In 1995-96 total spending on welfare services in Australia was
$8.9 billion, or 1.8% of Gross Domestic Product. Spending as a
proportion of GDP has remained at this level since 1992-93
according to figures released today by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare.
Welfare Services Expenditure Bulletin No. 3 shows that
Government expenditure on welfare services increased to $5,800
million in 1995-96, up 9% or $480 million on the previous year.
Client charges also rose by 9%, to $2200 million.
Welfare services include family and child welfare services,
child care, aged and disabled welfare services, and a variety of
other services such as supported accommodation assistance, but do
not include income security payments such as unemployment benefits
and pensions.
Of the $8.9 billion total, 65% ($5.8 billion) was funded by
governments, 24% ($2.2 billion) by clients and 11% ($0.9 billion)
by non-government welfare organisations.
Of the $5.8 billion government welfare services expenditure, 53%
came from the Commonwealth, 44% from State and Territory
Governments, and the remaining 3% from local governments.
In 1994-95 non-government welfare organisations (NGWOs) were the
main providers of welfare services, delivering $4.9 billion worth
of services to the community. NGWOs are funded by governments
(49%), clients (31%), and their own sources of income (20%).
The Commonwealth Government is a funder rather than a provider
of welfare services. In 1994-95, the Commonwealth funded $2.8
billion, but only delivered $292 million worth of welfare
services.
In contrast, the States and Territories are both funders of
services ($2.4 billion) and providers of services ($2.2 billion).
Per person welfare services expenditure by State and Territory
Governments in 1995-96 varied from $72 per person in Queensland to
$231 in Tasmania, with a national average of $134.
Other findings of the study include:
- Over 60% of Commonwealth recurrent outlays and 50% of State and
Territory funds were allocated to services for the aged and people
with a disability.
- Family and child welfare services received 31% of total
Commonwealth welfare services recurrent outlays, and 33% of State
and Territory recurrent outlays.
7 August 1997
Further information: Maneerat Pinyapusarerk,
ph. 02 6244 1161 or 02 6258 7581 (ah).
For media copies of the bulletin (16pp):Mark
McCarthy, ph. 02 6244 1031.
For general media enquiries: Nigel Harding, ph.
02 6244 1025.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications Catalogue
for details.