The Centre has written to federal, state and territory health ministers about the 2026-2031 addendum to the National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA).
The NHRA is an agreement between the Australian government and the states and territories about public hospitals and health services.
The NHRA says that "all governments will strive to eliminate differences in health status of those groups currently experiencing poor health outcomes relative to the wider community".
The Centre is asking ministers to live up to this commitment.
People with intellectual disability have some of the worst health outcomes of any population group in Australia.
People with intellectual disability also use hospitals and health services more than other people.
The NHRA is an opportunity to change the health system so that they can live as healthy lives as other people.
The Centre sees 3 things that can be done so that the NHRA addendum helps people with intellectual disability:
- Make sure that people with intellectual disability are identified in health data so that health professionals can better help them and the system can better support them.
- Try out better models of care and then making widely available.
- Train health professionals throughout their careers to better care for people with intellectual disability.
Link to the letter coming soon.
