Canberra – The Australian Government has today announced a $18 million national initiative to break down barriers, shift attitudes, and build a more inclusive Australia for people with disability, with ACOLA receiving $3 million to lead one of the key programs.
Commissioned by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) will lead the development of co-designed education and training Toolkits and a National Roadmap for Disability Responsiveness over the next three years. The initiative will equip professionals and organisations with the practical tools, resources, and guidance needed to embed inclusive practices nationwide.
Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the Hon Mark Butler MP, said:
“These initiatives will deliver practical tools and resources to help individuals and organisations champion accessibility in their everyday actions.”
The Program builds on ACOLA’s award winning 2022 report, Enhancing Disability Responsiveness of Professionals, which called for a shift from awareness to action—highlighting the need for co-designed, sector-specific frameworks to strengthen inclusion and workforce capability.
ACOLA CEO, Prerana Mehta, said the initiative reflects the power of collaboration between research, policy, and community.
“Measurable change in disability responsiveness across professions needs resources that are practical, co-designed, and grounded in lived experience. With this funding, ACOLA will build upon our Good Practice Guide to develop toolkits that embed disability responsiveness and foster inclusive communities.”
Key features of the Program
- $3 million, 3-year national initiative to embed disability responsiveness across the health, education, and justice sectors.
- Co-designed education and training Toolkits for professionals and organisations to apply inclusive, rights-based practices in real-world settings.
- A National Roadmap providing an actionable pathway to drive systemic and cultural change.
- Extensive collaboration with people with disability, professional and peak bodies, universities, and government partners.
- Alignment with Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031, reinforcing national efforts to strengthen community attitudes, inclusion, and workforce capability.
Read the Ministers release – $18 million to improve inclusion of people with disability | Health, Disability and Ageing Ministers | Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Why this matters:
People with disability continue to face systemic barriers in accessing services and participating fully in the community. This initiative aims to change attitudes and build workforce preparedness so that disability responsiveness becomes embedded in Australia’s professional culture and institutional frameworks. By improving both the mindset and capability of professionals, the Program will help ensure that disability responsiveness is not just understood but consistently practised across all levels of service delivery.
Acknowledgement
ACOLA acknowledges the leadership, expertise, and lived experience of people with disability in shaping the development of the Disability Responsiveness Toolkits and National Roadmap.
About ACOLA:
The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) is where Australia’s five Learned Academies come together to provide expert, interdisciplinary advice on issues of national importance. Through its members—the Australian Academy of Science, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Australian Academy of the Humanities, Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences —ACOLA brings together more than 3,500 of the nation’s leading experts to deliver trusted, evidence-based research that informs policy and drives innovation.
Media contact:
For interview requests with ACOLA CEO, Prerana Mehta or further information about the Disability Responsiveness Program, please contact ACOLA, Engagement Manager, Ramesha Perera at ramesha.perera@acola.org.au
