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

Having limited employment opportunities can affect a person’s finances. Strengthening the financial independence of people with disability by ensuring they have an adequate income is critical to providing them with increased financial security, economic independence and an appropriate standard of living. An adequate income gives people more choice and control over their lives, enabling their participation in community life. The income support system provides an important safety net for people with disability who are unable to work or cannot find employment (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

Public sector employment

An Australian Public Service (APS) workforce that better reflects the diversity of the Australian community will help produce programs, policies and services that meet the diverse needs of the community. People with disability bring lived experiences and expertise to the workplace that can make a positive difference. Employment of people with disability creates a larger talent pool, increasing creativity, productivity and morale. Overall, this benefits the agency and all employees, not just those with disability (Australian Public Service Disability Employment Strategy 2020–2025).

The Outcomes Framework intended to track the proportion of public sector employees with disability. Public sector employees are those employed at all levels of the government: Commonwealth, state and local. Measure wording has been revised in this report to reflect available data more accurately (see Appendix B: List of measures).  

Available data do not currently allow reporting in the wider public sector. The measure is reported here as:

• Proportion of Australian Public Service employees with disability.

Data for this measure is sourced from the APS Employment Database (APSED) maintained by the Australian Public Service Commission. Data are supplied to APSED from the HR systems of APS agencies.

Revised results at baseline: December 2021

• In December 2021, 5.0% of APS employees had a disability. This was 1.5 percentage points higher than in June 2011 (3.5%).
• The overall trend for the period leading up to and including baseline (June 2011 to December 2021) was upwards (Figure 2.9). Fitting a regression model to the data shows a modelled increase of 0.08 of a percentage point every 6 months, and a modelled increase of 42% over the reference period June 2011 to December 2021 (baseline). 

Latest results: December 2023

• In December 2023, 5.2% of APS employees had disability. This was 0.2 percentage points more than at baseline (December 2021) (5.0%), indicating little change. 
• Overall, across the historical and post-baseline data there were almost consistent small increases. 

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Data on the disability status of APS employees is also included in the APS Employee Census. The 2024 APS Employee Census recorded that 12% of APS employees had disability. This is more than twice the proportion reported in the APSED data, supplied via agency human resource systems (5.2%). One factor that may be contributing to this difference is that employees may be concerned about their disability status being recorded in their agency’s HR system but comfortable providing this information in a confidential survey. 

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 | Public sector employment.

Median gross income gap

Looking at a person’s income level can provide insight into potential inequality in standard of living (AIHW 2024). This measure reports the difference in the median weekly gross income between people with disability and people without disability who are of working age (15–64 years) (ABS 2019).

The desired population outcome for this measure is to see an increase in people with disability experiencing economic independence.

Revised results at baseline: 2018

• People with disability had a median gross income of $458 per week in 2018, compared with $901 per week for people without disability. This was a median income gap of $443 per week.
• This was an increase of $74 from 2015, where the median income gap was $369 per week (Figure 2.10).

Latest results: 2022

• People with disability had a median gross income of $575 per week, compared with $1,055 per week for people without disability. This is a median income gap of $480 per week in 2022, which was $37 per week less than in 2018 at $443 per week.
• As the change between the baseline and latest value is not statistically significant, the status is indicated as no change.

Things to consider when interpreting results

• The ABS method for calculating median income has changed between 2018 and 2022 iterations and is now consistent with the method used in other ABS household surveys. People with nil income are now included in the calculation. Data for 2015 and 2018 have been re-calculated for consistency.
• Statistical methods are used to assist with determining confidence where there are 2 or more data points. For sampled (survey) data, sampling error is considered for determining whether the change is statistically significant, based on overlapping confidence intervals and z-tests. More information can be found in Appendix A: Methods.

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 | Median gross income gap.