Report on Barriers and Issues in Health Advocacy for People with Disability
19 November 2025
PWDA contributed to the report for the Long-Term Health Advocacy Working Group (the Working Group) – Barriers and Issues in Health Advocacy for People with Disability.
This report can be used by the both the disability and health sectors to support health advocacy for people with disability.
About the Report
The Working Group, established by the Disability and Health Sector Consultation Committee (DHSCC), was tasked with identifying the key issues relating to health advocacy for people with disability.
The report draws on evidence from Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (DRC), national reviews, stakeholder input, and lived experience to inform DHSCC members and relevant stakeholders about the key advocacy barriers affecting people with disability across all health settings.
It distinguishes between individual and systemic advocacy issues and outlines opportunities for improvements.
The report does not make policy or budget recommendations but identifies areas for influence and action by DHSCC member organisations.
The report covers:
- The importance of health advocacy
- Individual advocacy barriers
- System advocacy barriers, and
- Next Steps for Consideration