Australia has made visible progress in disability inclusion within education. Yet despite momentum, systemic challenges still hold back full change.
Signs of momentum
The University of Sydney was recognised in the Impact 25 Disability Confidence Awards as a leader in access and inclusion. More than 520 Victorian teachers have gained postgraduate qualifications in inclusive education. Griffith University has committed nearly 20 million dollars to accessibility through its Disability Access and Inclusion Action Plan (2024–25).
These achievements demonstrate that inclusion is not limited to policy but is increasingly part of institutional practice.
Ongoing challenges
Progress is not uniform across states and schools, and this inconsistency leaves many learners behind. In some regions, strong investments have created inclusive programs, while others still lack the resources or training to support students effectively.
Intersectionality is another gap. A student with disability in a remote community may also face barriers related to distance, internet access, or cultural context. Similarly, students from diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds may encounter unique challenges when inclusion strategies fail to account for their intersecting identities. When these overlapping factors are overlooked, the system risks designing for the “average” learner rather than meeting the needs of all.
Finally, outcomes measurement remains a weak point. Too often, success is reported in terms of enrolments or access to services, but there is little tracking of retention, achievement, or longer-term outcomes. As the GEM Report notes, true inclusion means not just opening the door but ensuring students thrive once inside the system.
How Brio sees the path forward
Brio Group’s mission is to help education systems move past compliance and achieve genuine inclusion. We do this by creating accessible documents, remediating digital resources, and building communication strategies that place accessibility at the centre. Our focus goes beyond opening doors to education. We help ensure students with disability not only gain access but also experience success once they are in the classroom.