Digital innovation and disability inclusion: a comparative analysis of Australian state government COVID-19 communication response

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed a persistent innovation–inclusion paradox: while states rapidly deployed digital solutions for pandemic management, they often failed to prioritise accessibility and disability inclusion from the outset. This article takes Australia as its case study to interrogate the country's response to the pandemic and the digital strategies adopted, focusing on the inclusion of people with disability. Through an analysis of the official state reviews and independent submissions of disability organisations, this article finds that successful strategies included listening to local voices, collaborating with trusted community leaders and influencers, expanding access to telehealth and remote work and adopting diverse communication channels to ensure public information was available in multiple languages and formats. As Australia faces ongoing public health challenges and climate-related emergencies, the lessons from COVID-19 underscore that true inclusion cannot be achieved through rapid digital innovation alone but requires a proactive, sustained commitment to accessibility and inclusion.