14 August 2025: Key members of the Western Australian disability community have lobbied federally for improvements to people’s journeys from booking to arrival this week as new national aviation disability standards are drafted with people with disability.
The contingent of lived experience advocates with physical, sensory and invisible disabilities met key federal transport department personnel and ministers in Sydney during a third Aviation Standards Workshop.
The co-design reforms workshop on accessibility through an airport was an opportunity for the disability community to discuss ideas and come up with workable solutions to resolve some of the issues airline passengers with disability face when flying.
They follow earlier co-design workshops on journey planning and accessibility on board the aircraft.
Seasoned traveller, People with Disabilities Western Australia CEO Kat Johns said improvements to domestic travel in Australia were overdue.
“Navigating the airport can be deeply difficult for some members of the community, whether it be from negotiating the crowds, access or navigating the loud, bright environments that can bring on sensory overload,” Kat said.
Developmental Disability WA were also represented in the co-design process, highlighting the need to ensure people with developmental and intellectual disability have safe and inclusive journeys.
“Things should be better at the airport for people with intellectual disability, especially when they don’t know the airport or their way around. It would be good to have someone show me where to go,” DDWA Advisory Council member Michelle Silver said.
The introduction of new Aviation Disability Standards is a clear opportunity to improve disability travel.”
– People with Disabilities Western Australia CEO Kat Johns
Accessible travel is becoming more complex and expensive in Australia, with the rising cost of flights and other restrictions like maximum numbers of passengers using wheelchairs on a flight further restricting access.
The contingent met with a variety of Albanese Government ministers after the event, including Transport Minister Catherine King and new NDIS Minister Senator Jenny McAllister, to share their messages and congratulations on the ministers’ new roles campaigning reforms for people with disability.
Minister McAllister expressed support on LinkedIn, stating: “all travelling Australians (are) to travel with autonomy and dignity.”
Our government is co-designing new aviation-specific disability standards – with people with disability at the heart.”
– NDIS Minister Senator Jenny McAllister
The specialist co-design sessions were coordinated by inclusive, accessible community engagement agency The Social Deck. They built on recommendations from the Aviation White Paper (2024), the earlier Aviation Green Paper consultations (2023), the Disability Royal Commission (2019–2023) and its Final Report (2023) and consultations on the reform of the Transport Standards (2022), and the 2022 review of the Transport Standards.
PWdWA, DDWA and COMHWA are disability advocacy organisations that provide disability advocacy support in Western Australia. To speak to Kat Johns from PWdWA, contact 0404 293 745.