Why This New Disability Wellbeing Index Matters

A new Disability Wellbeing Index (DWI) developed by researchers at Monash University is worth paying attention to because it shifts the focus from systems and funding to what genuinely improves people’s lives. Rather than measuring success through service outputs alone, the Index captures what people with disability themselves say matters most to their wellbeing (Monash University, 2025).

The research involved more than 3,500 Australians, including people with disability, families and carers. From this, 14 areas of life were identified as central to wellbeing — including health, relationships, safety, meaningful activity and financial security (Monash University, 2025). This means the tool reflects lived experience rather than assumptions about what “good support” looks like.

For providers and support workers, the significance is practical. If wellbeing is measured through areas that participants prioritise, services can better align supports with real outcomes — not just completed tasks. For organisations working within the NDIS framework, tools like the DWI may also influence how programme effectiveness is evaluated in the future.

In short, this Index matters because it reinforces a simple but powerful principle: quality of life should be defined by the person living it.

Reference

Monash University. (2025, 15 August). New wellbeing index to measure what matters most to Australians with disability. https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/new-wellbeing-index-to-measure-what-matters-most-to-australians-with-disability