the new strengths-based Disability Inclusion Profile
• a facilitator workforce to administer the profile in schools statewide
• a new school-level funding allocation
• a new student-level funding allocation.

Victorian government schools are using Disability Inclusion funding to recruit and train staff and purchase and upgrade resources. This will strengthen schools’ capacity to provide quality, differentiated and adjustable teaching practice for students with a disability.

Implementation is on track. Over 1,240 Victorian government schools have transitioned to the new funding and support model, in line with the staged rollout.

Disability Inclusion also invests in capability-building initiatives to ensure that school workforces are equipped to meet the diverse learning needs of all students. These initiatives are now operating statewide. They include the Diverse Learners Hub, the Inclusion Outreach Coaching Initiative and other professional learning opportunities.

The department is also implementing intersectional approaches in schools. From April 2022 to April 2024, 11,234 school-based staff participated in whole-school ‘Respectful Relationships’ professional learning. The department is also updating its ‘Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships’ and ‘Building Respectful Relationships’ teaching and learning materials. This work supports schools to implement respectful relationships education in the Victorian curriculum. The updates will incorporate language that recognises intersectional experiences and is inclusive of all sexualities and genders.

In the Skills and TAFE sector work is progressing to develop education and training for people with disabilities including:

• Funding of $36 million for the Gordon’s Centre for Excellence for Disability Inclusion in the TAFE network
• The Hard-to-Reach program which provides foundation skills and accredited training to help people with disabilities into a job
• The Skills First Training Needs list including Auslan courses.

17 actions are on track.

Employment and economic participation – 12 actions

Across all government departments, the Victorian Government is co-designing programs and campaigns to attract diverse workforces to roles in the public sector. It is also developing mentoring programs, providing tailored pathways to employment and upskilling the public service to be more disability confident and inclusive.

For example, the Victorian Public Sector Commission co-designed a Neurodiverse Employment Toolkit to support the recruitment and include workplace adjustments for neurodivergent employees. This initiative continues the implementation of the Getting to Work public sector disability action plan. This plan is supported through the Jobs Victoria program, which is administered by the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions.

In 2022–23, the Victorian Public Sector Commission provided training on mentoring for public sector employees with disability as part of the Leading Together program. In 2024, the Victorian Public Sector Commission also delivered the Victorian Graduate Program, in which 13% of the graduates who entered the public service had disability.

Other completed actions include:

• the Impact21 program that supported a number of adults with Down Syndrome into employment and built the capabilities of employers to confidently manage a diverse workforce.
• a microenterprise development grant program that funded groups, including people with disability, to participate as entrepreneurs or small business owners.

The above programs contributed to the systemic reform of disability confident and inclusive workforces.

We have completed 3 actions. A further 9 actions are on track.

Voice and leadership – 10 actions

Victorian Government agencies, including the Victorian Public Sector Commission, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and others, continue to work with the disability sector to co-design policies and programs that develop and elevate voice and leadership opportunities for people with disability.

By taking an intersectional approach, departments ensure representation from young people, LGBTIQA+ communities and First Nations people.

The Victorian Youth Congress (Youth portfolio), Regional Presence Project (Youth portfolio) and Qhub (Equity portfolio) among others support young people with disability to connect, engage in mentoring, speak out and gain knowledge and skills through policy and programs.

The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) employed and trained people with disability and people with lived experience of disability (Democracy Ambassadors) to participate in information sessions in the lead up to the 2022 State Election. Democracy Ambassadors provided peer-to-peer electoral information sessions for disability organisations and specialist schools and ran mock elections so participants learn how to vote and gain an understanding of how the votes are counted.

VECs Education and Inclusion team, together with the VEC Electoral Access Advisory Group, will design a resource to support people with disability to enrol to vote.

All 10 actions are on track.

Creative industries – 4 actions

Creative Victoria’s Creative State 25 strategy has helped implement co-design, intersectional approaches and universal design principles.

State-owned creative organisations including the National Gallery of Victoria, State Library Victoria, Museums Victoria and Arts Centre Melbourne continue to be guided by disability plans. They routinely host accessible events.

Several of Creative Victoria’s grants programs, including the Creators Fund, Music Works Grant Program and Creative Ventures program, have dedicated funding streams ensuring that at least 15% of funds go to artists and creatives with disability.

Grants were also provided to 22 artists and creatives with disability in partnership with Arts Access Victoria, and 72 in partnership with Regional Arts Victoria, through the Sustaining Creative Workers initiative.

In January 2024, Creative Victoria published the Creative space design guides. The guides provide detailed advice about designing and building creative spaces and include universal design principles and best practice.

All 4 actions are on track.

Pride and recognition – 4 actions

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing is using accessible communication and universal design principles in its awards programs and disability pride and recognition communications.

In preparation for the Victorian Women’s Honor Roll in 2024, 2 women with disability were members of the assessment panel. Of the 165 nominations received, 16 nominees (11% of total nominees), identified as having a disability. Of those, 5 women (3% of total nominees) identified as being a member of the LGBTIQA+ community.

None of the 16 nominees identified as being First Nations women with disability on the Victorian Honor Roll of Women.

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing will continue to co-design the stakeholder engagement processes for future awards programs with the aim of increasing nominations of both women with disability and First Nations people with disability on Victorian Honor Rolls.

We have completed 1 action. A further 3 actions are on track.

Victorian Government departments committed to 6 systemic reforms.

These reforms aim to create positive changes to policies, programs and services and ensure the changes are integrated into organisational processes and systems.

This will further Inclusive Victoria’s goals of creating a fairer and more inclusive community for people with disability.

Explanatory notes

Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022–2026 is a 4-year plan for the whole Victorian Government.

It sets out the actions the Victorian Government is taking to ensure our community is inclusive and accessible. The plan puts the voices, experiences and aspirations of people with disability at its centre.

Inclusive Victoria has 175 original actions that involve all Victorian Government departments.

We have organised the actions into 4 pillars

1. Inclusive communities (31 actions)
2. Health, housing and wellbeing (48 actions)
3. Fairness and safety (49 actions)
4. Opportunity and pride (47 actions).

