This report provides a comprehensive national overview of the experiences of children and young people with disability in Australia, aged 0–25 years. Drawing on publicly available data, it brings together evidence across a wide range of areas, including demographics, early childhood development, education, employment, health and wellbeing, housing and transport, income and financial security, NDIS supports, safety and justice, and social and community participation. It provides a list of the key frameworks and legislation in Australia that apply to people with disability, and to children and young people.

The report aims to present a clearer picture of the diverse experiences of children and young people with disability, recognising that many face intersecting barriers to inclusion. These include children and young people who are also First Nations, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+, women or girls, or living in regional and remote areas. Where data allows, the report includes an intersectional perspective to highlight how overlapping identities can influence access to supports and outcomes.

A key focus of the report is identifying gaps and limitations in current data. It highlights that national data collections often fail to adequately capture the lived experiences of children and young people with disability, particularly those with cognitive or psychosocial disability. Inconsistent definitions, limited age-specific data, and exclusions mean that many experiences remain under‑represented or invisible. The report emphasises the need for disability data systems that are co‑designed with people with disability, inclusive of all disability types, and capable of capturing lived experience in meaningful, ethical and strengths‑based ways.

The report brings together what is currently known to create an accessible and reliable evidence base. It is intended to support children and young people with disability, their families and carers, policymakers, service providers and the broader community to engage in more informed, inclusive discussions and decisions that better reflect the realities of life for children and young people with disability.