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Summary
The Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) and the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) made a submission to the Inquiry into Voting Centre Accessibility in Victoria – an issue that is critical for disabled young people’s human rights and participation in democracy.
Disabled young people make up almost 14% of young people aged between 15 – 24 in Australia (ABS).i This means that there are many disabled young Victorians voting for the first time in the upcoming 2026 Victorian Election. Accessibility and inclusivity of voting centres is critical for ensuring disabled people have their say on policies that directly impact their lives.
Key points
There is a lack of accessible information and resources targeted at young and first-time voters who have a disability. As part of the Inquiry into the conduct of the 2022 State Election, a survey with disabled Victorians revealed:
- a desire for information about candidates and their policies in a central and easy-to-understand format.
- the need for increased support and resources on enrolling and how to vote, including in easy English.
- voting venue accessibility issues including the need for better support standing in line, improved staff training, increased infection protection measures, stronger support for neurodivergent voters (such as designated low-sensory voting times), and a lack of wheelchair-accessible centres.
Due to resource constraints, YDAS and YACVic were not in a position to conduct meaningful and comprehensive consultations with disabled young people to ensure a diverse range of voices underpinned our submission. As such, we did not make detailed recommendations regarding voting accessibility.
Our asks
Provide dedicated funding for YDAS to conduct paid consultations with disabled young people to support this Inquiry, ensuring their unique experiences, views and recommendations are appropriately considered by the Committee.
It is critical that the Committee consults meaningfully with disabled young people to ensure any outcomes from this Inquiry are genuinely reflective of their views and experiences. YDAS is well positioned to support and lead consultations with disabled young people. All work at YDAS is co-designed and co-delivered by, with, and for disabled young people.
Read more about the important work of YDAS – the only advocacy organization in Victoria dedicated to supporting disabled young people to achieve their human rights.
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Children and young people with disability [Internet]. Canberra; 2022 [cited 2026 Feb 24]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/children-and-young-people-disability-2022
- United Nations. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Treaty Series 2515: 3. [Internet]. 2006. Article 25. Available from: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/convention- rights-persons-disabilities
- United Nations. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. 999 UNTS 171 [Internet]. 1966 Dec 19. Article 12 and Article 29. Available from: https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments- mechanisms/instruments/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: First Results [Internet]. Canberra; 2016 [cited 2026 Feb 24]. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and- carers-australia-first-results/latest-release
- Australian Government. Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2026 Feb 25]. Report No.: Final Report. Available from: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/final-report
- Australian Government. NDIS Review: Working together to deliver the NDIS [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2026 Feb 25]. Report No.: Final Report. Available from: https://www.ndisreview.gov.au/resources/reports/working-together-deliver-ndis/