We have provided input into the Australian Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) Bill, pushing for people with intellectual and other disabilities to be a priority focus.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control (ACDC) Bill is a document that says the Government should establish a Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
The aim of the CDC will be to improve Australia's response and preparedness for public health emergencies. We think that the ACDC Bill can help shape better health outcomes for people with intellectual disability in public health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic was an example of a public health emergency.
In our submission we made three recommendations. They are:
1. To make sure there is fairness in disease control for disadvantaged populations and to take account of intersectional disadvantage. We list population groups including:
- First Nations people
- People with intellectual and other disabilities
- People with mental illnesses
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- LGBTQIA+ people
2. To include the health of people with intellectual and other disabilities.
3. That the CDC is informed by reference groups that focus on the needs of disadvantages populations including people with disability.
You can read our submission here. Please note, it is not in Plain English.
