On 2 August 2019, the Government convened a roundtable of people with intellectual disability and their family members, academic experts and health care providers across a range of disciplines to discuss the challenges facing people with intellectual disability in accessing appropriate health care, and the opportunities to improve the system.

The roundtable identified key elements of a national roadmap for improving the health of Australians with intellectual disability. The national roadmap will identify:

• better models of care for people with intellectual disability and their families;
• better support for health professionals to provide better care for people with intellectual disability; and
• research, data and measurement to support continuing improvement.

As well as identifying practical ways to improve health care for this group, the national roadmap will increase recognition that people living with intellectual disability have the right to the same quality and access to health services as every other Australian.

A key priority of the roadmap will be a Primary Care Enhancement Program, to be developed through four lead Primary Health Networks (PHNs) over the next four years, with a view to national rollout across all PHNs.

A second roundtable will be held in early 2020 to further develop the roadmap.

Roundtable on the Health of People with Intellectual Disability: Summary and Recommendations (Word 130 KB)

Roundtable on the Health of People with Intellectual Disability: Summary and Recommendations (PDF 480 KB)