Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework: 3rd annual report

Students with disability have the right to access and participate in education on the same basis as students without disability. They also have the right to be educated in an environment free from bullying, harassment or exclusion (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

Reducing the gaps in educational attainment between people with and without disability is essential to improve lifetime outcomes for people with disability (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

Year 10 completion

In Australia, it is mandatory for young people to complete year 10 or an approved equivalent and to continue full-time education, employment or training (or a combination) until at least age 17 under the National Youth Participation Requirement (ACARA 2024; SCRGSP 2023).

The Outcomes Framework intended to track the proportion of students with disability who complete Year 10 or equivalent. Measure wording has been revised in this report to reflect available data more accurately (see Appendix B: List of measures).

Available data do not allow reporting on students specifically. The measure is reported here as:

• Proportion of people with disability who completed Year 10 (or equivalent).

The desired population outcome for this measure is to see an increase in young people with disability completing Year 10. Reporting is restricted to people aged 20–64.

Latest results: 2022

• 9 in 10 people with disability aged 20 and over completed Year 10 (or equivalent) in 2022. This was 4 percentage points more than at baseline (2018; 86%) indicating that the measure has improved since the start of the Strategy.
• There have been period to period increases in the proportion of people with disability who completed Year 10 from 2012 to 2022 (Figure 6.2).

Things to consider when interpreting results

The currently reported measure provides a retrospective look at adults aged 20 and over who had completed Year 10, rather than providing a forecast of completion rates for students with disability, or the proportion of current enrolments who complete Year 10 in a given year.

For figure notes, see Appendix C: Figure notes and sources.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Year 10 completion.

Year 12 completion

A key measure of in the formal development of young people's skills and knowledge is completing Year 12 or an equivalent non‑school qualification (including VET qualifications) (ACARA 2024). Students who complete senior secondary education have a greater likelihood of continuing with further study or training, entering into the workforce, and improved living conditions (AIHW 2023; Department of Education 2018).

This Outcomes Framework intended to track the proportion of students with disability who complete Year 12 or equivalent. Measure wording has been revised in this report to reflect available data more accurately (see Appendix B: List of measures).

Available data do not allow reporting on students specifically. The measure is reported here as:

Proportion of people with disability who completed Year 12 (or equivalent).

The desired population outcome of this measure is to see an increase in young people with disability completing secondary school. Reporting is restricted to people aged 20–64.

Latest results: 2022

• In 2022, 58% of people with disability aged 20–64 completed Year 12 (or equivalent). This was 12 percentage points more than the proportion of people with disability who completed Year 12 at baseline (2018; 46%).
• There have been period to period increases in the proportion of people with disability who completed Year 12 from 2012 to 2022 (Figure 6.3).

Things to consider when interpreting results

• The currently reported measure provides a retrospective look at adults aged 20 and over who had completed Year 12, rather than providing a forecast of completion rates for students with disability, or the proportion of current enrolments who complete Year 12 in a given year.

For figure notes, see Appendix C: Figure notes and sources.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Year 12 completion.