Of these actions:

• 28 have been completed
• 139 are on track, with 11 revised
• 8 are still to be progressed. The reasons some actions are still to be progressed include:
  • some actions have been completed in part, but not yet in full
  • some actions have been revised due to changes within Victorian Government departments
  • some actions need us to work with other states and territories at the national level.

11 new actions have been added.

All outstanding and new actions respond to identified needs and will be implemented in the final two years of Inclusive Victoria (July 2024 to June 2026).

Listing the progress status of each action under pillar 3.

Actions under this pillar aim to uphold and protect the rights of people with disability. They also ensure high-quality and strong safeguards are in place.

Listing the progress status of each action under pillar 4.

Actions under this pillar aim to ensure that people with disability have the benefit of good education and training and contribute to the economy as consumers, employees and employers.

The Department of Families Fairness and Housing (the department) engaged the University of Melbourne to undertake two things:

1. Refresh the State disability plan outcomes framework
2. Apply the refreshed outcomes framework to produce an outcomes report for the current plan.

This refresh is necessary to ensure that the outcomes framework aligns with Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022–2026 (the current plan). It also ensures we are using the best possible measures to monitor progress.

The research team worked in collaboration with the department and the Victorian Disability Advisory Council.

The research team comprised:

• Dr George Disney
• Dr Thiago Melo Santos
• Dr Marissa Shields
• Huixin Chen
• Jessica Chaaban.

This section is in two parts:

Part 1 – Methodology for reviewing the State disability plan outcomes framework

Part 2 – The State disability plan midway outcomes report 2024.

Part 1 – Methodology for reviewing the State disability plan outcomes framework

Future development of the outcomes framework

In our discussions with VDAC there were some key themes that emerged about the gaps in the outcomes framework that need to be addressed.

The research team worked with the Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) to refresh the outcomes framework. This work aims to ensure the outcomes framework aligns with the current plan and is accessible and understandable.

The outcomes framework was streamlined by selecting 19 headline indicators from the 37 indicators in the outcomes framework.

In this section, we present the results of our analysis using the 28 measures in the refreshed outcomes framework.

We also provide pertinent technical information and key definitions to explain the measures, how they were constructed and what each measure represents. We also make 4 recommendations for future directions to ensure the next outcomes framework builds on this project and incorporates some of the broader advice provided by VDAC.

Summary of results

Below we provide a summary of the results for each outcome.

We focus on whether there has been progress for people with disability in the review period (2018–2020, for most measures). We also look at whether the gap between people with and without disability is closing.

Connection

Social support received from other people has remained stable for people with disability.

While there was a slight close in the gap between people with and without disability, this has come from a decline in social support for people without disability.

Inclusion

The proportion of people with disability attending community events has fallen.

This is also the case for people without disability, meaning that the gap between people with and without disability has remained stable.

The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have affected this measure.

Satisfaction with community participation has increased slightly for people with disability.

While people with disability are still less likely to be satisfied with community participation, the gap between people with and without disability has become smaller.

Accessibility

Data for the measures selected for this outcome was not accessible for the whole review period. However, we had access to data on accessibility using the 2018 Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers.

For people with disability who left their home, 86.4% were able to use all forms of transport.

For people with disability who left their home and had difficulty or needed assistance with communication or mobility, 76.6% had no difficulty accessing buildings or facilities.

Mobility

About 1 in 8 people with disability spend more than 10% of their income on transport costs. This proportion has remained stable in the reviewed period. While people with disability are more likely to spend an excessive amount of their income on transport than people without disability, the gap has not widened.

Housing

Housing affordability improved slightly for people with disability between 2018 to 2022. The proportion of people with disability spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs fell.

While housing unaffordability remains an issue for people with disability, by this measure there is only a small difference in housing affordability between people with and without disability.

However, people with disability remained twice as likely to be unable to pay their utility bills on time.

And while housing satisfaction increased for people with and without disability, people with disability are less satisfied with their home than people without disability.

Health

Around 1 in 5 people with disability report very good or excellent health, and this proportion has slightly increased in the review period.

Our findings show that people with disability are much less likely to report very good or excellent health than people without disability. This inequality has not improved over time.

People with disability are more likely to smoke than people without disability. This inequality had widened by 2022. Healthcare has become slightly less affordable for people with disability, as the proportion of people with disability spending more than 10% of their income on health costs had increased, to 12.2% by 2022.

Importantly, the mental health of people with and without disability has worsened significantly over the review period.

In 2017, over half of people with disability reported experiencing psychological distress (compared to around 1 in 3 people without disability). This proportion increased to nearly 2 in 3 people with disability by 2022 (compared to over half of people without disability.) These results could be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns and restrictions.

Results of the analysis

The next sections set out the results of our analysis for each of the 19 headline indicators and 28 measures in the refreshed outcomes framework.

As detailed above, in the executive summary, we predominantly present 2 measures in each table:

• the percentage measure for people with and without disability (where data is available)
• the relative inequality measure, which is the percentage for people with disability divided by the percentage for people without disability.

We also present the following key technical information:

• a definition of the percentage measure, to explain how the measure was calculated
• the data source and availability, to explain the frequency at which the data can be analysed
• a technical note that explains the survey questions used, and key details regarding data preparation and calculations to construct the measure.

In the results section for each table we present the high-level results, followed by more detailed complex technical information.

Headline indicator 1.1: Social connection

Measure 1.1.1: Proportion of people with high social support

1.1.1 Rationale

Social support reflects if an individual is having their needs for social connection met. Social support is associated with many outcomes (for example, physical and mental health) and is commonly measured and reported.

1.1.1 Results

1.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability with access to high social support was 44.9%. By 2022, access to high levels of social support remained stable at 44.7%.

In comparison to people without disability, people with disability have gone from being 0.69 times less likely to 0.74 times less likely to have high social support. While this represents a slight close in the gap between people with and without disability, this has come from a decline in social support for people without disability.

1.1.1 Definition

This measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability.

