Disability-inclusive development is a priority for Australia’s international engagement and is an important cross-cutting theme for the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security. Disability-inclusive development provides opportunities for people with disabilities to participate on an equal basis to others and realise their full potential. This enables countries to harness the potential contribution of all citizens, maximising opportunities for poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth.
In designing investments, the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security has sought to identify entry points for strengthening approaches to disability inclusion and strategic opportunities to improve outcomes for people with disabilities. While there is limited published evidence on infectious disease risk and the impact of outbreaks on people with disabilities, the Centre and investment partners are committed to ensuring that people with disabilities are not left behind in workforce development opportunities for health security, or in response efforts to emerging infectious diseases and health emergencies. In health security, opportunities exist through partnerships with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), inclusive training, disaggregation of surveillance data, more accessible health information and deeper epidemiological analysis.
More about Australia’s commitment to disability-inclusive development can be found here.