Australian Government Implementation of Article 33 of the CRPD

Introduction

In Australia, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is incorporated through legislation, policy and programs at federal, and state and territory levels. Implementation of the CRPD is a whole of government responsibility; this means that agencies at federal, state and territory levels play a part in implementing the articles of the CRPD within their portfolios.

In accordance with Article 33(1) of the CRPD, the Attorney-General's Department and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA) act as the 'joint focal point' within the Australian Government for matters relating to the implementation of the CRPD.

Attorney-General's Department

Within our department, the Human Rights Branch and the Office of International Law (OIL) have carriage of our focal point responsibilities.

We are responsible for Australia's periodic reporting under the CRPD and appearances before the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which is facilitated by the Human Rights Branch. The Human Rights Branch also administers Commonwealth anti-discrimination and human rights legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986.

We are also responsible for providing international legal and policy advice to the Australian Government, including in relation to the CRPD. OIL provides international legal advice to the Australian Government and is also responsible for the Australian Government's response to communications issued under the Optional Protocol to the CRPD. The Human Rights Branch provides policy advice on the domestic implementation of the CRPD where relevant.

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

DHDA is responsible for Australia's domestic disability strategies, legislation, policies and programs providing targeted supports for people with disability and, as the joint focal point, provides significant input to matters relating to the implementation of the CRPD.

DHDA is also responsible for administering Commonwealth laws that provide supports for people with disability, including the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 (NDIS Act) and Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023 (DSI Act).

DHDA has the lead role in driving implementation of Australia's Disability Strategy 2021-2031, working collaboratively across government and with the disability community. The strategy plays an important role in protecting, promoting and realising the human rights of people with disability and contributes to Australia's reporting responsibilities under the CRPD.

DHDA has a range of policies and programs that support people with disability, including direct supports and services, capacity-building of individuals and individual and systemic advocacy for people with disability. This includes monitoring and implementation of Australia's objectives under the CRPD.

For more information on how the CRPD is implemented refer to the International disability rights.

People with disability in the Commonwealth focal point

The APS Disability Employment Strategy 2020-25 recognises that improving the representation of people with disability at all levels of the Australian Public Service (APS) is a critical first step to ensuring the APS workforce reflects the communities it serves. This strategy informed the development of our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2026, which demonstrates a strong commitment to fostering a culture that builds, respects and promotes inclusiveness, diversity and the unique skills and qualities of all staff.

Over the strategy's 5‑year life, ambitious organisational commitments include:

•  building a more diverse workforce at every level, with at least 7% representation of people with disability across APS, EL and SES classifications
• increasing progression and retention rates
• reducing gaps in average retention
•  achieving representation of target diversity groups at the SES level
• strengthening the use of affirmative measures recruitment pathways with appropriate support systems.

At the start of the strategy, 10% of the workforce identified as having an ongoing disability.

Similarly, DHDA is committed to fostering a culturally safe, accessible, inclusive and respectful workplace. This commitment is articulated through its Inclusion Framework 2025-30, which applies a holistic and intersectional approach across all diversity groups to increase awareness, address barriers and embed inclusion across the business.

The framework's implementation is guided by an annual action plan. The 2025–26 action plan includes 18 targeted initiatives that align with the objectives of the APS Disability Employment Strategy 2020–25, including the goal of increasing the employment of people with disability to 7% by 2025. As at 30 June 2025, 5.2% of employees at DHDA reported having a disability.

Plain language version

About this page

Australia has agreed to follow an international agreement called the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).

This agreement is about promoting, protecting and ensuring the rights of people with disability.

Australia puts this agreement into practice through laws, policies and programs.

This happens at all levels of government, including national (federal), state and territory.

Many government departments share the responsibility.

Two departments lead the work across government:

• the Attorney-General's Department
• the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DHDA).

These 2 are called the "joint focal point".

This means they guide and coordinate Australia's work relating to the agreement.

Attorney-General's Department

In this department, 2 teams do this work: the Human Rights Branch and the Office of International Law.

The Human Rights Branch:

• helps Australia report to the United Nations (UN) about how it is following the CRPD
• helps Australia take part in meetings with the UN
• manages important laws about human rights and protecting people with disability including the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
• gives advice on how Australia can put the CRPD into action

The Office of International Law:

• gives legal advice to the Australian Government about the CRPD
• responds to complaints made by people to the UN about how they say Australia is, or is not, following the CRPD.

All of this work helps Australia meet its commitments under the CRPD.

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

DHDA helps support people with disability in Australia. It develops and runs laws, policies, programs and strategies, and helps lead Australia's work to put the CRPD into action.

DHDA manages key disability laws, including:

• the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013
• the Disability Services and Inclusion Act 2023.

It also leads Australia's Disability Strategy 2021–2031, working with governments and people with disability. It protects the rights of people with disability. It also supports Australia's CRPD reporting.

DHDA delivers programs and services, including direct support, skill-building and independence programs, and advocacy to help people speak up for their rights.

All of this work helps Australia meet its obligations under the CRPD.

To learn more about how Australia puts the CRPD into action, visit the International disability rights.

People with disability in the Commonwealth focal point

The Australian Public Service (APS) wants more people with disability working at all levels. This helps it better reflect the community.

This goal shaped the Attorney-General's Department's Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. This strategy supports a workplace that is inclusive, respectful and welcoming of everyone's skills and experience.
The strategy aims to:

• build a more diverse workforce
• help staff stay and grow in their careers
• have at least 7% of staff be people with disability, including in senior roles.

At the start, 10% of staff said they had a disability.

DHDA also wants a workplace that is culturally safe, accessible, inclusive and respectful.

This is set out in its Inclusion Framework 2025–30.

The framework aims to:

• raise awareness
• remove barriers
• build inclusion across the department.

It is supported by a yearly action plan.

• The 2025–26 plan has 18 actions
• It supports the APS goal of 7% employment of people with disability
• As of 30 June 2025, 5.2% of DHDA staff said they had a disability.

If you have trouble using the documents on this page, contact humanrights@ag.gov.au or systemicdisabilityadvocacy@health.gov.au to ask for a different version.