• Denominator: People aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People with social support of 8 or more on the social support scale

1.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

1.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

1.1.1 Technical note

Social support is based on 10 questions where people describe the level of support they get from others.

It includes positive scenarios, such as: ‘When I need someone to help me out, I can usually find someone’. It also includes negative scenarios, such as ‘I have no one to lean on in times of trouble’.

People receive one point each time they 1) agree with a positive scenario or 2) disagree with a negative scenario, resulting in a score ranging from 0 to 10.

We consider a score of 8 or higher as indicative of high social support.

Headline indicator 2.1: Activity in the community

Measure 2.1.1: Proportion of people who regularly attend community events

2.1.1 Rationale

Community events include those which are free to attend, encompassing a wider range of participation.

2.1.1 Results

2.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who regularly attended community events was 36.4%. By 2022 regular attendance at community events had fallen to 31.5% for people with disability.

In comparison to people without disability, people with disability have gone from being 0.81 times less likely to 0.79 less likely to regularly attend community events.

This shows a declining trend in community event participation for both people with and without disability over the 4-year period.

Please note the monitoring period includes the COVID-19 pandemic when there were fewer community events. That said, the results highlight the ongoing gap in participation rates, with individuals with disability consistently less likely to attend community events compared to those without disability.

2.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who attend community events sometimes, often, or very often

2.1.1 Data source:

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

2.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

2.1.1 Technical note

This measure is based on the report of how often someone attends events that bring people together – such as fetes, shows, festivals or other community events.

Measure 2.1.2: Proportion of people satisfied with their community participation

2.1.2 Rationale

Satisfaction with community participation identifies if an individual’s participation in the community is meeting their needs.

2.1.2 Results

2.1.2 Description of results

In 2018, 36.9% of people with disability reported they were satisfied with their community participation. By 2022, the proportion of people with disability who were satisfied with their community participation had increased to 39.4%.

In comparison to people without disability, people with disability have gone from being 0.82 times less likely to 0.91 times less likely to be satisfied with community participation. The data show a potential narrowing inequality in satisfaction with community participation between people with and without disability.

2.1.2 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years.
• Numerator: People with a community participation satisfaction score of 8 or more.

2.1.2 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

2.1.2 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

2.1.2 Technical note

We use satisfaction with community participation as a proxy measure for the extent to which people with disability feel included with community activities. To measure satisfaction with community participation, people are asked to rate, between 0-10 the extent to which they are satisfied with ‘feeling part of your local community?

Headline indicator 3.1: Accessible transportation

Measure 3.1.1: Proportion of people who can use public transport with no difficulty

3.1.1 Rationale

Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) recommended reflecting mobility and accessibility in two separate headline indicators. This item is intended to reflect the concept of mobility, which refers to the ability to move freely throughout the environment.

3.1.1 Results

3.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, 86.4% of people with disability who left their home were able to use all forms of transport.

3.1.1 Definition

This item was only asked of people with disability within the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC).

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years who leave their home
• Numerator: People who could use all forms of transport

3.1.1 Data source

Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC)

3.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Next available in Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2022 release

3.1.1 Technical note

The most recent release of SDAC (SDAC 2022) became available to researchers in July 2024. This release requires a project proposal, incurs fees, and can only be accessed through a secure data environment with vetting procedures. We were unable to access this data for this report.

In the available SDAC data (SDAC 2018), this measure has a highly specific denominator. This makes the measure difficult to replicate and challenging to understand, as it is not entirely clear who is (and is not) included in the denominator.

Additionally, this measure has a focus on individual difficulties instead of accessible infrastructure for people with disability. Without proper care, this can assign the onus of lack of accessible infrastructure to people with disability. Therefore, we recommend the development of a better measures of use of public transport in future monitoring work.

Headline indicator 3.2: Spaces and places with universal design

Measure 3.2.1: Proportion of people who had no difficulty accessing buildings or facilities in the last 12 months

3.2.1 Rationale

Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) recommended reflecting mobility and accessibility in two separate headline indicators. This item reflects accessibility of places and spaces.

3.2.1 Results

3.2.1 Description of results

In 2018, 76.6% of people who disability who left their home and who had difficulty or required assistance with communication and/or mobility had no difficulty accessing buildings or facilities due to their disability.

3.2.1 Definition

This item was only asked of people with disability.

• Denominator: People aged 15+ years who leave their home and who need assistance or have difficulty with communication with someone they do not know because of disability or need assistance or have difficulty with mobility because of disability
• Numerator: People who had no difficulty accessing buildings or facilities due to disability in the last 12 months

3.2.1 Data source

Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC)

3.2.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Next available in Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) 2022 release

3.2.1 Technical note

The most recent release of SDAC (SDAC 2022) became available to researchers in July 2024. This release requires a project proposal, incurs fees, and can only be accessed through a secure data environment with vetting procedures. We were unable to access this data for this report.

In the SDAC data available to us (SDAC 2018), this measure has a highly specific denominator. This makes the measure challenging to understand, as it is not entirely clear who is (and is not) included in the denominator.

Additionally, this measure has a focus on individual difficulties instead of accessible infrastructure for people with disability. Without proper care, this can assign the onus of lack of accessible infrastructure to people with disability. Therefore, we do not recommend this measure and urge development of a better measure of accessibility of buildings in future monitoring work.

Headline indicator 4.1: Mobility

Measure 4.1.1: Proportion of people who spend more than 10% of their income on transportation costs

4.1.1 Rationale

This measure indicates if a person is spending an excessive amount of money on transportation needs. This may be particularly relevant for people with disability who may incur extra costs and have specific transport needs.

4.1.1 Results

4.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who spent more than 10% of their income on transportation costs was 13.3%, remaining stable through to 2022, where 13.0% of people with disability spent more than 10% of their income on transportation costs.

In comparison to people without disability, people with disability were 1.5 times more likely to spend more than 10% of their income on transportation costs. This data illustrates that a consistently higher proportion of people with disability spend more than 10% of their income on transportation costs.

