Disability News and Support for Australia and New Zealand
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Nov 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Disability news, statistics, and support information for Australia and New Zealand, including the Disability Support Pension, Centrelink services, and eligibility.
At a Glance
- 1 - In 2022, 5.5 million Australians, or 21.4 percent of the population, had disability.
- 2 - Australia's Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031 is the national framework for improving the lives of people with disability.
- 3 - The National Disability Insurance Scheme, launched in 2013, funds supports for people with permanent and significant disability.
- 4 - To qualify for the Disability Support Pension, an impairment must rate at least 20 points on the impairment tables set out in Social Security Law.
Topic Definition
- Disability Support Pension
The Disability Support Pension is an Australian government payment for people whose physical, intellectual, or psychiatric impairment prevents them from working, as well as for those who are permanently blind. To qualify, a person generally needs to be aged 16 or over and under Age Pension age, be assessed as unable to work or be retrained for at least 15 hours a week within two years, and reach an impairment rating of at least 20 points on the impairment tables contained in Social Security Law. Most applicants must also have lived in Australia as a resident for a total of ten years, or have acquired their disability while an Australian resident. Delivered through Centrelink, the pension sits alongside a wider network of services and programs that help people who are ill, injured, or living with a disability plan for work and the future, and in certain cases the payment can continue even while a recipient travels or lives outside Australia.
Overview
Disability News from Australia and New Zealand
There is a need for continued commitment at all levels of Government for the pursuit of full participation and equality for people with disabilities. Significant progress is being made to improve the quality of life and equity of access for Australian people with disabilities, and Australia's developments may serve as a model to other countries in the subregion.
Over recent decades, in partnership with organizations of people with disabilities and other concerned agencies, the Australian governments at all levels (Federal, State, and Local) have been involved in the development of policy, legislation, and service provision.
Services and Programs
The Australian government provides a range of services and programs for people who are ill, injured, or have a disability. Centrelink services assist individuals looking for work and planning for their future. The Australian Disability Support Pension is a payment for people whose physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment prevents them from working, or for people who are permanently blind.
Your illness, injury, or disability must also attract an impairment rating of at least 20 points on the impairment tables. These impairment tables, contained in the Social Security Law, rate a person's impairment according to the severity of medical conditions and how they affect their ability to work.
You may receive a Disability Support Pension if you have an illness, injury, or disability, and you are:
- Aged 16 or over and under Age Pension age or Permanently blind.
- Assessed as not being able to work or be retrained for work of at least 15 hours per week within two years because of your illness, injury, or disability.
- Participating in the Supported Wage System (SWS).
- In most cases, you must have lived in Australia for a total of 10 years as an Australian resident, or your disability occurred while you were an Australian resident.
- Disability Support Pension may be paid outside Australia for a certain period (in some cases indefinitely).
- A medical examination may be needed to confirm how long people may be paid.
- Disability support pensioners considering traveling outside Australia must contact Centrelink before leaving the country.
- Disability Assistance in Australia - The Salvation Army provides support and accommodation services for the disabled in many parts of Australia.
Disability in Australia
- In 2022, 5.5 million Australians, or 21.4 percent of the population, had disability, up from 4.4 million (17.7 percent) in 2018 [Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2024].
- The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), launched in 2013, funds supports for people with permanent and significant disability.
- Australia's Disability Strategy 2021 to 2031 is the national framework for improving the lives of people with disability, replacing the National Disability Strategy 2010 to 2020.
- In 2012 to 2013, an estimated 312,539 Australians used disability support services, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
- The aging of the population means more people are living with disability, including severe or profound limitations.
Australian Disability Statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Disability Support Pension in Australia?
Eligibility generally requires being aged 16 or over and under Age Pension age, or permanently blind, along with an impairment that prevents working at least 15 hours a week and meets residency and medical criteria.
What is Centrelink?
Centrelink is the Australian government service that delivers payments and support, helping people who are looking for work, planning for the future, or living with an illness, injury, or disability.
Can the Disability Support Pension be paid while living overseas?
In some cases the pension can be paid outside Australia for a certain period or even indefinitely, but pensioners must contact Centrelink before leaving the country.
What is the impairment rating used for the pension?
The impairment tables in Social Security Law rate a person's condition by severity and its effect on their ability to work, and a rating of at least 20 points is generally needed to qualify.
What support exists for spinal cord injuries in Australia?
Australia sees between 300 and 400 new spinal cord injuries each year, and specialized health, rehabilitation, and disability services help those affected manage daily life.
What is the Supported Wage System?
The Supported Wage System allows people with a disability to work for wages matched to their productivity, and participating in it can form part of Disability Support Pension eligibility.
Where can disabled people find accommodation support in Australia?
Organizations such as The Salvation Army provide support and accommodation services for people with disabilities in many parts of Australia.
What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme?
The National Disability Insurance Scheme, or NDIS, is an Australian government program launched in 2013 that funds supports for people with a permanent and significant disability. People generally must be under 65 when they apply, and the scheme now supports more than 600,000 participants.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2024). Disability, ageing and carers, Australia: Summary of findings, 2022.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: