Disability Health Network

The Disability Health Network aims to improve health outcomes for people with disability by enabling consumers, families and carers, health professionals, hospitals, health services and the WA Department of Health to engage and collaborate effectively to facilitate health policy and increased coordination of care across the State.

Network lead and membership

The Network is led by Stephanie Coates and Jocelyn Franciscus, They are supported by an Executive Advisory Group of representatives from the Department of Communities, Health Service Providers, Mental Health Commission, non-government organisations, general practice, research, consumers, and carers.

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Network update

• Disability Health Network 2021 – 2022 Focus (PDF 136KB)
• Disability Health Network Dashboard 2020 (PDF 173KB)
• International Day of People with Disability 2020 (PDF 623KB)
• Disability Health Network Executive Advisory Group Communique (PDF 191KB).

COVID-19 resources

• Guidelines for Western Australian community-based care (PDF 477KB) – developed to support people working in the community sector who may provide care to people with suspected or confirmed COVID-19
• Disability Provider Alert – Information for people with disability about COVID-19 vaccines (external site)
• Caring for people with disability (PDF 845KB)

COVID-19 forum for people with disabilities and their supports

The State Health Incident Coordination Centre in partnership with the Disability Health Network hosted an online forum for People with Disability. We also collaborated with People with Disabilities WA, Developmental Disabilities WA and Carers WA.

The Forum was in response to people with disability and their supports seeking specific disability-related information regarding COVID-19.

The Forum included presenters from:

• The State Health Incident Coordination Centre
• WA COVID Care at Home
• National Disability Insurance Agency
• WA COVID-19 Vaccination Program
• State Welfare Incident Coordination Centre
• Office of Disability.

A recording of the event can be viewed on the WA Health training YouTube channel (external site) until Friday 11 March, 2022. There is also an Auslan version of the video (external site).

Requests for the written transcript or Auslan inclusion can be directed to healthpolicy@health.wa.gov.au

WA Disability Health Framework 2015 – 2025

The WA Disability Health Framework will help health services to consider disability issues when developing policy and designing services, which will lead to improved health outcomes for people with disability.

The Framework was developed by the Disability Health Network using a consultative approach.

• WA Disability Health Framework 2015–2025 (Second Edition) (PDF 963KB)
• WA Disability Health Framework Companion Resource (Second Edition) (PDF 500KB)
• WA Disability Health Framework 2015–2025 animation (external site)
  

  Created in partnership with Medical Illustrations at Royal Perth, this animation aims to educate health staff regarding how to work with people with disability and raise awareness of the Framework as an integral tool to support service planning and delivery.

• Disability Health Network Commitment to Inclusive Engagement