4.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People living in households in which transportation costs exceed 10% of household disposable income

4.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

4.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

4.1.1 Technical note

Transportation costs include 1) public transport, taxis and ride-sharing services (for example, Uber or DiDi); 2) Motor Vehicle fuel (petrol, diesel, LPG) and engine oil; 3) Motor vehicle repairs and maintenance (including regular servicing). Transportation costs do not include purchase of a car for this measure. Disposable income refers to ‘disposable regular income’ as reported by the HILDA survey. It is total income minus estimated income taxes. Regular income excludes irregular components of income such as inheritance.

Headline indicator 5.1: Affordable housing

Measure 5.1.1: Proportion of people who spend more than 30% of their income on housing costs

5.1.1 Rationale

Spending more than 30% of income on housing is a standard way of considering housing affordability.

5.1.1 Results

5.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who spent more than 30% of their income on housing costs was 16.1%. By 2022, this had fallen slightly, with 13.8% for people with disability spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs.

For both people with and without disability the proportion of people spending more than 30% of their income on housing costs has decreased slightly from 2018 to 2022. But relative differences between people with and without disability have remained stable.

5.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People living in households in which housing costs exceed 30% of household disposable income

5.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

5.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

5.1.1 Technical note

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) is a household survey. By design it does not include people experiencing homelessness or those living in communal homes, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, and other non-private dwellings. This is an important limitation of our headline measures, as they do not include people with disability in non-private dwellings.

Disposable income refers to “disposable regular income” as reported by the HILDA survey. It is total income minus estimated income taxes. Regular income excludes irregular components of income such as inheritance.

Measure 5.1.2: Proportion of people not able to pay their utility bills on time

5.1.2 Rationale

Paying bills on time reflects if a person has money available at the time that they need it. This may likewise affect housing security.

5.1.2 Results

5.1.2 Description of results

In 2018, 15.7% of people with disability reported they were unable to pay their utility bills on time. By 2022 this had remained largely stable with 14.9% of people with disability reporting they were not able to pay their utility bills on time.

Compared to people without disability, people with disability were twice as likely to not be able to pay their bills on time at both time periods. The data therefore indicate a consistently higher proportion of people with disability are unable to pay their utility bills on time.

5.1.2 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who could not pay electricity, gas or telephone bills on time

5.1.2 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

5.1.2 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

5.1.2 Technical note

By design, the HILDA survey – a household-based survey – does not include people experiencing homelessness or those living in communal homes, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, and other non-private dwellings. This is an important limitation of our headline measures, as they do not include people with disability in non-private dwellings.

Participants in HILDA were asked if, in the year of the survey, they had been unable to pay their electricity, gas, or telephone bills on time due to a shortage of money.

Headline indicator 5.2: Suitable housing

Measure 5.2.1: Proportion of people who are satisfied with their home

5.2.1 Rationale

Housing satisfaction reflects if a person’s house meets their housing needs and is an indicator of suitable housing.

5.2.1 Results

5.2.1 Description of results

In 2018, 66.5% of people with disability reported being satisfied with their home. By 2022, 70.8% of people with disability were satisfied with their home.

Housing satisfaction has increased for both groups, so the inequality in housing satisfaction has stayed stable – people with disability are 0.94 times less likely to be satisfied with their home. This data show that there still remains a gap in housing satisfaction between people with and without disability.

5.2.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People with a home satisfaction score of 8 or more

5.2.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

5.2.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

5.2.1 Technical note

HILDA, by design does not include people experiencing homelessness or living in communal homes, hotels, hospitals, nursing homes, and other non-private dwellings. This is an important limitation, as it means the data does not include people with disability in non-private dwellings. We don't have specific data on suitable housing conditions for people with disability. We do not know if physical access to the home or its layout and amenities are suitable for individuals. Instead, we are using housing satisfaction as an approximation of suitable housing. Housing satisfaction refers to how satisfied individuals are with their housing conditions, influenced by factors such as the physical quality of the home, neighbourhood characteristics, and the alignment of these with personal expectations and needs.

Headline indicator 6.1: Physical health

Measure 6.1.1: Proportion of people who report very good or excellent health

6.1.1 Rationale

Self-rated health is a standard health measure and is associated with many health outcomes, including mortality risk.

6.1.1 Results

6.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who reported very good or excellent health was 21.6%. By 2022, general health was largely unchanged, with 22.4% of people with disability reporting very good or excellent self-rated health.

Compared to people without disability, people with disability in 2018 were 0.35 times less likely, and in 2022 0.37 times less likely to report very good or excellent self-rated health. This data show that people with disability are much less likely to report very good or excellent general health than people without disability, and this inequality has not closed over time.

6.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who report very good or excellent health

6.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

6.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

6.1.1 Technical note

Self-rated health is a valid measure of health status and studies have shown that it can predict both mortality and chronic diseases, such as diabetes and stroke.

Headline indicator 6.2: Healthy living

Measure 6.2.1: Proportion of people who smoke

6.2.1 Rationale

Smoking causes preventable deaths and decreased health and wellbeing

6.2.1 Results

6.2.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who smoked was 18.7%. In 2022, the proportion of people with disability who smoked remained stable at 18.3%.

Compared to people without disability, in 2018 people with disability were 1.25 times more likely to smoke and by 2022 the inequality had widened with people with disability 1.55 times more likely to smoke than people without disability. The data indicates a widening inequality in smoking between people with and without disability.

6.2.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products

6.2.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

6.2.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

6.2.1 Technical note

Smoking was determined based on the question ‘Do you smoke cigarettes or any other tobacco products?’ We classified participants who answered, ‘Yes, I smoke daily’, ‘Yes, I smoke at least weekly (but not daily)’, and ‘Yes, I smoke less often than weekly’ as smokers.

Measure 6.2.2: Proportion of people who spend more than 10% of their income on health costs

6.2.2 Rationale

Spending more than 10% of income on health costs is deemed ‘catastrophic healthcare expenditure’.

6.2.2 Results

6.2.2 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability spending more than 10% of their income on health costs was 11.7%. In 2022, the proportion of people with disability spending more than 10% of their income on health costs had increased, to 12.2% among people with disability.

