Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 Outcomes Framework: First annual report

People with disability need access to personal and community supports that meet their needs. This includes both formal specialist disability services and mainstream services, as well as informal support provided by family, friends and the community.

Quality of formal support

People with disability who require formal assistance can seek either targeted or universal formal support services. A range of organisations and individuals can provide formal assistance. In the ABS SDAC, formal providers of assistance for people with disability are defined as help provided by:

• organisations or individuals representing organisations (whether profit making or non-profit making, government or private), or
• other persons (excluding informal assistance/providers), on a regular, paid basis, who are not associated with any organisation (ABS 2019).

The desired key system outcome for this measure is that people with disability receive the supports they need.

Results at baseline: 2018

• In 2018, 82% of people with disability, aged 15 and over, reported that they were satisfied with the quality of assistance received from formal service providers.
• Between 2012 and 2015, there was no change in the proportion (85% in both periods); however, there was a small decrease (to 82%) between 2015 and 2018 (Figure 5.1).
• There was no real difference in the proportion of males and females with disability, aged 15 and over, reporting that they were satisfied with the quality of assistance received from formal service providers (81% and 83%, respectively).
• By age group, people with disability aged 65 and over (84%) were more likely to report satisfaction with the quality of assistance received from formal service providers than people aged 15–24 (70%). Note that the results for those aged 15–24 had a margin of error greater than 10 percentage points and should be interpreted with caution. There were no significant differences in the proportions of satisfaction between the other age groups.
• People with severe or profound disability, aged 15 and over, were less likely to report satisfaction with the quality of assistance received from formal service providers (79%) than those with other disability (84%).

Latest results

Updated data are not yet available for this measure. New data from the 2022 ABS SDAC are expected to be available in the first half of 2024 and included in the 2024 annual report.

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Data are restricted to people with disability aged 15 and over living in households who received assistance with at least one activity from organised services in the last 6 months, excluding those who had a proxy interview.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Quality of formal support.

Needs fully met

Some people with disability require support to maintain everyday wellness at home and to be fully included in community activities (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

People needing support may seek formal assistance, such as specialist and mainstream services provided by formal organisations or other paid providers (including the NDIS or Disability Employment Services). These services may supplement other support that a person with disability receives, such as informal care provided by family, friends or neighbours (AIHW 2021).

The desired population outcome for this measure is an increase in people with disability accessing the services they need.

Results at baseline: 2018

• In 2018, 72% of people with disability considered their needs were fully met.
• The proportion increased slightly between 2012 and 2015 (from 72.7% to 74.2%) before decreasing to 72.2% in 2018 (Figure 5.2).
• A greater proportion of males with disability considered their needs fully met than females with disability (74% and 70%, respectively).
• People with disability in the 0–15 age group reported the lowest proportion of needs being fully met (57%). People with disability aged 15–24 (67%) were also less likely to report their needs being fully met than those aged 45–64 (75%) and 65 and over (74%).
• People with severe or profound disability were considerably less likely than people with other disability to report their needs being fully met (47% and 82%, respectively).

Latest results

Updated data are not yet available for this measure. New data from the 2022 ABS SDAC are expected to be available in the first half of 2024 and included in the 2024 annual report.

Things to consider when interpreting results

• Data are restricted to people with disability living in households.
• People who have their needs fully met are those who do not need any assistance or do not need any more assistance with activities.
• People who do not have their needs fully met are those who need more assistance with at least one activity, regardless of whether any assistance is currently received.
• Data exclude people for whom responses included that they were too young, a need for assistance had not been assessed, or they did not know if they needed more assistance.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Needs fully met.

References

ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2019) Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: summary of findings methodology, ABS website, accessed 15 September 2022.

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2021) Specialised supports for people with disability, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 25 November 2022.

Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 (2021), Department of Social Services, Australian Government, accessed 2 August 2022.