Content components This page focuses on lived experience, wellbeing and key issues for this population group. For detailed demographic data and statistics, see the People with disability statistics page.People with disability are more likely to experience poorer health than people without disability. This can include higher levels of chronic illness, psychological distress and lower overall wellbeing.These differences are linked to barriers such as difficulty accessing services, lack of clear information, communication challenges, and discrimination. Ableism and exclusion can also affect people’s health and wellbeing.In Australia, around one in 5 people live with disability. Adults with disability are more likely to experience high or very high levels of psychological distress than those without disability (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2024).Demographic characteristics of people with disability in BoroondaraMore females have disability than males, possibly partly due to conditions like osteoporosis, but also because they outnumber males in older age groups where disability is more common.19.9% of Boroondara residents with disability (1,492 people) live alone in a private dwelling.23.2% of residents with disability (1,741 people) live in a non-private dwelling, mainly accommodation for older adults.Source: 2021 Census.National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants in BoroondaraAt March 2026, Boroondara had 3,065 active National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants, including:1,267 people whose primary disability is Autism27 who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander400 from a multicultural background.Boroondara has a higher proportion of NDIS participants in older age groups compared to Australia, and a lower proportion in younger age groups (Figure 1). Figure 1: Age of active NDIS participants Q2 2025-26 financial year.Source: NDIS Public Data Q2 2025-26 Long-term health conditions in BoroondaraAt the 2021 Census, almost one in 3 Boroondara residents reported living with a long-term health condition. The most commonly reported condition was asthma (7.4%), followed by mental health conditions and arthritis (Figure 2). Figure 2: Self-reported diagnosed long-term health conditions in Boroondara.Source: 2021 Census The 2021 Census revealed striking differences in mental health conditions by age group and sex (Figure 3). Figure 3: Self-reported rates of diagnosed long-term mental health conditions in Boroondara by age and sex.Source: 2021 Census. Mental health support and distress levels20.3% of Boroondara adults sought professional help for mental health in the last year, similar to metro Melbourne’s rate of 20.0%35.2% of Boroondara adults report at least moderate levels of psychological distress, lower than the metro Melbourne rate of 44.7%3.0% of the 1,112 Boroondara children who began school in 2021 had emotional or behavioural difficulties, below metro Melbourne’s rate of 6.2%.Source: Victorian Population Health Survey 2023 and Victorian Government 2023.
