Governments provide or fund 75,000 disability services a day to
over 63,000 Australians, according to a report released by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The services were provided or funded under the
Commonwealth/State Disability Agreement (CSDA) on a 'snapshot' day
in May-June 2000. CSDA services are designed for people who need
ongoing support with everyday life activities.
Disability
support services 2000: first national results on services provided
under the CSDA has been released on the Institute's
Internet website.
The report summarises initial results on people receiving
disability support services on the snapshot day, and service
outlets used.
Of all people receiving services, one-third (21,104) were in
Victoria. New South Wales had the second highest number (16,441),
followed by Queensland (8,324) and Western Australia (8,004).
Approximately 7,400 outlets are funded under the CSDA to provide
services. Through these:
- 34% of people receiving services used accommodation support
services in both institutional and community settings;
- 28% used employment services, covering open labour market
services and supported employment services;
- 27% used community support services, which included early
childhood intervention, specific therapies, counselling and
recreation programs;
- 24% used community access services, mainly covering
educational, social and daily living activities; and
- 4% used respite services, which provide short-term breaks from
caring activities to carers of people with a disability.
Of people receiving services in 2000:
- 43% were relatively young adults-aged between 25 and 39
years;
- 58% were men;
- 3% were of Indigenous origin;
- 49% had more than one disability; and
- 60% were reported to have intellectual disability as their most
significant disability.
Information in this report relies on data collected by each
State and Territory and the Commonwealth.
22 December 2000
Further information: Joanne Maples, tel. 02
6244 1194.
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications catalogue for availability.