From Roadmap to action

What next on the health of people with intellectual disability?

In February 2022, CID and our campaign partners will launch a pre election campaign for implementation of the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability.

CID Chairperson Fiona McKenzie has called for urgent action to address the terrible health inequalities suffered by people with intellectual disability. She says, “Too many people with intellectual disability are dying too young and from preventable causes. The federal government has taken some good first steps and now is the time to fix the problem. One thing that we need right now is a national centre to lead action.”

In response to our campaign before the last federal election, Health Minister Greg Hunt told his department to work with the intellectual disability and health communities and write a Roadmap for action.

While the Roadmap was being developed, the Government showed its commitment by funding $19 million of first steps. (Refer to Our Health Counts campaign for more information)

Mr. Hunt launched the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability in August 2021.  This committed the Government to comprehensive action over the next 10 years, with many of the reforms in the first three years.

At the launch, Mr. Hunt also committed to providing long-term funding for a national centre of excellence in the health of people with intellectual disability. This centre would be a vital driver of action on the Roadmap including by leading research and development of best practice and being a hub of health information and training resources for people with intellectual disability, their supporters and health professionals.

CID applauds Mr. Hunt for the ongoing commitment he has shown. On 9 February, we are meeting with him and will urge him to ensure funding for the centre of excellence before the federal election, which is due by May 2022.

Our campaign will also seek commitment to the Roadmap and the centre of excellence from the Labor Party, Greens and other parties.

We will formally launch our campaign in February. Watch out on the Campaigns section of our website and our Facebook page.

This campaign is a partnership between CID and Inclusion Australia in collaboration with Down Syndrome Australia, the Australian Association of Developmental Disability Medicine and the Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN) at UNSW Sydney.

CID’s Advocacy Team

Jim Simpson, Senior Advocate