This plan has been developed for people of all ages with disability, their families, carers, support workers and the disability and health care sectors. It will provide high-level guidance on a range of factors that need to be considered in managing and preventing the transmission of COVID-19 for people with disability. The plan will be informed by a risk-based approach, prioritising individuals whose disability, current health status and setting, places them at significant risk of adverse outcomes related to COVID-19.

The plan focuses on broad clinical, public health and communication actions which will benefit all Australians including people with disability, as well as targeted action specific to people with disability.

The objectives of the plan are to:

• minimise COVID-19-related transmission, morbidity and mortality among people with disability
• guide action across Australia, including rural and remote areas in reducing the risk of COVID-19 for people with disability, including children, young people and adults
• inform, engage and empower all people with disability, their families, carers and support workers in relation to COVID-19
• identify and characterise the nature of the virus, and the clinical severity of the disease as it relates to people with disability
• support effective care, including rehabilitation, for people with disability who contract COVID-19, and reduce additional burden from COVID-19 for healthcare and disability support workers
• support people with disability continuing to have access to essential health care for non-COVID conditions, including mental health conditions, through the pandemic period.