Compared to people without disability, people with disability were 2.88 times more likely in 2018 and 2.48 times more likely in 2022 to spend more than 10% of their income on health costs. Caution should be taken when assessing the gap between the two groups. It has closed slightly, but not because spending levels have decreased, but because more people without disability are spending more than 10% of their income on health costs.

6.2.2 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People living in households in which health costs exceed 10% of household disposable income

6.2.2 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

6.2.2 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

6.2.2 Technical note

People with disability may be more likely to have serious health issues which incur significant costs. Health costs include private health insurance; fees paid to health practitioners; and medicines, prescriptions, pharmaceuticals, and alternative medicines.

Disposable income refers to ‘disposable regular income’ as reported by the HILDA survey. It is total income minus estimated income taxes. Regular income excludes irregular components of income such as inheritance.

Headline indicator 6.3: Mental health

Measure 6.3.1: Proportion of people who report psychological distress

6.3.1 Rationale

Psychological distress is a standard measure with a clinically significant interpretation.

6.3.1 Results

6.3.1 Description of results

In 2017, the proportion of people with disability who reported psychological distress was 56.5%. By 2022, mental health had worsened, with 63.2% of people with disability reporting psychological distress.

Even though the relative difference has fallen – people with disability have gone from 1.58 to 1.22 times more likely to experience psychological distress – people with disability report substantially higher levels of psychological distress than people without disability. Mental health is getting worse for both people with and without disability.

Caution should be taken when assessing just the gap between the two groups; it has closed not because mental health has improved, but because mental health has declined more for people without disability than people with disability.

6.3.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress

6.3.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

6.3.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2017

Frequency: K10 in HILDA is collected every other year

6.3.1 Technical note

Psychological distress is a form of emotional suffering marked by symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is measured with a tool called the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. People are asked how often they have felt negative feelings like nervousness or depression in the past 4 weeks. Based on their answers, they receive a score from 10 (indicating fewer negative feelings) to 50 (indicating more negative feelings). Aligned with the literature, a score of 16 or higher to be indicative of moderate psychological distress.

Headline indicator 7.1 Life satisfaction

Measure 7.1.1: Proportion of people who are satisfied with their life

7.1.1 Rationale

Life satisfaction is a standard measure that allows individuals to consider components of their life that they value and assess their overall quality of life.

7.1.1 Results

7.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who reported being satisfied with their life was 54.1%. By 2022, self-reported life satisfaction had improved slightly, increasing to 56.3% for people with disability.

Compared to people without disability, people with disability were 0.75 times less likely to report being satisfied with their life in 2018, and this remained stable through to 2022. This data shows persistent, but stable inequalities in life satisfaction when comparing people with and without disability over the 2018–2022 time period.

7.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People with a life satisfaction score of 8 or more

7.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

7.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

7.1.1 Technical note

Life satisfaction refers to an individual's overall assessment of their quality of life. It is a subjective measure that reflects how individuals feel about their lives as a whole, including aspects such as their physical health, emotional well-being, social relationships, employment, income, and personal achievements.

Headline indicator 8.1: Unfair treatment

Measure 8.1.1: Proportion of people who experienced discrimination in the last 12 month

8.1.1 Rationale

Discrimination indicates a lack of social inclusion and negatively influences mental and physical health and socio-economic participation.

8.1.1 Results

8.1.1 Description of results

For this outcome, we must use data and analysis previously presented for the old outcomes framework. In 2014, 24.9% of people with disability reported experiencing general discrimination or unfair treatment, compared to 16.3% of people without disability.

This inequality could have closed or widened since 2014. It is highly unlikely (given what we know about the lived experience of people with disability and the patterns across the range of measures in this report) that this inequality will no longer be present in Victoria.

8.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: Proportion of people who experienced general discrimination or unfair treatment in the last 12 months.

8.1.1 Data source

General Social Survey (GSS)

8.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2014

Frequency: The next General Social Survey (GSS) is scheduled for 2025

8.1.1 Technical note

The General Social Survey (GSS) was conducted in 2014 and 2020. The 2020 estimates are not representative at the state level, according to the ABS, and can only be accessed through special agreement with the ABS in their datalab environment. Therefore, no new estimates are presented.

Headline indicator 9.1: Interpersonal violence

Measure 9.1.1: Proportion of people who experienced physical violence in the last 12 months

9.1.1 Rationale

Physical violence is a standard measure of violence that includes both physical assault and threats.

9.1.1 Results

9.1.1 Description of results

For this outcome we must use data and analysis previously presented for the old outcomes framework. In 2018, 7.7% of people with disability experienced physical violence in the last 12 months, in comparison to 3.3% of people without disability.

9.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 18+ years
• Numerator: People experiencing physical violence in the last 12 months

9.1.1 Data source

Personal Safety Survey (PSS)

9.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Next available in the 2021–22 PSS release

9.1.1 Technical note

We recommend using the Personal Safety Survey (PSS) for estimates, as it is the best current survey for collecting information on experiences of violence in Australia. Survey reports, such as the PSS, generally show higher rates of violence compared to administrative data such as police records, as many people who experience violence may not report it to the authorities.

Because collecting violence data involves many important technical and ethical considerations, the PSS was the best option available. That said, we cannot directly request access to PSS microdata. Any further analyses must be requested through the ABS, which offers specialist consultancy services.

Measure 9.1.2: Proportion of people who experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months

9.1.2 Rationale

Sexual violence is a standard measure of violence that includes both sexual assault and threats. Sexual violence is associated with poorer short and long term physical and mental health outcomes for victims/survivors, as well as their families and communities.

9.1.2 Results

9.1.2 Description of results

For this outcome, we have to use data and analysis previously presented for the old outcomes framework. In 2018, 3.4% of people with disability experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months, in comparison to 1.2% of people without disability.

9.1.2 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 18+ years
• Numerator: people experiencing sexual violence in the last 12 months

9.1.2 Data source

Personal Safety Survey (PSS)

9.1.2 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Next available in the 2021–22 Personal Safety Survey (PSS) release

9.1.2 Technical note

We recommend using the Personal Safety Survey (PSS) for estimates, as it is the gold standard for collecting information on experiences of violence in Australia. Survey reports, such as the PSS, generally show higher rates of violence compared to administrative data such as police records, as many people who experience violence may not report it to the authorities.

