People with a disability
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2022) People with disability in Australia. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/disability/people-with-disability-in-australia/contents/about
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Disability. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2021) Disability and carers. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-and-carers-census/2021
The Disability Gateway assists people with a disability, their families and carers, to find and access trusted information and services. For more information, go to: https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/
The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO) is a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO). They are a cross-disability representative organisation, and the national voice representing people with disability in Australia. Further information is available from: https://www.afdo.org.au/
- AFDO’s Disability Australia Hub provides a gateway to disability knowledge, advocacy and information resources. Available from: https://www.disabilityaustraliahub.com.au/
The Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) is a dedicated resource unit funded to work with disability advocacy organisations to promote and protect the rights of people with disability. They also provide a range of free training and resources. Further information is available from: https://www.daru.org.au/
National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) is a national Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) that advocates federally for the human rights of people with disability, and their families, from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and non-English speaking backgrounds (NESB). Further information is available from: https://www.neda.org.au/
- The experiences & perspectives of people with disability from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds (2021). Available from: https://neda.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NEDA-CALDReport211102-Low-Res.pdf
First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN) is the peak national organisation of and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, their families and communities. Further information is available from: https://fpdn.org.au/
The following disability organisations provide education and support:
- People with Disability Australia: https://pwd.org.au/
- Brain Injury Australia: https://www.braininjuryaustralia.org.au/
- Deaf Australia: https://deafaustralia.org.au/
- Down Syndrome Australia: https://www.downsyndrome.org.au/
- Vision Australia: https://www.visionaustralia.org/
- Autism Australia: https://www.autismspectrum.org.au/
- Forward (for people with spinal cord injury): https://fas.org.au/
Services and support available for people with a disability
My Aged Care. Support for people living with disability. Available from: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/support-people-living-with-disability
My Aged Care. Caring for someone with a disability. Available from: https://www.myagedcare.gov.au/carers/caring-someone-disability
Australian Government. Carer Gateway Caring for a person with disability tips. Available from: https://www.carergateway.gov.au/tips/tips-disability-caring
Department of Social Services (DSS) (2021) Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031. Available from: https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/ads/strategy
Department of Social Services (DSS)Younger people in Residential Aged Care. Available from: https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers/programmes-services/for-people-with-disability/younger-people-with-disability-in-residential-aged-care-initiative
Department of Social Services (DSS) (2020) Younger People in Residential Aged Care Strategy 2020-25. Available from:https://www.dss.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/09_2020/dss_younger_people_in_residential_aged_care_v5-1.pdf
Department of Health and Aged Care. Providing aged care services to younger people. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/providing-aged-care-services-to-younger-people
Department of Health and Aged Care (2022) Principles and guidelines for a younger person’s access to Commonwealth funded aged care services. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/principles-and-guidelines-for-a-younger-persons-access-to-commonwealth-funded-aged-care-services
Department of Health and Aged Care. Disability Support for Older Australians Program. Available from: https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/disability-support-for-older-australians-dsoa-program/about-the-disability-support-for-older-australians-program
Additional services and supports for people with a disability can be found at:
- The Disability Gateway: https://www.disabilitygateway.gov.au/
- Ask Izzy: https://askizzy.org.au/
Delivering safe and inclusive services for older people with a disability
Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) How to be disability inclusive. Available from: https://daru.org.au/course/how-to-be-disability-inclusive/
People with Disability Australia (PWDA) (2021) PWDA Language Guide: A guide to language about disability. Available from: http://prdpwd.wpengine.com/resources/language-guide/
Scope have developed a range of resources focussed on effective communication with people with a range of communication difficulties. There are also a number of short videos available on their website that demonstrate communication strategies and tools in action. Of particular interest may be:
- Communication access. Available from: https://www.scopeaust.org.au/services-for-organisations/access-and-inclusion-for-businesses/communication-access/.
- The ‘Connecting Me’ Tool Kit. Available from: https://www.scopeaust.org.au/information-resources-hub/resources-download/
Deaf Australia. Accessibility & Inclusion toolkit. Available from: https://deafaustralia.org.au/accessibility-inclusion-toolkit/
Dementia Centre (2020) Deafness & Dementia: Interpreting changes in behaviour (includes videos and booklets for staff and consumers). Available from: https://www.dementiacentre.com/resources/knowledge-hub/deafness
Vision Australia. Communicating effectively. Available from: https://www.visionaustralia.org/information/family-friends-carers/communicating-effectively
WE C Hope (2017) How to Communicate with People Who are Blind or Vision Impaired. Available from: https://wechope.org/resources/how-to-communicate-with-people-who-are-blind-or-vision-impaired-part-1/
