Summary
While the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is expected to largely replace the current provision of services to people with disability under the National Disability Agreement (NDA), many people were still receiving support under the NDA.
In 2017–18:
About 280,000 people used services
Of the 280,000 people who used services under the NDA, over half used services that are largely expected to move to the NDIS as it rolls out (54%, or about 150,000).
The average age of service users was 37
Most service users were aged under 65 (95%), with an average age of 37. Existing service users aged 65 and over will not move to the NDIS.
The proportion of service users with an intellectual or learning disability has fallen
About 1 in 3 (37%) of services users had an intellectual or learning disability, down from almost 1 in 2 (44%) in 2013–14. The decrease in the proportion of service users with intellectual or learning disability in the last 5 years is largely the result of the transition of these service users into the NDIS.
About 3 in 4 service users were unemployed
Almost three-quarters (71%) of service users aged 15 and over who were in the labour force were unemployed.
About 2 in 3 service users had an informal carer
About two-thirds (65%) of service users had an informal carer, most often their mother (69%). About 1 in 7 (14%) of service users had an informal carer who was aged 65 and over.
About 40,000 service users transitioned to the NDIS
About 1 in 7 (14%) of NDA service users transitioned to the NDIS during the year. Many of those who transitioned had an intellectual or learning disability (67%).
1 The disability services environment
- The National Disability Strategy
- The National Disability Agreement
- The National Disability Insurance Scheme
- Transition of NDA service users to the NDIS
2 Services provided under the NDA
- Service type outlets
- Types of services provided
- Expenditure
3 Characteristics of service users
- Age and sex
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Country of birth
- Disability group
- Functional need
- Living arrangement
- Employment and income
4 Informal carers
5 Service users who transitioned to the NDIS
End matter: Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Symbols; References; Related publications