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Disability in Australia's Aid Program

Working With People with Disabilities in Our Region

It is widely recognised that people with disabilities are among the poorest and most vulnerable in developing countries. The United Nations estimates that approximately 10% of the world's population, or approximately 650 million people, have a disability and about 80% of the population with a disability live in developing countries (source: UN Secretariat Disability Paper E/CN.5/2008/6).

People with disabilities face many barriers to full participation in society and are likely to face an increased risk of social exclusion. This may include being unable to access education, health services, earn a living or participate in decision making. Social exclusion is a major contributor to the level of poverty which people with disabilities experience, particularly those who live in developing countries.

The Australian Government recognises that poverty is both a cause and consequence of disability and is committed to ensuring that the benefits of development reach those who are most excluded. Further, to achieve the targets set for the Millennium Development Goals and to alleviate poverty, the Government believes that people with disabilities must be actively included in development activities and processes. Therefore, people with disabilities have been identified as a priority for Australia's aid program.

The 2008-09 budget honours the Australian Government's commitment to working with people with disabilities in our region and will invest $45 million over two years to the development of a comprehensive disability strategy to guide Australia's aid program and to develop an avoidable blindness program.

Disability Strategy

AusAID, in consultation with key regional and Australian stakeholders, particularly people with disabilities and their representative organisations, is developing the Australian Government's first Disability Strategy for its overseas aid program.

The Strategy will be launched on 3 December 2008, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and will aim to drive transformational change in the way Australia's aid program is delivered. Central to this change will be the focus on people with disabilities as an inherent part of all aspects of program planning and development.

The Strategy will seek to mainstream disability through major programs, identify targeted initiatives to meet the specific needs of people with disabilities and improve our understanding of disability and its links to poverty. In recognition of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities the Strategy will also ensure that the rights of people with disabilities are respected and protected.

To assist with the development of the Disability Strategy, AusAID developed a Disability Strategy Consultation Paper which guided stakeholder discussions in the region and in Australia throughout July and August 2008 around principles, key priorities and approaches for the Strategy. AusAID thanks the many individuals, organisations and governments for their valuable contributions to the consultation process.  The deadline for responses to the Consultation Paper has now passed and we are currently analysing the submissions.  A draft of the Disability Strategy will be available on this website at the end of September 2008 for final comment.

Avoidable Blindness Initiative (ABI)

The Australian Government's commitment to address avoidable blindness in Asia and the Pacific is the Government's first initiative addressing the specific needs of people who are blind or vision impaired. According to the World Health Organization's The Right to Sight report, up to 75 per cent of blindness is preventable or treatable and more than half of the world's 160 million people who are visually impaired live in Asia and the Pacific.

AusAID is currently developing a program in consultation with regional and Australian stakeholders to improve diagnosis, prevention and treatment of vision impairments as well as strengthen existing eye care training institutions and the capacity of health care workers in the region.

Facts About Disability and Poverty
  • Disability is a growing issue in our region as a result of population growth, ageing, lifestyle diseases, conflict, malnutrition, traffic accidents, injuries, HIV/AIDS and medical advances that preserve and prolong life.
  • The United Nations estimates that approximately 10% of the world's population, or approximately 650 million people, have a disability and about 80% of the population with a disability live in developing countries.
  • As many as 50% of disabilities are preventable and directly linked to poverty
  • Disability affects not only the individual, but their families and carers too. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimates that 25% of the population in the Asia Pacific region are impacted by disability.
  • Females with a disability living in developing countries can be doubly disadvantaged due to discrimination based on both their gender and their disability.
  • Only 2% of people with a disability are estimated to have access to basic services (health and education).
  • Girls with disabilities attend school less frequently than boys with disabilities.
  • 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed.
  • For every child killed in warfare, three are injured and permanently disabled.
  • Malnutrition causes about 20% of impairments.
  • More than 10 million women a year suffer disability and long term complications as a result of pregnancy and childbirth.

    Sources: ADB, Disability, Poverty and Development, DFID UK, Disabled Women's Network Ontario, , World Health Organisation, UN, UN Population Fund

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