In the first project of its kind in Australia, the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) and Cerebral Palsy Australia
examined therapy and equipment needs among people with cerebral
palsy and related conditions.
The report, Therapy and equipment needs of people with
cerebral palsy and like disabilities in Australia, showed that
people with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities, and their
carers, found both therapy and equipment to be greatly beneficial
in terms of minimising the impact of disability and facilitating
greater independence and participation in society.
The AIHW's Dr Xingyan Wen, who headed the project team, said
'People with cerebral palsy and like disabilities commonly use
physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.
'Many people also use specialised equipment, such as walking
frames, wheelchairs, splints, adjustable beds, communication
devices and self-care aids,' he said.
There were approximately 33,800 people in Australia in 2003 with
cerebral palsy or similar disabilities.
The majority of those lived in households, while 2,000 lived in
institutional settings. Of those living in households, 26,500
needed help with activities, such as self care, mobility or
communication.
While many of their needs were met, people with cerebral palsy,
their families and therapists, also reported unmet need in a number
of areas, as well as long waiting times for accessing therapy and
equipment.
Dr Wen also said that many people did not have enough access to
'hands on' therapy, especially physiotherapy, social work,
psychology and family support.
'Unmet need was particularly high for services that support
participation, especially in employment and social activities, and
appear to be more of an issue for people living in non-metropolitan
or lower socioeconomic areas, he said.
To come up with estimates of the cost of meeting unmet need for
therapy nationally, the researchers combined available data sources
in three different ways, using different assumptions. The estimates
range from $22.5 million to $54.8 million per annum.
Dr Wen said, 'Cerebral Palsy Australia, clients, their families
and therapists need to be acknowledged for providing valuable
personal and professional advice to the AIHW team.
7 December 2006
Further information: Dr Xingyan Wen, AIHW tel.
02 6244 1177 or mob. 0407 915 851, or Ms Nicola Fortune, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1197.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Therapy and equipment needs
of people with cerebral palsy and like disabilities in
Australia.