Co‑Chairs appointed to support the independent evaluation of Australia’s Disability Strategy
The independent evaluation of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031 (the Strategy) is being supported by a dedicated Steering Committee, co-chaired by Sharon Boyce and Kira Duggan.
The evaluation will look at how well the Strategy is improving outcomes for people with disability and will identify improvements to strengthen delivery and outcomes over the remaining years of the Strategy. We expect a report from the evaluation at the end of 2026.
The Steering Committee will support the evaluation by providing strategic guidance and supporting its independence and integrity. The Co-Chairs bring complementary strengths, helping ensure the evaluation reflects lived experience, strong evidence and a range of perspectives.
Steering Committee members were nominated by Disability Representative Organisations, Commonwealth agencies and state and territory government members, and selected through an Expression of Interest process. The community Co‑Chair was then elected by the Committee, with Kira from the Australian Institute of Family Studies as the government Co‑Chair.
The Steering Committee includes members with a range of skills and experiences and works as a collective to support a robust, people-centred evaluation process.
Meet Sharon Boyce
Sharon Boyce brings lived experience, leadership and a strong commitment to change in her role as Co‑Chair of the Steering Committee.
Diagnosed with juvenile chronic arthritis at age 11, Sharon has lived with disability for most of her life and has high and complex support needs. These experiences shape her work and her focus on creating systems that truly include people with disability.
Sharon is currently completing a PhD at the University of Southern Queensland, with a focus on inclusion, lived experience and inclusive education practice. She also holds senior advisory and leadership roles across government and the disability sector, including advising ministers and serving on national and state disability councils.
“I want to create change for people with disability,” Sharon says. “I believe there are many solutions to how we do things, and I really look forward to being part of the team exploring Australia’s Disability Strategy.”
Meet Kira Duggan
Kira Duggan brings strong experience in policy and evaluation to her role as Co‑Chair of the Steering Committee.
Kira works with governments and community organisations in Australia and overseas to understand what is working, what is not, and how services can do better. Her work focuses on improving outcomes for children and families through clear evidence and careful review.
She leads programs that look at how policies and services are designed, how they are delivered and how they can improve over time. Kira also supports ethical research by serving as the Secretariat of the Human Research Ethics Committee.
Before joining the Australian Institute of Family Studies, Kira was Director of Evaluation and Program Impact at the Victorian Department of Education. She studied at the University of Melbourne and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) and a Diploma in Modern Languages (Mandarin).
Background
The independent evaluation will assess:
- whether the Strategy is fit for purpose
- how well it has been put into practice across Australia
- the early changes it is making for people with disability
Findings from the evaluation will help inform the ongoing delivery of the Strategy and support continuous improvement in how governments deliver inclusive policies, services and systems.
More information about the evaluation will be shared on the Hub as it progresses.