Focus area 4 – Improving access to mainstream services through better systems and process

On this page

Goal

Policies, processes and models of care enable high quality, safe, person-centred care for people with disability.

By

a) Expanding our strategic focus on disability health

Action 1: Advocate for better interface systems to improve access to health services for people with disabilities as part of the National Health Reform Agreement

Responsible: Government Relations Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: NSW Health’s priorities included in the Final Addendum.


Action 2: Scope opportunities for action to respond to the needs of LGBTIQ+ people with disability under the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022 – 2027

Responsible: Social Policy and Health Equity Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measures: NSW LGBTI Health Strategy Needs Assessment Report reviewed. LGBTIQ+ Strategy Implementation Committee and LGBTIQ+ Community of Practice consulted. Actions identified.

Priority group: LGBTIQ+ people with disability.


Action 3: Consider people living with disability during Prevention, Preparation, Response, Recovery activities, working with NSW and Commonwealth emergency sector, peak bodies where appropriate, and government agencies. Including work on the:

  • Key strategic emergency management policies for NSW Health such as NSW HEALTHPLAN
  • National Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction
  • Contributing to the Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness projects: Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (Old) | Collaborating 4 Inclusion

Responsible: System Management Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Considerations for people living with disability in emergency management policy and procedures.


Action 4: Scope potential projects through the Health and Wellbeing Sector Committee for priority action on Closing the Gap, recognising the needs of Aboriginal people living with disability

Responsible: Centre for Aboriginal Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Work identified and planned.

Priority group: Aboriginal people with disability.


Action 5: Partner with First Peoples Disability Network to inform NSW’s response to the final report of the independent National Review of First Nations Health Care in Prisons

Responsible: Centre for Aboriginal Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Work Input provided and planned.

Priority group: Aboriginal people with disability.


Action 6: Delivery of NSW Health’s Intellectual Disability Mental Health Strategy, to articulate service development priorities that respond to the needs of people with intellectual disability and co-occurring mental health needs

Responsible: Mental Health Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Strategy published.

Priority group: People with intellectual disability.


Action 7: Include consideration of disability in updated Paediatric Services Plan

Responsible: Healthy Families and Communities Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Services Plan includes consideration of children and families with disability.

Priority group: Children with disability.


Action 8: Include strategies/actions that respond to the needs of people with disability in:

  • NSW Health First 2000 Days Framework
  • NSW Women’s Health Framework
  • NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022 – 2027
  • Implementing the next NSW Health Cancer Plan
  • NSW Health Policy Directive Respectful Maternity Care

Responsible:

Years due: 2026-2029

Measures: Strategies/actions included and actioned – or Resources accessible on the NSW Health website – or Activity to address the identified needs of people with a disability in the implementation of the NSW Cancer Plan.

Priority groups: Women with disability. Children with disability. LGBTIQ+ people with disability.


Action 9: Participate in whole of NSW Government Disability Review Delivery Group and Steering Committee

Responsible: Workforce Planning and Talent Development Branch and Deputy Secretary, People, Culture and Governance Division, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Number meetings – actions.


Action 10: Develop and implement the first eHealth NSW Disability Inclusion Plan as part of the eHealth NSW Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Strategy

Responsible: eHealth NSW

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Developed and implemented.


Action 11: Review the NSW Health Seclusion and Restraint in NSW Health Settings Policy Directive (PD2020_004) including consideration of additional practices outlined in the Disability Royal Commission recommendations

Responsible: Mental Health Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2027

Measure: Review completed.


b) Improving our evidence base to inform policies, processes and models of care

Action 1: Scope development of Patient Reported Measure surveys to improve access for people with disability to highlight their self-reported outcomes and experience

Responsible: Agency for Clinical Innovation

Year due: 2028

Measure: Addition of PRM surveys that support people with disability on HOPE Patient/Carer Stories with feedback on their experience of PRMs.


Action 2: Support the development of the National Disability Data Asset to better understand the health outcomes of people with disability

Responsible: Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence

Year due: 2026

Measure: NDDA milestones met.


Action 3: Collaborate on Macquarie University research on accessible Patient Reported Experience Measures for people with intellectual disability

Responsible: Bureau of Health Information

Year due: 2027

Measure: Research findings.

Priority group: People with intellectual disability.


Action 4: Review how data sharing through the Australian National Data Integration Infrastructure may support data analyses by NSW Health

Responsible: System Information and Analytics Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2027

Measure: Review findings.


Action 5: Review consistency and quality of data capture specifically surrounding people with a disability

Responsible: System Information and Analytics Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Number of records supplied with NDIS Status, disability or impairment status provided (an increase from previous).


Action 6: Support the collection of data required for the National Disability Data Asset Council

Responsible: System Information and Analytics Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Data collected.


Action 7: Consider Epic Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR) functionality to support people living with a disability access NSW Health service including an identifier, accessible format, options for custom reporting

Responsible: Single Digital Patient Record Implementation Authority

Year due: 2026

Measure: Functions identified and incorporated.


