Safety, rights and justice

Outcome: The rights of people with disability are promoted, upheld and protected, and people with disability feel safe and enjoy equality before the law.

Why is this outcome area important?

People with disability are experts in their own lives and have the same rights as people without disability (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031). Community acceptance of the rights and experiences of people with disability will maximise individual power and autonomy – and support economic participation, social inclusion, safety and equality (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

People with disability are at greater risk of experiencing violence than people without disability (DRC 2021). They can also face discrimination on the basis of disability and barriers in exercising their rights before the law (AIHW 2022).

People with disability often face multiple barriers making complaints about services and service providers, particularly in cases of violence, neglect and abuse. These barriers include lack of experience in asserting their rights as consumers, fear of retribution, negative experiences with complaints systems (including not being believed) and difficulty in communicating what happened (DSS 2016). Advocacy plays an important role in upholding the rights of people with disability.

What are the policy priorities?

  1. Safety from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation: People with disability are safe and feel safe from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
  2. Trauma-informed policy, processes and programs: Policies, processes and programs provide better responses to people with disability who have experienced trauma.
  3. Violence against women and their children: Policies, processes and programs for people with disability promote gender equality and prevent violence against groups at heightened risk, including women and their children.
  4. Rights are protected and upheld: The rights of people with disability are promoted, upheld and protected.
  5. Access to justice: People with disability have equal access to justice.
  6. Equitable treatment in criminal justice system: The criminal justice system responds effectively to the complex needs and vulnerabilities of people with disability.

Launch measures

Data for 4 policy priorities under this outcome area are available for 4 system measures, and 5 population measures (Table 4.1). For future measures requiring development, see Future measures.

Table 4.1: Safety, rights and justice reference guide
Policy priority Launch measure Baseline time point Baseline value Latest time point Latest value Change since baseline Progress status

Safety from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation

Number of complaints related to abuse and neglect per 1,000 NDIS participants (system measure)

2021–22

1.5 complaints per 1,000 NDIS participants

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Safety from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation

Proportion of adults with disability aged 18 years and over who have experienced violence since age 15, compared with adults without disability‡ (population measure)

2016

47.0%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Trauma-informed policy, processes and programs

Proportion of people with disability who experienced assault and sought advice or support after the most recent incident (population measure)

2016

51.6%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Violence against women and their children

Proportion of SHS clients with disability experiencing domestic and family violence who are provided assistance for accommodation when needed‡(a) (system measure)

2020–21

82.3%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Violence against women and their children

Proportion of women with disability aged 18 years and over who have experienced family or domestic violence since age 15, compared with women without disability‡ (population measure)

2016

44.5%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Rights are protected and upheld

Proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decision‡ (system measure)

2020–21

62.2%

2021–22

58.8%

–3.4 pp

Regress ‡‡

Rights are protected and upheld

Proportion of complaints related to disability discrimination lodged with the AHRC that are successfully resolved by conciliation‡ (system measure)

2020–21

72.0%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Rights are protected and upheld

Proportion of people with disability who have not experienced discrimination due to disability in the last 12 months (population measure)

2018

90.4%

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

n.a.

Rights are protected and upheld

Proportion of NDIS participants who feel able to advocate (stand up) for themselves (population measure)

2021–22 Q2

37.3%

2021–22 Q4

37.2%

–0.1 pp

No change

‡ Measure wording has been revised to reflect available data more accurately or clarify the measure’s intent. See relevant measure section below for more information.

‡‡ Confidence status: care should be taken when looking at the reported progress status for this measure as there is some uncertainty in the data.

n.a. – not available; pp – percentage points; SHS – specialist homelessness services; AHRC – Australian Human Rights Commission.

  1. This measure will be replaced in the future by ‘Proportion of domestic and family violence services that are accessible and inclusive for women with disability’.
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