Facts & Figures

• The definition of disability has shifted over the past two or three decades. It used to be defined purely in medical terms as a health condition. This approach located ‘the problem of disability’ in the person with a disability and ‘the solution’ in treating the person with a disability. Now, disability is more often recognised as the interaction between a person and his or her environment, including the social, economic, legal and built environment. The greatest barriers faced by people with disabilities are a product of this interaction and often the solution to those barriers lies in changing that environment. (p.1)

• In 2003 one in five people in Australia (3,958,300 or 20.0%) had a reported disability. This rate was much the same for males (19.8%) and females (20.1%).

• Of persons aged 15-64 years with a reported disability living in households, 30% had completed year 12 and 13% had completed a bachelor degree or higher. Of those with no disability the respective proportions were 49% and 20%.

• The labour force participation rate of persons with a disability was 53% and the unemployment rate was 8.6%. Corresponding rates for those without a disability were 81% and 5.0%.

• The median gross personal income per week of persons aged 15-64 years with a reported disability living in households was $255, compared to $501 for those without a disability. Median gross personal income per week decreased with increasing severity of disability. It was lowest ($200 per week) for those with a profound core-activity limitation.

• In 2003, there were 3.35 million people aged 60 years and over (17% of the population), which compares to 3.0 million people (16%) in 1998. In 2003, just over half had a reported disability (51%) and 19% had a profound or severe core-activity limitation.

• Of all people aged 60 years and over, 41% reported needing assistance, because of disability or old age, to manage health conditions or cope with everyday activities. However, people aged 85 years and over reported a much higher need for assistance than those aged 60-69 years (84% compared with 26%). (p.6)

• In 2003, there were 2.6 million carers who provided some assistance to those who needed help because of disability or age. About one fifth of these (19%) were primary carers, that is people who provided the majority of the informal help needed by a person with a disability.

• Just over half (54%) of all carers were women. Women were also more likely (71%) to be primary carers. Of those providing care, 1.0 million (39%) were in the 35-54 year age range. This age group’s caring responsibilities involved children, partners and/or ageing parents.

• One in five people in Australia (3,958,300 or 20%) had a reported disability in 2003. A further 4,149,000 (21%) had a long-term health condition that did not restrict their everyday activities. The remaining 11,703,800 (59%) had neither a disability nor a long- term health condition.

• Of those with a reported disability, 86% (3,387,900) were limited in the core activities of self-care, mobility or communication, or restricted in schooling or employ-ment. Most people with a disability (76%) were limited in one or more of these core activities.

• The disability rate increased with age, reaching 92% for those aged 90 years and over. The pattern of prevalence of profound or severe core-activity limitation gradually increased from 3% for age groups 0-4 years through to 10% for 65-69 years but it then increased sharply to 74% for those aged 90 years and over. This contrasted with the overall disability rate which increased steadily from 4% of 0-4 year olds to 41% of 65-69 year olds and 92% of those aged 90 years and over.

• In 2003, one in four people (24%) aged 15-64 years with a profound or severe core-activity limitation, who were living in households, had completed year 12. This compares to half (49%) of those without a disability. People with a profound or severe core-activity limitation were less likely to have completed a diploma or higher qualification (14%) than those without a disability (28%).

• Core-activity limitation had a much lower labour force participation rate (15%) than people without a disability (81%).

• People with a disability who were employed were more likely to work part-time (37%) than those who were employed and did not have a disability (29%).

• Physical conditions were the most common main health conditions of persons with a disability (84%). The remain-ing 16% had a mental or behavioural disorder as their main condition.

• In 2003, 61% of the 3.8 million people with a disability living in households reported needing assistance to manage their health conditions or cope with the activities of everyday life. This proportion comprised 37% who reported that their needs were fully met, 22% partly met and 3% not met at all. The remainder (39%) had a disability but did not need assistance.

• Of those with a core-activity limitation, the more severe the limitation the higher the proportion with an unmet need for help. Of those with a profound limitation 50% reported that their needs were only partly met or not met at all. This contrasts with 41% for those with a severe limitation, 26% for those with a moderate limitation and 16% for those with a mild limitation who reported that their needs were partly met or not met at all.

• Of people with a disability living in households who needed assistance, 79% received help from relatives and friends, mainly partners, parents or children. Formal providers of assistance, such as home-care workers and voluntary workers, were used by just over half of those with a disability (53%).