COTA SA welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission on the Draft State Disability Inclusion Plan 2025-2029.

Our population is ageing. In June 2020, approximately 16% of Australians were aged 65 and over and this is projected to rise to 21-23% by 2066. Our ageing population should be a major driver to ensure that older people with disability are not overlooked but actively included in South Australia’s disability inclusion efforts.

COTA SA cares deeply about ageing well and is committed to ensuring older South Australians have the opportunity, capacity and ability to navigate the changes of ageing in their place of choice. We have responded to the draft plan where we feel we can meaningfully contribute to decisions that could improve the quality of life for older South Australians for the next generation.

Embedding an Ageing Lens in the State Disability Inclusion Framework

Older South Australians represent one of the largest and most rapidly growing cohorts of people living with a disability. In 2022, 52.3% of people aged 65 years and over had a disability, compared with just 15% of people aged 0-64. Despite this demographic reality, the Draft State Disability Inclusion Plan does not explicitly acknowledge the ageing population as a priority group.

The Plan sets out a vision to ensure that no one is left behind, yet older South Australians living with a disability experience distinct and often compounding barriers, including ageism, digital exclusion and difficulties accessing appropriate services and support. Without explicit recognition, there is a risk that needs of this cohort will be overlooked. Applying an ageing lens across all population groups, domains, and actions is essential to ensure this cohort is recognised and included.

COTA SA urges the Government to adopt an ageing lens to disability inclusion reflecting the reality that disability can be acquired at any age, and that accessible, inclusive systems must evolve with people as they age.