Indigenous Australians, especially Indigenous women and
children, rely on the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program
(SAAP) more than others, according to a report released today by
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The Homeless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
in SAAP 2006-07 report shows that, in that year, on average 1
in every 14 Indigenous women became a SAAP client and 1 in every 13
Indigenous children accompanied their parent or carer to a SAAP
agency.
'These rates were considerably higher than the 1 in 169 for
non-Indigenous women and the 1 in 98 for non-Indigenous children,'
said Sean Ackland, Head of the AHIW's Homelessness and Housing
Reporting and Analysis Unit.
Over 20,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (about
1 in every 19 Indigenous Australians) became SAAP clients in
2006-07, compared with 1 in 200 non-Indigenous Australians.
Indigenous clients were, generally, slightly younger than
non-Indigenous clients, with a median age of 28 years for
Indigenous clients compared with 30 years for others.
A greater proportion of Indigenous clients were female (72%)
than was the case for non-Indigenous clients (59%). The higher
proportion of females had an effect on many of the aggregate
statistics for Indigenous clients.
The main reason for Indigenous clients seeking support was
domestic violence - again, more common than among non-Indigenous
clients (29% compared with 22%).
The report also found that the circumstances of Indigenous
clients before and after SAAP support differed from that of
non-Indigenous clients.
'We found that a greater proportion of Indigenous clients
reported that they were staying in a house or flat rented from a
public or community housing organisation,' Mr Ackland said.
Most SAAP clients, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, were not
in the labour force and were receiving a government payment;
however the proportions were higher for Indigenous clients.
SAAP agencies were able to provide the majority of services
required for both clients and accompanying children, regardless of
Indigenous status.
Just 4% of the services required for Indigenous clients remained
unmet at the end of SAAP support, and just 2% for Indigenous
children.
The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program is funded jointly
by the Australian and State and Territory Governments.
Thursday 12 February 2009
Further information: Mr Sean Ackland, 02 6244
1051, mob. 0407 915 851
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications area
for the availability of Homeless Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander clients in SAAP 2006-07.