Because collecting violence data involves many important technical and ethical considerations, the PSS was the best option available. That said, we cannot directly request access to PSS microdata. Any further analyses must be requested through the ABS, which offers specialist consultancy services.

Headline indicator 10.1: Educational engagement

Measure 10.1.1: Proportion of people studying for a qualification

10.1.1 Rationale

Studying for a qualification reflects engagement in education beyond the secondary level.

10.1.1 Results

10.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability aged 18+ studying for a qualification was 5.4%. By 2022, this had increased slightly for people with disability to 7.9%.

Compared to people without disability, people with disability have gone from 0.41 times less likely to 0.64 times less likely to be studying for a qualification. This data show that inequality in studying for a qualification has narrowed slightly, due to the increase in continuing education among people with disability.

10.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 18+ years
• Numerator: People currently studying for a qualification

10.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

10.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

10.1.1 Technical note

This measure includes any studies beyond secondary education, such as attending universities, technical colleges, industry skills centres and other educational institutions.

We created this measure based on two key factors. First, Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) found measures of educational attainment problematic, and while there was more positivity around other potential indicators – such as engagement and wellbeing – we did not settle on a consensus for an alternative headline indicator. Engagement in the education system was emphasised as being important by VDAC members.

Second, the Attitudes to School Survey – was not available to the research team. And even if it was, from reviewing its documentation, we are unsure if it could be used for monitoring.

Headline indicator 11.1 Employment

Measure 11.1.1: Proportion of people in employment

11.1.1 Rationale

The employment to population ratio is a standard employment measure, which measures the proportion of all population in work, regardless of age, retirement, and intention to work.

11.1.1 Results

11.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability in employment was 40.1% By 2022 this had increased for people with disability to 45.8%.

Compared to people without disability, in 2018 people with disability were 0.52 times less likely to be employed. By 2022 this inequality had closed slightly so that people with disability were 0.58 times less likely to be employed than people without disability.

This data shows the inequality in employment between people with and without disability has narrowed slightly. However, the proportion of people with disability in employment is substantially lower than for people without disability.

11.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People in employment

11.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

11.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

11.1.1 Technical note

This measure is similar to the ‘employment to population ratio’ calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It should be interpretated with caution, since its denominator is based on the entire population – including those who no longer wish or have intention to work (for example, those who retired).

Measure 11.1.2: Proportion of people in the labour force

11.1.2 Rationale

Labour force participation is a standard employment measure. Labour force participation can be associated with increased mental and physical health and greater social participation.

11.1.2 Results

11.1.2 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability in the labour force was 43.4%. By 2022, this had increased for people with disability to 48.4%.

Compared to people without disability, in 2018 people with disability were 0.54 times less likely to be in the labour force. By 2022 this inequality had closed slightly so that people with disability were 0.6 times less likely to be in the labour force than people without disability.

This data shows the inequality in labour force participation between people with and without disability has narrowed slightly. However, the proportion of people with disability in the labour force is substantially lower than for people without disability.

11.1.2 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People in the labour force

11.1.2 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

11.1.2 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

11.1.2 Technical note

This measure is similar to the ‘participation rate’ calculated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. People in the labour force are those who are a) employed or b) not employed, but actively looking for work and available to start work.

Measure 11.1.3: Proportion of people who are unemployed

11.1.3 Rationale

The unemployment rate is a standard measure. Unemployment is associated with poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes.

11.1.3 Results

11.1.3 Description of results

In 2018, 5.5% of people with disability who were in the labour force were unemployed. In 2022, the proportion remained stable for people with disability, with 5.6% of people with disability in the labour force being unemployed.

In comparison to people without disability, people with disability were 1.2 times more likely to be unemployed than people without disability, increasing to 2.45 times as likely in 2022. This increase in inequality occurred as the proportion of people without disability who were unemployed fell from 4.6% to 2.3%.

This shows that there is a gap in the unemployment rate between people with and without disability, and this inequality widened between 2018 and 2022.

11.1.3 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: People in the labour force aged 15+ years
• Numerator: Unemployed people

11.1.3 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

11.1.3 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

11.1.3 Technical note

Unemployment reflects individuals who are not currently employed, are actively looking for work, and are available to start work. This is a standard way of measuring unemployment.

Headline indicator 11.2: Job quality

Measure 11.2.1: Proportion of people satisfied with their jobs and work

11.2.1 Rationale

Satisfaction with one’s job and work hours act as a proxy for whether a job is a suitable fit for an individual. Poorer quality employment and underemployment are associated with poorer health, decreased life satisfaction, and financial stress.

11.2.1 Results

11.2.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who were employed and satisfied with their jobs and work hours was 43.0% for people with disability. By 2022, employment and job satisfaction had increased for people with disability to 46.8%.
Compared to people without disability, people with disability were 0.92 times less likely to be satisfied with their jobs and work hours in 2018, and 0.96 less likely in 2022.

This data show that people’s employment and satisfaction with their jobs and hours has increased between 2018 and 2022, and that while there is still a gap between people with and without disability, it has closed slightly.

11.2.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: Employed people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who are satisfied with their jobs and work hours

11.2.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

11.2.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

11.2.1 Technical note

This is a composite measure. Based on all employed people, it is considered positive for individuals who report being satisfied with both their job and their number of work hours. The inclusion of work hours accounts for underemployment, where people work fewer hours than they would like.

Headline indicator 12.1: Financial stability and economic independence

Measure 12.1.1: Proportion of people living in lower income households

12.1.1 Rationale

Cost of living was raised by Victorian Disability Advisory Council (VDAC) as an important issue facing people with disability. Lower income reflects a basic measure of income inequality. Values above 40% indicate that the group is poorer than the general Australian population.

12.1.1 Results

12.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability living in lower income households was 59.4%. By 2022, this had decreased slightly for people with disability to 55.2%.

