ACT Disability Health Strategy
This page has information about the development and implementation of the ACT Disability Health Strategy.
ACT Disability Health Strategy
On Thursday 7 December 2023, we launched the ACT Disability Health Strategy 2024–2033 and ACT Disability Health Strategy 2024–2033: First Action Plan 2024-2026.
These plans are also available in Easy English:
- ACT Disability Health Strategy 2024-2033 in Easy English
- ACT Disability Health Strategy 2024-2033: First Action Plan in Easy English
The Disability Health Strategy is a 10-year plan that aims to make sure people with disability have equitable and appropriate access to healthcare in the ACT. The First Action Plan is a three-year plan which sets out actions and activities to meet the goals, principles, and focus areas in the Disability Health Strategy.
The Disability Health Strategy and First Action Plan were developed in collaboration with the Office for Disability and the ACT Disability Health Strategy Steering Committee.
The ACT Disability Health Strategy builds on previous work, including the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS) 2019 report Imagining Better – Reflections on access, choice and control in ACT health services for people with disability and the 2022 Women’s Health Matters report “I have to ask to be included…” which documents the views of ACT women with disability about their health and health needs, access to services, supports and information, and barriers to maintaining health.
Over the 10-year life of the Disability Health Strategy, new disability health recommendations or policy changes, such as those from the Disability Royal Commission and the NDIS Review, may be added to future action plans.
Progress Updates
The Disability Health Strategy: First Action Plan Progress Report 2025 covers progress on the First Action Plan from 1 January 2024 until 30 June 2025. The report is also available in Easy Read.
ACT Disability Health Reference Group
The ACT Disability Health Reference Group (DHRG) was established in September 2024. It gives advice to the ACT Government and the health system in the ACT about the health and wellbeing of people with disability.
Read more about the ACT Disability Health Reference Group.
ACT Disability Health Strategy Project
The ACT Disability Health Strategy was created through a 3-phase project.
Phase one: scoping study
This phase delivered:
- a scoping paper – Future Directions of Disability Health in the ACT including an abridged version, and an Easy English version
- a listening report – ACT Disability Health Strategy Roundtable: Listening Report – Phase One of the ACT Disability Health Strategy Project.
Phase two: drafting the strategy
This phase of the project delivered the final draft ACT Disability Health Strategy and its First Action Plan.
The development of the ACT Disability Health Strategy and its First Action Plan is supported by a significant evidence base, including feedback from the health and wellbeing consultations undertaken by Community Services Directorate for the ACT Disability Strategy, along with national and local legislation, policy, and research.
Development of the ACT Disability Health Strategy and its First Action Plan was guided by the ACT Disability Health Strategy Steering Committee, comprised of:
- people with disability
- carers of people with disability
- service providers
- advocacy groups
- ACT Government representatives.
This phase delivered a Listening Report, ACT Disability Health Strategy Roundtable: Listening Report – Phase Two of the ACT Disability Health Strategy Project, including an Easy English version.
Phase three: launch and implementation
This phase of the project delivered:
- the final version of the ACT Disability Health Strategy in multiple formats, including Easy English,
- the final version of the First Action Plan
Related projects
ACT Disability Strategy
In response to Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031, ACT Community Services Directorate developed the 10-year ACT Disability Strategy 2024-2033 to create a more welcoming and accessible community and improve the lives of the more than 80,000 Canberrans who identify as people with disability.