Australia is well-placed to meet the growth of the community
services sector into the 21st century with increased support for
carers and volunteers and recognition for the important role they
play, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's
fourth biennial report on the nation's community services.
The 411-page report, Australia's Welfare 1999, will be
launched at 10.15 am on Thursday by the Minister for Family and
Community Services, Senator Jocelyn Newman, at the Manning Clark
Theatre Centre, Australian National University, Canberra. The
report covers welfare services expenditure, children's and family
services, housing assistance, child protection and support
services, services for homeless people, aged care, and disability
services.
A special feature chapter of Australia's Welfare 1999
examines the interactions between changing work patterns and the
demand for and supply of community services over the past 20 years.
The chapter was written by Professor Peter Saunders, Director of
the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South
Wales.
Head of the AIHW's Welfare Division, Dr Ching Choi, said that
data presented in the report revealed that carers, volunteers and
the 'household sector' had a vital role in providing welfare
services for family, friends and neighbours-and Australian
governments continued to recognise this.
'In 1997-98, volunteers and carers contributed an estimated
$24.8 billion to welfare services, and each year they work 1,730
million hours providing informal care in the community and at
home,' Dr Choi said.
'In aged care, government expenditure has risen in line with the
increase in the number of older people. There has been increased
carer support generally, but particularly with respite care to give
people caring for older people a break.'
Dr Choi said that data presented in the report helped
governments and the community to see more clearly any changes in
areas of need, and what is happening with service provision,
service use, and outcomes.
Australia's Welfare 1999 shows that Australia is
spending more on welfare services than ever before. Total
expenditure on welfare services increased from $4.7 billion in
1988-89 to $10.9 billion in 1997-98, or a rise from 1.4% to 1.9% of
Gross Domestic Product.
Of the $10.9 billion spent in 1997-98, 31% was funded by the
Commonwealth, 33% by the States and Territories, 11% from
non-government organisations' own funds, and 25% from fees and
charges to clients.
25 November 1999
Further information: Dr Ching Choi, AIHW
Welfare Division Head, ph. 02 6244 1197.
General media contact and media summary
notes: Nigel Harding, ph. 02 6244 1025 or 014 688 834
(mobile); or Michelle Wells, ph. 02 6244 1012, 04 0701 2520
(mobile) or 04 0748 3411 (mobile).
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for details.