Action 8: Consult Social Policy and Health Equity Branch for subject matter expertise to inform the NSW Health response to the Attorney General on coronial recommendations relating to patients with a disability

Responsible: System Information and Analytics Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: As needed - Consulted to inform NSW Health response to the Attorney General.


Action 9: Scope best practice to inform disability health care including literature review and consultation

Responsible: Social Policy and Health Equity Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Developed – next steps.


Action 10: Participate in the Vax4Health research project

Responsible: Health Protection NSW Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Research outputs.


c) Improving access to health care and preventative health care

Action 1: Support documentation of a model of care describing an outpatient multidisciplinary service for procedures under sedation/quiet pathway for people with a disability

Responsible: Agency for Clinical Innovation

Year due: 2026

Measure: Draft model of care - principles established.


Action 2: Work with Kirby Institute (UNSW) on co-design project Vax4Health to strengthen school vaccination programs for high school students with intellectual disability and/or autism

Responsible: Agency for Clinical Innovation

Year due: 2026

Measure: Project outputs including delivery of co-design workshops, practice framework.

Priority groups: Children with disability. People with intellectual disability.


Action 3: Strengthen formal recording of a person’s disability and their adjustment requirements through collaboration with Local Health District dentistry services to improve identification and response to the needs of patients with disability

Responsible: Centre for Oral Health Strategy

Year due: 2026

Measures: Proportion of positive Patient Reported Outcome Measures and Patient Reported Experience Measures completed in relevant local health districts.


Action 4: Maintain specialist vaccination services for people with a disability through memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance (NCIRS)

Responsible: Health Protection NSW Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Services providing specialist vaccination for people with disability.


Action 5: Identify strategies to support immunisation providers to increase vaccination coverage or improve access to vaccination services

Responsible: Health Protection NSW Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Strategies- implemented.


Action 6: Fund Full Stop Australia to respond to the needs of women with disability as part of the Priority Populations Project to improve accessibility of the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline for priority population groups

Responsible: Healthy Families and Communities Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measures: Systems established for women with disability to inform service delivery design and implementation. Implemented evaluation framework to measure and monitor accessibility of NSW Sexual Violence Helpline. Findings of the evaluation.

Priority group: Women with disability.


Action 7: Scope and implement response to the Review of NSW Health Care Interpreter Services (through the Review Implementation Committee) that responds to linguistically diverse people with disability including consultation with disability peak organisation/people with lived experience

Responsible: Social Policy and Health Equity Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Action identified and implemented.

Priority group: People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds with disability.


Action 8: Engage with NSW Health Care Interpreter Services and relevant stakeholders to increase awareness of free, confidential and professional AUSLAN interpreters across NSW Health

Responsible: Social Policy and Health Equity Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2027

Measure: Resources and information circulated.


Action 9: Increase use of the ASQ-TRAK by the Out-of-Home Care Health Pathway Program for identifying areas of concern for Aboriginal children (aged 5 and under)

Responsible: Healthy Families and Communities Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Increased completion of ASQ-TRAK.

Priority groups: Children with disability. Aboriginal children with disability.


Action 10: Promote use of digital health solutions including virtual care technologies to access healthcare

Responsible: Agency for Clinical Innovation

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Identified resources and initiatives.


Action 11: Dissemination of findings from the My ED research study, which will co design a model of care for people with a disability

Responsible: Agency for Clinical Innovation

Year due: 2028

Measures: Number of distribution rounds. Number of recipients.


Action 12: Implement action in response to evaluation recommendations to support more consistent and efficient delivery of the NSW Health Intellectual Disability Health Service

Responsible: Social Policy and Health Equity Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2027-2029

Measures: Actions implemented including - update the IDHS Operational Guideline to include examples of best practice, include the Intellectual Disability Health Service as a target audience in the NSW Health Disability Inclusion Communication Plan, support the IDHS to build and strengthen relationships with Aboriginal communities, organisations and services.

Priority group: People with intellectual disability.


Action 13: Scope and develop an alternate reporting procedure for the deaths of patients living in disability group homes (who fall within the scope of section 24 of the Coroners Act 2009) whose deaths were the result of administration of a voluntary assisted dying substance

Responsible: Chief Health Office Strategic Programs Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measures: Alternate reporting procedure is in place and can be accessed for patients in disability group homes.


Action 14: Drive accessible health service responses to people with disability experiencing violence abuse and neglect (VAN) in Phase 2 of VAN Redesign Program implementation

Responsible: Healthy Families and Communities Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2028

Measures: Disability inclusion incorporated in VAN Redesign Phase 2 goals and actions. Disability inclusion considered in future program evaluations.

Priority group: Women with disability.


d) Communicating in ways that everybody can understand

Action 1: Improve the accessibility of HealthStats NSW through transition to a new format, simpler language and indicator commentary content

Responsible: Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence

Year due: 2026

Measure: Completed.


