Freedom from discrimination

What is being tracked?

Measure: Proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months

This measure is part of the Rights are protected and upheld priority of the Strategy. This priority is about protecting the rights of people with disability, decreasing discrimination, and improving access to supports that help people with disability stand up for themselves and make their own decisions.

The desired outcome is that more people with disability do not experience discrimination.

From July 2024, data about Autistic people with disability have been added to this page (see Population groups – Disability group). This is to help track outcomes under the new National Autism Strategy.

Last updated: 24 Oct 2024

Outcome area: Safety, rights and justice Priority: Rights are protected and upheld

Baseline value

90%in 2018
Latest value

90%in 2022

No change the latest data are similar to the baseline

View the data source

Trends

Has the proportion of people with disability who do not experience discrimination increased over time?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability (aged 15 and over) who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months. Data from 2015 to 2022 are used. In 2022, 90% of people with disability had not experienced discrimination due to disability, and 91% in 2015. The baseline used to track change over time was 90% in 2018.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Year	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
2015	86%	(85.0%–87.3%)
2018	84%	(83.3%–85.7%)
2022	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
2015	98%	(97.4%–98.5%)
2018	97%	(96.1%–97.4%)
2022	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
2015	91%	(90.7%–92.1%)
2018	90%	(89.7%–91.1%)
2022	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

State and territory

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary between states and territories?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability (aged 15 and over) who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, grouped by Australian states and territories. In 2022, 91% of people with disability living in New South Wales and 88% in Western Australia had not experienced discrimination due to disability (please note that results for some jurisdictions were not published due to small sample numbers and to protect confidentiality).

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

State/Territory	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
National	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
New South Wales	85%	(82.7%–88.1%)
Victoria	86%	(83.2%–88.7%)
Queensland	85%	(81.4%–88.3%)
Western Australia	86%	(79.8%–91.4%)
South Australia	80%	(73.1%–87.8%)
Tasmania	81%	(71.7%–90.6%)
Australian Capital Territory	n.p.	n.p.
Northern Territory	n.p.	n.p.
Aged 65 and over
National	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
New South Wales	96%	(94.4%–97.7%)
Victoria	97%	(94.8%–98.9%)
Queensland	95%	(92.8%–97.3%)
Western Australia	93%	(88.4%–97.8%)
South Australia	n.p.	n.p.
Tasmania	n.p.	n.p.
Australian Capital Territory	n.p.	n.p.
Northern Territory	n.p.	n.p.
Aged 15 and over
National	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)
New South Wales	91%	(89.1%–92.5%)
Victoria	90%	(88.4%–92.2%)
Queensland	90%	(87.9%–91.5%)
Western Australia	88%	(84.8%–91.6%)
South Australia	90%	(85.8%–94.4%)
Tasmania	90%	(83.5%–95.5%)
Australian Capital Territory	90%	(83.3%–97.6%)
Northern Territory	n.p.	n.p.

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Population groups

Indigenous status

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary for First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability (aged 15 and over) who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, by Indigenous status. In 2022, 80% of First Nations people with disability and 90% of non-Indigenous people with disability had not experienced discrimination due to disability.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Indigenous status	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
First Nations	79%	(71.1%–86.4%)
Non-Indigenous	85%	(83.6%–86.9%)
All persons	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
First Nations	n.p.	n.p.
Non-Indigenous	96%	(95.2%–97.0%)
All persons	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
First Nations	80%	(73.7%–86.8%)
Non-Indigenous	90%	(89.4%–91.3%)
All persons	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Sex at birth

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by sex?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability (aged 15 and over) who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, for males and females. In 2022, 91% of males with disability had not experienced discrimination due to disability, as did 89% of females.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Sex	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
Males	86%	(83.3%–88.3%)
Females	85%	(82.6%–86.7%)
All persons	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
Males	97%	(95.3%–98.5%)
Females	95%	(94.1%–96.7%)
All persons	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
Males	91%	(89.4%–92.2%)
Females	89%	(88.0%–90.7%)
All persons	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Age group

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by age?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability (aged 15 and over) who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, grouped by age. In 2022, 96% of people with disability aged 65 and over had not experienced discrimination due to disability, compared with 82% for those aged 25–44.

