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ACCORDING to the
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), people
with disability in New South Wales make up 19.3%
of the total population, the same as in the
whole of Australia. (ABS Catalogue No. 4430.0
Disability, Ageing And Carers, 1998)
In the 2003
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of
Disability, Ageing and Carers
(SDAC) 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%).
As more Australians are
living to reach older ages, the proportion of
the population with a disability will increase
also. As the ABS statistical reports indicate,
about one-fifth of the population encounters
restrictions, barriers and/or limitations in key
areas of their lives.
Summary of the 2003
Survey
The
Australian
Bureau of Statistics
defines four levels of handicap;
- Profound -
always need assistance in at least one of
the tasks of daily living.
- Severe -
sometimes need assistance with task of
daily living
- Moderate -
do not require assistance with the
specified tasks but have difficulty in
performing them.
- Mild - do
not require assistance with the specified
tasks, nor do they have difficulty in
performing them, but they are reliant upon
aids to help them to do so, or have
difficulty in walking etc.
The Australian
Bureau of Statistics
defines the tasks of daily living
as;
- self care
(showering, dressing etc)
- mobility
- verbal
communication
- participation in
education or employment (for those in the
appropriate age category).
Disability was
defined as any limitation, restriction or
impairment, which has lasted, or is likely to
last, for at least six months and restricts
everyday activities. Examples range from
hearing loss which requires the use of a
hearing aid, to difficulty dressing due to
arthritis, to advanced dementia requiring
constant help and supervision.
After removing the
effects of different age structures there was
little change in the disability rate between
1998 (20.1%) and 2003 (20.0%). The rate of
profound or severe core-activity limitation
also showed little change between 1998 (6.4%)
and 2003 (6.3%).
Education levels
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.
Key Statistics about
People with Disability in NSW
- People with disability
of all types account for one-fifth of the
entire population.
- People with physical
disability represent over half of all people
with disability.
- People with physical
disability live and work in every community
and location of NSW.
- 19% of the Australian
population has a disability.
- 30% of people with
disability have one that is
physical.
- An additional 27% of
people with disability have a physical
disability plus at least one other type of
disability.
- 87% of people with
disability experience specific restrictions
in core activities, schooling or
employment.
- In 1998 there were 2.3
million Australians over the age of 65,
including 976,500 people over 75 years of
age.
- By 2051 there will be
6.6 million Australians over the age of 65
representing in excess of 26% of the
population.
- By 2051 more than 5%
of the population (approximately 1.2 million
people) will be 85 years or over.
- Over half of all
people aged 65 years and over have a
disability.
- Almost 90% of people
aged 85 years and over have a
disability.
- Currently, almost 95%
of people with disability live in the
community. About 5% live in long-stay
institutions.
Disability rates by
age and sex, 1998
(source:
Australian Bureau of
Statistics)
Further Reading
 Some
facts and figures about people with disabilities
in Australia,
Commonwealth Disability Strategy website,
accessed 16 February 2006
Disability,
Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of
Findings, 2003 - ABS,
accessed 24 September 2006
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The
Physical Disability Council of NSW Inc (PDCN) is
the peak body representing people with physical
disabilities across New South Wales.
PDCN is involved in information, education and
systemic advocacy for, and on behalf of, people
with a physical disability.
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