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.
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.
