November 5, 2025
Disability Support Fund Draft Proposal – IRU Feedback
The Innovative Research Universities welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Disability Support Fund: A sector-level approach to disability support and inclusion in higher education. Overall, we are supportive of the recommendations, but given the limited timeframe for consultation with our members, we may later have feedback on the proposal that differs from what is provided below.
Our main recommendation is to ensure changes support a student-centred DSF, with appropriate resourcing for accountability and compliance that minimises the potential diversion of funds to administrative functions. We strongly support a phased approach to the implementation and opportunity for further consultation on its design.
We support the proposed changes and believe they will help drive cultural change and an evidence-based shift for disability inclusion by:
- Establishing governance models that support accountability, co-design, transparency and a whole-of-institution approach that makes inclusion and accessibility a priority beyond the student disability support team.
- Shifting university practices from a retroactive model of removing barriers, to a proactive duty for ensuring accessibility, for both students and staff.
- Supporting accessible pathways for PhD candidates and others into academia through the proposed disability workforce inclusion strategy.
Read our full submission here.
