Agenda for Action: Disability supports for older Victorians 2025-2029

On 23 June, COTA and SRV released an Agenda for Action calling on the Victorian and Australian Governments, alongside leaders in the ageing and disability sectors, to commit to a coordinated, five-year action plan to improve disability supports for older Victorians and their carers. 

Carers Victoria worked closely with COTA Victoria and SRV along with other peak bodies in the community sector to develop the Agenda for Action. We will continue to support work by COTA and SRV to help generate wider support and momentum around the proposed actions.  

Find out more about the Agenda for Action: Disability supports for older Victorians 2025-2029 | COTA Victoria 

The Agenda for Action: Disability Supports for Older Victorians 2025-2029  identifies policy gaps and service frameworks that disadvantage older Victorians with disability, leaving them to navigate fragmented service systems and face high out-of-pocket expenses. While the NDIS has transformed lives and set a high benchmark for quality support, those who acquire or live with disability beyond the NDIS age threshold often encounter significant barriers to comparable assistance.   Many carers have told us that navigating the service system to ensure the person they care for can access the supports they need is a major challenge. 

One in ten Victorians are unpaid carers to a family member or friend living with a disability or condition related to physical health, mental health, and/or age. About 25% of these carers are aged over 65 and may have a disability or care needs of their own. Carers are almost twice as likely to have a disability than Australians who are not in care roles, including around 45% of primary carers. 

Carers Victoria contributed advice and input to the Agenda for Action focussed on the specific needs and issues for carers.  Part of our advocacy to respond to the issues carers tell us are most pressing for them is to partner with other community sector partners to ensure the carer perspective is front and centre. The Agenda for Action proposes practical actions to drive meaningful change, organised under six key themes, with theme 5 specifically focussed on carers: 

1. Voice, advocacy, and representation – enabling genuine participation by older people with disability in policy development and service design. 
2. Specialist disability services – ensuring access to high-quality, fit-for-purpose disability supports beyond the NDIS. 
3. NDIS and My Aged Care system interface – addressing gaps across systems to provide a more equitable, connected support pathway. 
4. Mainstream community services – promoting universal design and inclusive access across all service areas. 
5. Carer supports – recognising the essential role of unpaid carers and strengthening formal supports. 
6. Safeguarding and preventing abuse – embedding protections to uphold the rights, dignity, and safety of older people with disability. 

We will continue to work closely with COTA, SRV and others to put a spotlight on this issue and the need for improved responses by the Commonwealth and State Governments.