Young people with disability are leading the fight for reform in Australia but are up against a “growing crisis” of broken systems, according to CYDA CEO Skye Kakoschke-Moore.
This Federal election, Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) is urging all political parties to meet young people at the table and invest in bringing down the systemic barriers holding them back.
“The stakes are higher than ever for the more than 500,000 young Australians with disability left behind every election cycle,” Ms Kakoschke-Moore said.
“Every day, children are excluded at school, families break under cost-of-living strain, and young people are pushed into unemployment and poverty. As we heard in the Disability Royal Commission, when effective safeguards aren’t there, people die.
“Addressing the systemic barriers at the heart of this must be a national priority this election – we need real solutions, and we need them now.”
Surveys conducted by CYDA biennially show students with disability regularly experience segregation, exclusion and bullying, on top of higher dropout rates at university.
Young people with disability have some of Australia’s highest unemployment rates and lowest wages, and are often stuck in insecure jobs if they can find work at all.
They face higher living costs, are more likely to live in poverty, and struggle to afford essentials like healthcare, housing, and assistive technology due in part to inadequate income supports.
“As a young person with disability navigating university and work, I’ve seen firsthand how stacked against us the system is, and the ripple that sends through our lives,” said CYDA Board Chair Ebe Ganon.
“We deserve, and are actively fighting for, the same opportunities as everybody else from day one. Without proper support, too many fall through the cracks at key transition points and are forgotten.”
Research suggests investing in children and young people with disability is not just the right thing to do but makes economic sense.
Every dollar spent on early supports for children with disability saves the NDIS at least $3 in long-term costs.
Investing in inclusive education, employment opportunities, and advocacy services similarly reduces future reliance on government services, while creating a more productive and equitable society.
“The consequences of maintaining the status quo, of prolonging this crisis, are devastating, while the benefits of reform for Australia as a whole are extensive,” said Ms Kakoschke-Moore.
“The choice is obvious. Investing in children and young people with disability is investing in our collective future.”
This election, CYDA is campaigning for reform across four key areas. It calls for commitments to:
- Build a truly inclusive education system
- Ensure a fair, safe, and accessible disability supports ecosystem
- Address the cost-of-living crisis and unemployment impacts
- Invest in individual advocacy
For more information or further comment, please contact CYDA:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (03) 9417 1025