Action 2: Develop accessible versions of key public facing information, examples include Easy Read, plain English, Braille, large print, audio, and video with sign language interpretation by:

Responsible: As per Action

Years due: 2026-2029

Measures: Number and type of Easy Read and accessible versions available/published - or User feedback – or Proportion of digital assets/information meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines -or Proportion of new communications assets developed in line with NSW Health Accessible Communications Framework -or Increased access/use of accessible communications materials.


Action 3: Promote the NSW Health Education Centre Against Violence’s disability resources for people who have been sexually assaulted through health services and partner agencies

Responsible: Healthy Families and Communities Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measures: Plan developed. Number of page hits.

Priority group: Women with disability.


Action 4: Ensure routinely published reports and other data dashboards are developed with accessibility principles considered

Responsible: System Information and Analytics Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Number of reports produced that have identified accessibility options:

  • Visual
  • Physical navigation

Action 5: Raise awareness and educate staff about the Accessible Communications Policy and the online resource hub

Responsible: Strategic Communications and Engagement Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measures: Digital metrics of the resource hub; engagement metrics; open rates of staff newsletters and communication toolkits.


Action 6: Facilitate the Accessible Communications Community of Practice to support the development of accessible communications

Responsible: Strategic Communications and Engagement Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measures: Engagement metrics; actions or initiatives arising out of meetings.


Action 7: Update the State Preparedness and Response website to improve the accessibility of emergency response information provided for people living with disability

Responsible: System Management Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Improvements made to website.


Action 8: Ensure all NSW Health websites migrating to nsw.gov.au as part of the OneCX program are accessible and inclusive by design and meet WCAG 2.1 to an AA standard

Responsible: Strategic Communications and Engagement Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measures: Digital metrics.


Action 9: Engage Auslan interpreters at media events, where possible

Responsible: Strategic Communications and Engagement Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Number of media events with Auslan interpreter present.


Action 10: Adapt the visual identity system to continue to adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 to an AA standard (as needed)

Responsible: Strategic Communications and Engagement Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measures: Digital metrics; social media analytics.


Action 11: Develop resources for people with disability and for carers of people with disabilities - Improving the oral health of people with disabilities project

Responsible: Centre for Oral Health Strategy

Year due: 2028

Measure: Resources developed.


Action 12: Provide accessible resources for people with disability including about access to abortion and advance care planning

Responsible: Social Policy and Health Equity Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Resources published on NSW Health website.

Priority group: Women with disability.


Action 13: Use inclusive language and images of people with a disability when developing Health Protection NSW resources, as appropriate

Responsible: Health Protection NSW, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Examples of new Easy English and/or accessible resources and resources including inclusive images.


Action 14: Enhance how we communicate Alcohol and Other Drugs harm reduction messaging for people with disability

Responsible: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Resources developed and drug alerts reviewed ensuring accessibility.


e) Including the voices of people with disability in governance structures and processes

Action 1: Develop guidance for NSW Health on inclusive governance groups and engagement practices

Responsible:

Year due: 2026

Measures: Resources developed. Number of distribution rounds. Number of recipients.


Action 2: Consult people with disability on the regional health Governance groups

Responsible: Regional Health Division

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Feedback taken into account in providing advice on making services accessible and welcoming.


Action 3: Support People Partners

Responsible: Clinical Excellence Commission

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Number of engagements with People Partners living with disability.


Action 4: NSW Health Consumer, Carer, and Community Advisory Council will respond to system wide issues for people with disability as referred

Responsible: System Performance, Evaluation and Economics Branch, Ministry of Health

Years due: 2026-2029

Measure: Number of referrals received relating to disability.


Action 5: Review NSW Ambulance consumer feedback survey tools and processes to improve accessibility for consumers with disability

Responsible: NSW Ambulance

Year due: 2027

Measures: Review undertaken. Results shared with Executive Leadership Team. Action plan developed for 2025-26.


Action 6: Develop resources on how to build inclusive documents, meetings, events and other materials

Responsible: System Performance, Evaluation and Economics Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measures: Published on intranet. Promoted by Disability and Inclusion and Learning and Development teams.


Action 7: Include disability representation on the NSW Health Young People’s Advisory Council

Responsible: Healthy Families and Communities Branch, Ministry of Health

Year due: 2026

Measure: Member on Advisory Council.

Priority group: Young people with disability.


Action 8: Enhance connections between people with disability, advocates and the disability sector with the AOD sector to engage in reciprocal learning opportunities to improve access

Responsible: Centre for Alcohol and Other Drugs

Years due: 2026-2029

Measures: Establishment of formal connection with disability sector. Number of workshop/forum inclusive of disability advocates and/or disability workforce.


Current as at: Wednesday 12 August 2026
Contact page owner: Activity Based Management