Age group	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
15–24	84%	(79.1%–88.5%)
25–44	82%	(78.7%–84.6%)
45–64	87%	(85.3%–89.1%)
65 and over	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
All ages	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Cultural and linguistic diversity status

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by cultural and linguistic diversity background?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability (aged 15 and over) who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) status. In 2022, 94% of people from CALD backgrounds with disability had not experienced discrimination due to disability, compared with 89% among the non-CALD group.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Cultural and linguistic diversity status	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
CALD	91%	(88.1%–94.4%)
CALD – low English proficiency	n.p.	n.p.
CALD – high English proficiency	n.p.	n.p.
Non-CALD	84%	(82.4%–85.8%)
All persons	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
CALD	97%	(95.8%–99.1%)
CALD – low English proficiency	n.p.	n.p.
CALD – high English proficiency	n.p.	n.p.
Non-CALD	96%	(94.7%–96.8%)
All persons	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
CALD	94%	(92.4%–96.0%)
CALD – low English proficiency	n.p.	n.p.
CALD – high English proficiency	n.p.	n.p.
Non-CALD	89%	(88.2%–90.4%)
All persons	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Remoteness

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by remoteness?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability (aged 15 and over) who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, grouped by remoteness. In 2022, 92% of people with disability living in outer regional and remote areas, and 89% in inner regional areas had not experienced discrimination due to disability.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Remoteness	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
Major cities	86%	(83.7%–87.6%)
Inner regional	83%	(78.9%–86.1%)
Outer regional and remote	87%	(82.9%–91.0%)
All areas	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
Major cities	96%	(94.8%–96.9%)
Inner regional	96%	(93.9%–98.3%)
Outer regional and remote	97%	(94.3%–98.9%)
All areas	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
Major cities	90%	(88.8%–91.5%)
Inner regional	89%	(86.5%–91.2%)
Outer regional and remote	92%	(89.3%–94.1%)
All areas	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Disability group

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by disability group?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability aged 15 and over who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, by disability group. In 2022, 92% of people with sensory or speech disability had not experienced discrimination due to disability, compared with 75% of people with psychosocial disability.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Disability group	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
Sensory and speech	83%	(80.4%–86.2%)
Learning and understanding	72%	(67.5%–77.1%)
Physical restriction	84%	(81.4%–85.6%)
Psychosocial	71%	(67.9%–75.0%)
Head injury, stroke or acquired brain injury	75%	(67.4%–81.8%)
Other	78%	(75.1%–80.3%)
All with disability	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
Sensory and speech	96%	(94.9%–97.5%)
Learning and understanding	92%	(87.2%–97.0%)
Physical restriction	95%	(94.6%–96.3%)
Psychosocial	88%	(83.8%–92.1%)
Head injury, stroke or acquired brain injury	91%	(84.3%–97.4%)
Other	94%	(93.0%–95.7%)
All with disability	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
Sensory and speech	92%	(90.2%–92.9%)
Learning and understanding	77%	(73.2%–80.7%)
Physical restriction	89%	(87.9%–90.4%)
Psychosocial	75%	(72.3%–78.1%)
Head injury, stroke or acquired brain injury	81%	(75.8%–86.7%)
Other	85%	(83.5%–86.7%)
All with disability	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary for Autistic and non-Autistic people?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability aged 15 and over who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, by whether they have autism. In 2022, 68% of Autistic people with disability had not experienced discrimination due to disability, compared with 90% of non-Autistic people with disability.

Please note that, in this data source, not all Autistic people are considered to have disability. Autistic people who do not report significant limitations, impairments or restrictions are considered to not have disability; these people are not reported on in this graph and table.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Autism status	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
Autistic people with disability	#70%	(58.2%–81.0%)
Non-Autistic people with disability	86%	(84.0%–87.1%)
All with disability	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
Autistic people with disability	n.p.	n.p.
Non-Autistic people with disability	96%	(94.9%–96.9%)
All with disability	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
Autistic people with disability	68%	(58.5%–78.4%)
Non-Autistic people with disability	90%	(89.5%–91.4%)
All with disability	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

# Should be used with caution: proportion has a Margin of Error (MoE) >10 percentage points and/or proportion ± MoE equals <0% or >100%.

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Severity of disability

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by severity of disability?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of people with disability aged 15 and over who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months, grouped by disability severity. In 2022, 81% of people with severe or profound disability had not experienced discrimination due to disability, compared with 94% for people with other disability status.

More detailed data by age group are shown in the table.

Severity of disability	% of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination	95% Confidence Interval
Aged 15–64
Severe or profound disability	69%	(65.7%–72.9%)
Other disability status	91%	(88.9%–92.2%)
All with disability	85%	(83.6%–86.6%)
Aged 65 and over
Severe or profound disability	93%	(90.9%–94.7%)
Other disability status	98%	(96.6%–98.5%)
All with disability	96%	(95.2%–96.9%)
Aged 15 and over
Severe or profound disability	81%	(79.1%–83.1%)
Other disability status	94%	(92.6%–94.6%)
All with disability	90%	(89.1%–91.0%)

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics – Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC) | Data source overview

Where did these data come from?

Data on experience of discrimination come from survey data collected by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Learn more about these data

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Freedom from discrimination

What is being tracked?

Baseline value

Latest value

Trends

Has the proportion of people with disability who do not experience discrimination increased over time?

State and territory

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary between states and territories?

Population groups

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary for First Nations people and non-Indigenous Australians?

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by sex?

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by age?

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by cultural and linguistic diversity background?

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by remoteness?

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by disability group?

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary for Autistic and non-Autistic people?

Does the proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination vary by severity of disability?

Where did these data come from?

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