In partnership with consortium members Queenslanders with Disability Network and the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Autism and Intellectual Disability Health, the Centre hosted a roundtable in Queensland on 12 June, 2026.

The Queensland roundtable brought together 75 people, including people with intellectual disability, families, health professionals, researchers, advocates and government representatives.

They discussed how to improve health care for people with intellectual disability in Queensland.

The report, Summary Report Queensland Roundtable Driving Change: Better Health for People with Intellectual Disability, is now available.

The report outlines:

Key themes from speaker presentations

1. People with intellectual disability must be at the centre of their health care, visible and counted.
2. The health system must become more accessible, coordinated and responsive.
3. Building a capable workforce and specialist supports is essential.
4. Better data and system capability are critical to driving reform.
5. Sustained leadership, partnership and accountability are needed to deliver change.

What participants at the roundtable said
Participants were asked to identify key actions that could be implemented in 100 days as well as by 2028. Five key themes emerged.

1. Data is key - People with intellectual disability must be visible and counted in the health system.
2. Reasonable adjustments need to become standard practice across the patient’s healthcare journey.
3. Building consumer and workforce capability to deliver inclusive healthcare.
4. Developing specialist intellectual disability health pathways.
5. Strengthening partnerships, leadership and accountability for system reform.

Key recommendations and implementation roadmap
Based on key themes identified by the participants, a snapshot of key actions and implementation roadmap was formed.

The report recommends immediate action within 100 days, including establishing a working group on disability identifiers, planning mandatory disability training and beginning work on Disability Service Plans.

A important part of the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of these actions is to work WITH people with intellectual disability in co-design and engagement processes.

The outcome is that by 2028, Queensland should have a more connected and inclusive health system where people with intellectual disability are listened to, supported and involved in decisions about their healthcare.

Read the full report here.