Intellectual Disability Health Capability Framework

The National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability was developed to address the serious health inequities faced by people with intellectual disability. Approximately 450,000 people in Australia live with intellectual disability and face barriers in accessing high quality health care. Key goals of the roadmap included improving oral health for people with intellectual disability and supporting dental professionals to deliver quality care for this population.

The Department of Health and Aged Care published the Intellectual Disability Health Capability Framework (the framework) in April 2024 following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including the ADC. The framework sets out clear capabilities, learning outcomes and guides for universities and accreditation authorities. The aim of the framework is to improve education and training for health students and develop graduates with the required capabilities to provide the highest quality care to people with intellectual disability.

The project team at UNSW Sydney will continue to curate and develop intellectual disability health resources to support the integration of the framework into accreditation standards and health professional pre-registration education curricula. This will involve consultation and co-design with people with intellectual disability in addition to stakeholder engagement, with the project scheduled for delivery by mid-2025.

The ADC will consider the framework in future reviews of the Accreditation Standards and Professional Competencies. In the interim, we encourage education providers to consider the framework and apply its principles throughout their programs.