In comparison to people without disability, people with disability were 1.67 times more likely to be in lower income households in 2018, and 1.65 times more likely by 2022. This data show that, while the number of people with disability living in lower income households has fallen slightly, people with disability are considerably more likely to live in a lower income household than people without disability.

12.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People living in households in the lower 40% of Equivalised Disposable Household Income

12.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

12.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

12.1.1 Technical note

If Australia was made up of 100 households, lined up from lowest income to highest income, ‘lower income households’ are the first 40 households. For this measure, income refers to equivalised disposable income. Disposable household income after tax is the money available for day-to-day living. Equivalised means we adjust income based on the number and age of people in the household. We include only regular income, excluding irregular sources of income such as receiving an inheritance.

Measure 12.1.2: Proportion of people without accessible emergency funds

12.1.2 Rationale

This measure captures whether people have the means to financially cope with unexpected costs.

12.1.2 Results

12.1.2 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability without accessible emergency funds was 26.4%. By 2022 this was similar, with 27.3% of people with disability not able to access emergency funds.

In comparison to people without disability, in 2018 people with disability were 1.6 times more likely to be unable to access emergency funds, and 1.64 times more likely in 2022.

12.1.2 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who could not raise money in an emergency or would need to do something drastic ($4000 in 2022 and $3000 in 2018)

12.1.2 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

12.1.2 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

12.1.2 Technical note

The question in HILDA asks, ‘Suppose you had only one week to raise $3000 [in 2018] / $4000 [in 2022] for an emergency. Which of the following best describes how hard it would be for you to get that money?’. People were deemed to not have access to emergency funds if they had to do something drastic or were unable to raise them.

Measure 12.1.3: Proportion of people who went without meals because of lack of money

12.1.3 Rationale

This measure reflects a serious level of deprivation driven by very low income. It has been included reflecting VDAC’s advice that the cost of living was currently an important issue for people with disability.

12.1.3 Results

12.1.3 Description of results

In 2018, 7.8% of people with disability went without meals because of a lack of money. By 2022, this had risen to 8.7% of people with disability going without meals because of a lack of money.

Compared to people without disability, people with disability were 3.2 times more likely to go without meals because of a lack of money, rising to 4.3 times more likely in 2022. These data indicate growing inequalities in people with disability going without meals because of a lack of money.

12.1.3 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who went without meals because of lack of money

12.1.3 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey

12.1.3 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

12.1.3 Technical note

This measure is based on a question that asks people if they went without meals because of a lack of money during that year.

Headline indicator 13.1: Civic activities

Measure 13.1.1: Proportion of people who regularly participate in civic activities

13.1.1 Rationale

This measure is based on the literature and includes various forms of public participation that contribute to the democratic process and community well-being.

13.1.1 Results

13.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who regularly participated in civic activities was 27.6%. By 2022 this had decreased slightly for people with disability to 24.3%.

The gap between people with and without disability decreased slightly, but only because civic engagement decreased more for people without disability than for people with disability.

13.1.1 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People who participate in civic activities sometimes, often or very often

13.1.1 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

13.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

13.1.1 Technical note

Civic activities are defined broadly to include various forms of public participation that contribute to the democratic process and community well-being. This can encompass actions like involvement in unions, political parties, or advocacy groups, volunteering on boards, and organizing committees for clubs or non-profit organizations.

In the measure, civic activities include 1) getting involved in activities for a union, political party, or group that is for or against something; 2) volunteering on boards or organising committees of clubs, community groups or other non-profit organisations; 3) encouraging others to get involved with a group that’s trying to make a difference in the community; and 4) getting in touch with a local politician or councillor about concerns.

Headline indicator 14.1: Opportunities to pursue and achieve aspirations

Measure 14.1.1: Proportion of people who could work if accommodations were provided

14.1.1 Rationale

Employment is a key pathway for pursuing individual aspirations. People with disability who could work if provided with appropriate accommodations are a group with the potential to join the workforce and that would benefit from direct intervention.

14.1.1 Results

14.1.1 Description of results

In 2018, 6.6% of people with disability who are permanently unable to work, responded that they could work if accommodations were provided.

14.1.1 Definition

This item was only asked of people with disability within the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers.

• Denominator: People aged 15+ years who are permanently unable to work
• Numerator: People who could work if accommodations were provided

14.1.1 Data source

SDAC

14.1.1 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Next available in SDAC 2022 release

14.1.1 Technical note

The most recent release of SDAC (SDAC 2022) became available to researchers in July 2024. This release requires a project proposal, incurs fees, and can only be accessed through a secure data environment with vetting procedures. We were unable to access this data for this report.

This measure is based on a question that asks people who are permanently unable to work what their requirements are that could enable them to work. These include training, equipment and working from home.

Measure 14.1.2: Proportion of people satisfied with employment opportunities

14.1.2 Rationale

This measure considers if people feel they are getting employment opportunities that are appropriate and in line with their expectations.

14.1.2 Results

14.1.2 Description of results

In 2018, 47.8% people with disability were satisfied with their employment opportunities. By 2022 this had increased to 58.8% of people with disability being satisfied with their employment opportunities.

In comparison to people without disability, people with disability were 0.76 times less likely to be satisfied with their employment opportunities in 2018, and 0.83 times less likely in 2022. While these data show clear inequalities at both time points, there is improving satisfaction with job opportunities for people with and without disability, and the gap is closing slightly.

14.1.2 Definition

Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.

• Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
• Numerator: People with an employment opportunities satisfaction score of 8 or more

14.1.2 Data source

Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA)

14.1.2 Data availability

Baseline year: 2018

Frequency: Annual

14.1.2 Technical note

We are using satisfaction with employment opportunities as a proxy measure for the extent to which people with disability feel they are getting opportunities to pursue and achieve their aspirations.

People are asked to rate, between 0-10 the extent to which they are satisfied with things happening in their life. For this measure respondents are asked if they are satisfied with their ‘employment opportunities?’

New data

The Commonwealth is investing $31 million to develop the National Disability Data Asset (NDDA). This will present many opportunities to improve outcome monitoring for people with disability in Victoria.

