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

The informal support provided by parents, siblings, kinship guardians, other family members and friends is vitally important to people with disability. The support provided is often one of mutual support (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

Informal support can include practical and emotional support, and representing the interests and rights of the person being supported. Acknowledging and supporting those who provide informal care (including voluntary organisations) can increase the participation of people with disability in community life (Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031).

Carer satisfaction with support

Carers are those who provide any informal assistance to people with disability.

Caring can incur health and emotional costs for some informal carers. Access to, and awareness of, carer support services, such as respite care, may alleviate these impacts of caring (Deloitte Access Economics 2020).

Due to the available data, for the purposes of this measure, carers refer to primary carers. A primary carer is someone over the age of 15 who provides the most informal assistance to a person with disability for the core activities of mobility, self-care and communication (ABS 2019).

The desired key system outcome for this measure is that carer support services provide carers of people with disability with appropriate assistance.

Results at baseline: 2018

• In 2018, half (50%) of carers, aged 15 and over, of people with disability were satisfied with the range of services available to assist in their caring role.
• The proportion of carers aged 15 and over who were satisfied with the range of services to assist in their caring role was 5 percentage points lower in 2018 than in 2012 (50% and 55%, respectively) (Figure 5.4).
• There was no significant difference in satisfaction with the range of services available to assist in their caring role between males and female carers (55% and 48%, respectively).
• By age group, almost two-thirds of carers aged 65 and over were satisfied (64%) with the range of available service to assist in their caring role. This compares with less than half of those aged 15–44 and 45–64 (43% and 47%, 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 primary carers aged 15 and over living in households, and excludes those who did not know the range of services available or did not answer.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Carer satisfaction with support.

Access to alternative care

Respite care is a service that provides alternative care arrangements for people with disability (ABS 2016). Respite care can provide benefits for people with disability as well as their carers. It supports participants by giving them some time away from their families, and carers, by giving them a short break from their caring responsibilities (NDIS 2022).

A range of people use respite care for different reasons. However, there may be barriers to accessing these services, such as cost, availability or lack of knowledge about availability (AIHW 2021). Due to available data, the population for this measure is restricted to primary carers.

This measure is intended to track the proportion of informal carers of people with disability who report that alternative care arrangements are available and affordable. Due to the nature of the available data, the measure is reported here as:

• proportion of informal carers of people with disability who report no unmet need for respite care.

The desired population outcome for this measure is to see an increase in carers being able to access suitable carer support.

Results at baseline: 2018

• In 2018, 86% of carers, aged 15 and over, of people with disability reported no unmet need for respite care.
• Between 2012 and 2018, there was no significant change in the proportion of carers who reported having no unmet need for respite care (ranging between 86% in 2018 and 87% in 2012) (Figure 5.5).
• Male carers were slightly more likely than female carers (89% and 85%, respectively) to report no unmet need for respite care.
• Carers aged 65 and over were most likely to report no unmet need for respite care (92%). There was no significant difference in no unmet need between carers aged 15–44 and 45–64 (82% and 85%, 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 primary carers aged 15 and over living in households.
• Primary carers who have no unmet need for respite care include those who:
  • received respite care in the last 3 months and do not need or do not know if they need it further
  • did not receive respite care in the last 3 months, or have never received respite care, and do not need it or do not know if they need it.

For the latest data and breakdowns of the data, see Australia’s Disability Strategy Outcomes Framework | Access to alternative care.