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

People with disability have the right to access public places and to have the same opportunities as others to participate in community life. To achieve this, the services and facilities provided to the community need to accommodate the access requirements of people with disability (Government of Western Australia 2024).

The physical environment can present a barrier to how some people with disability participate in community life. Public spaces, buildings and facilities may have obstacles that make moving around the community and participating in everyday activities difficult (AIHW 2024).

Improving accessibility to the built and natural environment enables everyone, regardless of age or ability, to use buildings, transport, parks and playgrounds without the need for specialised or adapted features (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031). 

Access to government buildings

To ensure that people with disability have the same opportunities as the wider population to access necessary services, government buildings need to be accessible for people with all forms of disability (Government of Western Australia 2024).

The desired key system outcome for this measure is that buildings are accessible.

Latest results: 2022

• 5.2% of people with disability had difficulty accessing government buildings in 2022. This was 3.0 percentage points lower than the proportion of people who had difficulty accessing government buildings in 2018 (8.1%), indicating an improvement since the start of the Strategy (Figure 3.5).

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Data for this measure are restricted to people with disability who need assistance or have difficulty with communication or mobility because of disability.

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 | Access to government buildings.

Accessing buildings and facilities

Buildings and outdoor spaces that are not accessible exclude people with disability from participating in work, education, and social and cultural life (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031). Avoiding everyday activities – such as going to school or work, attending events, or seeking medical help – increases the risk that people with disability will experience social isolation, which can, in turn, affect their overall health and wellbeing (AIHW 2022).

The desired population outcome for this measure is to see an increase in people with disability being able to access locations.

Latest results: 2022

• In 2022, about 3 in 4 (74%) people with disability had no difficulty accessing buildings or facilities in the last 12 months.
• This was 4.6 percentage points higher than the proportion of people with disability who had no difficulty accessing buildings or facilities in 2018 (69%), indicating an improvement since the start of the Strategy (Figure 3.6).

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Data for this measure are restricted to people with disability who need assistance or have difficulty with communication or mobility because of disability.

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 | Accessing buildings and facilities.