Health

Everyone has the right to information and services to stay as healthy as possible.  Unfortunately, we know that people with an intellectual disability have much worse health outcomes than the general population. This includes dying much earlier than people without an intellectual disability. 

Through submissions, campaigns and meetings with government officials, we advocate for healthcare systems that better meet the health needs of people with an intellectual disability. 

Here you will find health resources and advocacy information from Inclusion Australia and our member organisations.

See our COVID-19 page for information about COVID-19 and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Health inequalities 

People with an intellectual disability experience many health inequalities compared with people other people. This includes: 

• 2.5 times the number of health problems 
• 38 to 50% of deaths are potentially avoidable  
• Under-diagnosis of chronic and acute health conditions 
• Dying many years earlier – 27 years earlier according to one large Australian study. 

Read the research on health inequality and people with an intellectual disability.  

Our health advocacy  

To address these health inequalities, we advocate for:  

1. Improved capacity in the mainstream health system to respond to people with an intellectual disability  

2. The establishment of a national network of specialists in healthcare for people with an intellectual disability as a consultancy and educational resource to the mainstream system 

3. Better support in the disability service system for healthy lifestyles, access to appropriate health care and implementation of health professional advice. 

Read our submission on healthcare to the Disability Royal Commission.  

Our Health Counts Campaign 

The National Roadmap  

The roadmap outlines what needs to happen to develop a health system where people with intellectual disability are:  

• valued 
• respected
• have access to high quality, timely and comprehensive health care. 

The National Roadmap is a key recommendation from the Our Health Counts Campaign.

Read the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability in Easy Read (PDF).  

The Primary Care Enhancement Program  

The National Roadmap includes the Primary Care Enhancement Program for People with Intellectual Disability. This program funds four lead Primary Health Care networks (PHN) to improve GP and other primary healthcare services for people with intellectual disability.  

Each PHN is partnered with an IA member organisation:  

1. Central and Eastern Sydney PHN – Council for Intellectual Disability  

2. Western Victoria PHN – Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability 

3. Sunshine Coast PHN – Parent2Parent   

4. Tasmania PHN – Speak Out Tasmania. 

The National Centre for Excellence   

The Australian Government have also announced funding to plan a National Centre for Excellence on the Health of People with Intellectual Disability.  

Inclusion Australia and CID are both members of the expert advisory group helping to co-design the National Centre of Excellence.  

COVID-19 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an enormous impact on all our lives. Health inequalities have increased the risks for people with intellectual disability.  

Together with other organisations, we: 

• ran webinars about the COVID-19 vaccine 
• gave evidence to the Disability Royal Commission about the vaccine rollout 
• talked to the media about the impact of the pandemic.

Read about our COVID-19 response.

Health resources from our members