The development of large, person-level linked data assets means that now is the time to accelerate investment in research and analysis that aims to use these datasets to monitor outcomes for people with disability. This includes evaluating the effectiveness of social policy on improving the lives of people with disability in Victoria.

The NDDA will include a series of linked datasets from the Commonwealth and state governments. It will provide insights on service-use pathways and outcomes for people with disability across government service systems. In a secure data lab environment, it will provide detailed, unidentified individual-level information on interactions with government services (for example, NDIS, Disability Support Pension (DSP) and tax data), and key life events (for example, deaths and hospitalisations).

However, it is vital that we understand what can and cannot be done with such data.

The NDDA will have complete coverage of those who use a specific service. For example, NDIS data in the NDDA will accurately reflect everyone who uses the scheme at a given time, and since its roll out. Linking this information to hospital records, for example, will allow researchers to assess whether NDIS services and supports enable people to return home from hospital promptly.

The NDDA will allow more granular analysis of key events in people’s lives. For example, after a health event, such as hospitalisation due to a heart attack, what factors predict NDIS participants’ return to work and recovery? Further, how can NDIS services be better used to aid participants return to their income prior to the event?

However, the NDDA will not have total coverage of all Victorians with a disability. Because data assets, such as the NDDA, are largely made up of administrative datasets, the main sources of information on disability will be services (NDIS) and payments (DSP) people receive related to disability.

We know that not everyone with disability uses the NDIS or receives DSP. So, if we relied solely on NDIS and/or DSP payments for outcome monitoring in the NDDA, there will be sections of the population with disability who are missing.

There is potential, if the Census is linked to the NDDA, to use the Census question on disability to find people who have a disability but do not receive disability services or payments. But the limitation of this approach is the Census captures just people with severe and profound disability, and only a snapshot at one point in time.

This is not to say that the NDDA will not have immense value – it will allow researchers to answer policy relevant questions that, to date, they have not been able to. Rather, it should be used to add detail, nuance and policy-pertinent information that cannot be supplied by social surveys or identifying people with disability using medical information alone, which is not best practice.

Our recommendation is that when using linked data assets, such as the NDDA and PLIDA for outcome monitoring, it is made clear who is included in the analysis, and which groups are potentially missing.

The linked data can then be used alongside surveys (such as HILDA) to add richness to our understanding of how people with disability in Victoria are faring and how social policy can be optimised to improve outcomes.

Future work should also include engagement with Victorian Government departments to understand what data sources might be relevant and accessible for outcomes monitoring for Inclusive Victoria: state disability plan 2022–2026, and future iterations of the plan.

Intersectionality and diversity

Population data used in projects like this almost always contains information on key sociodemographic characteristics of individuals. For example, the main data source used in this project was the Household Income and Labour Dynamics of Australia (HILDA) survey. This contains information on gender, income, age, remoteness, education and other characteristics.

These identities and social positions intersect with disability, creating unique challenges in achieving the goals outlined in the current plan. In short, disability is not the only factor that determines good (or bad) employment outcomes, or good (or bad) health.

We know from the literature, our expert knowledge and discussions with VDAC that sociodemographic factors influence the measures.
Intersectionality and the diverse experiences of people with disability was a common theme in our discussions with VDAC.

For this project, we examined various intersecting social identities and characteristics.

For example, we found that psychological distress is significantly higher among young people with disability: 85% of young people with disability experience psychological distress.

Food insecurity is also more prevalent among people with disability living in outer regional Victoria (21%) compared with those in major cities (8%).

Investigating these intersections can help to better target and tailor the current plan and related government actions.

We recommend that future iterations of the outcomes framework adopt an intersectional approach by:

• including case studies in future State Government reports on specific intersections of interest
• incorporating intersectional reporting in the standard outcomes reports, possibly using icons to indicate associations with gender, income, age and other important intersecting factors, where data permits, such as Indigenous status and people from a diverse background. Please note we recommend that intersectional analysis of these groups should be developed closely with the communities the monitoring focuses on
• producing a special report examining on intersectionality.

Better measurement of progress

In this report, we have slightly adjusted how the results are reported to focus on change over time. Previously, in the old monitoring framework, it was noted that:

• Absolute measures describe the situation for people with disability only. Relative measures describe the situation for people with disability relative to people without disability. Relative measures allow us to determine if changes in the wellbeing of the population are equally shared by people with and without disability.

In most circumstances this is correct when you are considering just one point in time. However, there are 2 key problems with this approach that need addressing.

First, inequality changes (either widens or closes), but not because of a change (improvement or worsening) in the measure for people with disability. For example, if smoking rate drops among people without disability but remains the same for people with disability, the inequality may change.

Second, inequality widens according to the relative measure, but the difference in the percentage closes (or vice versa).

For example, if the outcomes go from 40% to 20% for people with disability, and from 25% to 10% for people without disability, this shows that there has been a larger reduction in the outcome for people with disability and a closing of the gap between people with and without disability.

However, if you calculate the relative inequality at the 2 time points, the relative measure has increased from 1.6 (40% / 25%) to 2 (20% / 10%).

The above paragraph is technical, and potentially hard to understand.

But it matters, because, using the same data, one inequality measure appears to show progress, however the other appears to show that things are worsening.

In this report we guarded against this by adding a text description of the result. VDAC also requested this to aid interpretation of the results by a broad audience.

There is clearly work to be done in how we assess progress. We recommend road-testing a range of presentation methods and inequality metrics for future outcomes framework reports.

Timing of reporting and data availability

One of the challenges of producing this report was the availability of data.

For example, the Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers (SDAC), was most recently completed during 2022 only became available to researchers in July 2024.

As a result, we could not include this data in this report.

We recommend that future reporting for the outcomes framework consider the timing of data releases.

One option could be for the Victorian Government to maintain data access to the main data collections required for this work, like the PLIDA, the NDDA and NDIS unit record data.

If researchers are then commissioned to help analyse results and produce reports, arrangements should be made to facilitate their access to the data via an amendment to the data sharing arrangements.