Creative Australia’s vision for disability inclusion is a fair, connected and creative nation that embraces the vital and unique contributions of d/Deaf and disabled people in all aspects of culture.  

We strive for universal access because removing barriers and opening pathways benefits all of us.  

Creative Australia recognises that to deliver on our commitments, we need to challenge existing models and address barriers to cultural participation and practice, so that Australia’s cultural landscape draws on outstanding talent of all backgrounds, experiences and identities, recognising the cultural potential of each of us.  

This shift is vital to build and maintain relevance to the world, particularly our region, and to the audiences that make up contemporary Australia. We recognise this involves changing systems and ways of working, as well as new actions and strategies.   

Creative Australia Disability Action Plan 

Creative Australia is refreshing and updating our Disability Action Plan (DAP) with new and expanded actions alongside our delivery of the Australian Government Arts and Disability Associated Plan.  

Creative Australia’s new Disability Action Plan will be launched in 2025.  

Australian Government Arts and Disability Associated Plan  

In 2024 the Australian Government launched Equity: the Arts and Disability Associated Plan (ADAP), a bold four-year roadmap aimed at achieving greater equity for creatives and audiences with disability across the country. The ADAP is a call for representation and disability equity to be championed across Government and the wider arts, screen and cultural sectors, and will help deliver outcomes under Australia’s Disability Strategy. The ADAP is an action of Revive, the Australian Government’s National Cultural Policy and five-year plan to revive the arts in Australia.  

Creative Australia partnered with the Australian Government’s Office for the Arts to develop the ADAP and will deliver key actions and initiatives.  

Creative Australia’s contribution to the ADAP benefits from and builds on Creative Australia’s expanded functions and responsibilities and the new bodies that have been created, particularly the First Nations Board and Creative Workplaces.  

Find out more about Accessing Equity: The Arts and Disability Associated Plan.  

Creative Australia delivery of ADAP actions   

Creative Australia’s partnership on the ADAP includes the delivery of key actions and initiatives that expand investment in creative practice, capacity building, services and resources for accessibility and disability:   

• Expanding opportunities available to d/Deaf and disabled artists through Creative Australia’s investment, including more artists supported through our Arts and Disability Initiative.
• Recognition and professional development through the Arts and Disability Fellowship and the National Arts and Disability Awards.
• Providing dedicated opportunities for d/Deaf and disabled leadership development through our Leadership program.
• Investing in the needs of First Nations artists with disability through the Creative Australia First Nations Board.
• Investing in a Delivery Partner to provide arts and disability services to support the work of d/Deaf and disabled artists, arts workers and arts/cultural organisations.
• Commissioning a partner to deliver a National Arts and Disability forum and gathering to provide a voice for artists with disability.
• Commissioning the development of a code of practice or guideline and developing good practice resources and information on accessibility and disability for artists and organisations through Creative Workplaces.
• Understanding and communicating the value and impact of arts and disability through our research and evaluation.