The Tasmanian Government has today released the Disability Health Strategy, which will play a critical role in ensuring that people with disability in Tasmania have access to high-quality, inclusive public health services.
The Strategy is informed by the voices and lived experiences of the Tasmanian disability community, and reflects state and national reform directions for disability services.
This includes the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, and the Independent Review of the Թվ Disability Insurance Scheme.
Minister for Health, Jacquie Petrusma, said the Strategy is an important milestone in supporting positive health outcomes for Tasmanians with disability.
“The Disability Health Strategy is our commitment to improving how we provide healthcare to people with disability in Tasmania, and how we engage with their families and carers, advocates and providers of disability support,” Minister Petrusma said.
“I would like to thank everyone who participated in the community consultation on the Strategy. Your insights were integral to the development of the Strategy, and will guide us in improving how we deliver health services to the disability community both now and into the future.”
Minister for Disability Services, Jo Palmer, said all Tasmanians deserve to access health care which is suited to their needs.
“We are absolutely committed to improving the lives of the one in four Tasmanians who live with disability,” Minister Palmer said.
“We acknowledge that people with disability face a range of barriers in accessing quality health care and the Disability Health Strategy aims to assist our Government in addressing this.”
The Disability Health Strategy will focus on providing quality health services, improving the accessibility of our infrastructure, empowering decision-making, building our workforce and improving our information systems and processes.
It will be implemented through a series of action plans, with the first action plan released alongside the Strategy including foundational actions for the Department of Health to implement by the end of 2025.
As part of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future, our Government is committed to helping develop strong communities for all Tasmanians.
