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The Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA)

The Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA) (the Act) commenced on 1 July 2018. It aims to protect and promote the human rights of people with disability of all ages, and to help them reach their full potential by improving social connection and inclusion.

Since coming into effect, the Act has helped to:

  • embed the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) into South Australian policy
  • align disability inclusion efforts with national and state frameworks, such as the Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (ADS) and the SA Autism Strategy 2024–2029
  • support a coordinated and consistent approach to disability inclusion across government through the requirement for state authorities to prepare and implement a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP).

By having dedicated legislation focused on disability inclusion, South Australia sends a clear message about the importance of building a more inclusive community for people with disability.

Following a comprehensive independent review of the Act in 2022, significant amendments were passed by the South Australian Parliament in 2024 to strengthen the state’s commitment to access and inclusion. These changes introduced clearer legislative requirements, including:

  • improving language to affirm that all people with disability, regardless of age, have the right to be and feel safe
  • expanding priority groups to include people with disability who live in regional communities, people with disability who identify as LGBTIQA+, and people with significant intellectual disability or who have high levels of vulnerability due to disability
  • establishing a dedicated lived experience committee to guide the development and review of the State Plan
  • strengthening requirements for co-design, consultation and engagement with people with disability, their families and representatives in developing policies and programs
  • increasing the focus on measurable and meaningful outcomes in the State Plan
  • clarifying expectations for DAIPs to align with the State Plan and address the needs of priority groups.

This State Plan is the first to be developed under the updated legislation, marking a significant shift towards more inclusive, accountable and lived experience–driven policy in South Australia.