A report released today by the Australian Institute of Health
and Welfare shows that nearly 70,000 people with a disability were
assisted by services provided under the Commonwealth/State
Disability Agreement (CSDA) in 1995-96. (Figures for the ACT are
unavailable and have not been included.) Of the people who received
support:
- 58% reported intellectual disability as the primary disability
type;
- 44% reported more than one significant disability type;
and
- 58% were male, and 55% were aged between 15 and 39 years.
Services provided under the CSDA are designed for people who
need ongoing support in everyday life activity areas.
- Over 86% of recipients needed support in the areas of
self-care, mobility or communication.
- Between 30% and 40% of recipients reported a need for continual
support in seven out of ten activity areas. These were self-care,
managing emotion, home living, learning, self direction, social
skills, and 'other' day activities.
These services were provided by more than 5,000 agencies, of
which:
- 67% were non-government agencies, and 33% government;
- 45% were for accommodation support, covering 19,000 recipients
living in institutional settings and community settings, such as
group homes and family homes;
- 20% were for community support, which includes speech,
occupational and physio- therapies, early childhood intervention,
counselling and recreation programs;
- 15% were for employment support, covering open labour market
services, as well as sheltered and supported employment
services;
- 11% were for community access (both social and educational
activities), and 8% were for respite care.
The data collection was the second national data collection on
services funded by the CSDA, and is published under the title
Disability Support Services Provided under the
Commonwealth/State Disability Agreement: Available Data
1996.
8 May 1998
Further information: Ken Black, ph. 02 6244
1178.
For media copies of the report: Lena Searle, ph.
02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications Catalogue
for details.