Prior to the COVID-19 emergency, women with disabilities in Australia faced systemic marginalisation. Attitudinal and environmental barriers lead to lower economic and social status, increased risk of violence and multiple discrimination.

Research demonstrates that disasters are profoundly discriminatory and exacerbate pre-existing disadvantages. It was therefore inevitable that in addition to unique challenges, COVID-19 was going to intensify the systemic marginalisation of women with disabilities in the ACT.

This study shows that women with disabilities in the ACT have experienced an exacerbation of pre-existing disadvantage. There has been a rise in the number of women with disabilities experiencing new or increased mental health issues. Physical health has also suffered greatly because of increased physical labour, decreased access to structured exercise, and reduction in formal and informal support.

This is the final report from Women with Disabilities ACT’s 2021 'COVID-19 Outreach Project.' This project was funded under the Individual Capacity Building (ICB) grant 2020-21 from the Information, Linkages and Capacity (ILC) building program, run by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.