Young People with Disability are four times more likely to die prematurely – and often, it’s not due to their disabilities. A study by three Australian researchers published in Lancet Public Health investigates why.
Men with disability die nearly four times more often as other Australians. Women face a fivefold risk. Why? After analyzing census and death certificate data from over 15 million people, Melbourne researchers Yi Yang, George Disney and Kirsten Deane found premature and preventable death disproportionately affects People with Disability.
Discrimination, poverty, and inaccessible healthcare exacerbate the crisis and the NDIS has not changed this.
Heartbreaking cases like that of 16-year-old Finlay Browne, whose death was linked to inadequate care, highlight systemic failures. This study underscores glaring gaps in health access, with disabled individuals battling hurdles like inaccessible facilities, higher costs, and prejudiced care.
The study urges sweeping reforms, calling for better housing, healthcare accessibility, and an end to discrimination. Without action, preventable deaths will continue, perpetuating the grim reality for Australia’s most vulnerable.