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Disability Statistics Australia
Information provided by Australian Bureau of Statistics - Published: 2008-12-13
In 2003 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimated that 3,958,300 people or 20% of the Australian population had a disability.
The ABS defined a disability as ‘any limitation, restriction or impairment, which has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months and restricts everyday activities’.
* The ABS reported that a further 4,149,000 or 21% of the population had a long-term health condition that did not limit their everyday activities. The remaining 11,703,800 or 59% of the Australian population had neither a disability or a long-term health condition.
* It was estimated that 1,238,600 people or 6.3% of the Australian population experienced disabilities with a ‘profound or severe core activity limitation’ i.e. they either always, or sometimes need assistance with self-care, mobility or communication. This total was made up of 677,700 people under 65 years of age and 560,900 aged 65 and over.
Main disability groups
* The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare used the ABS data to create estimates of the main disability groups in Australia, 2003.
* Physical/diverse disabilities was the biggest group with 2,043,400 people under 65 and 1,307,200 people over 65 reporting one or more physical/diverse disabilities. Of these, 512,600 people under 65 and 538,500 people over 65 had a profound or severe core activity limitation.
* It was estimated that 728,300 people under 65 and 768,000 people over 65 had one or more sensory/speech disabilities. Of these, 254,700 people under 65 and 325,100 people over 65 had a profound or severe core activity limitation.
* A psychiatric disability was reported by approximately 722,100 people under 65 and 295,800 people over 65. It was estimated that 277,700 people under 65 and 215,100 people over 65 had a profound or severe core activity limitation.
* An intellectual disability was reported by 436,200 people under 65 and 152,500 people over 65. Of these, 215,100 people under 65 and 135,900 people over 65 had a profound or severe core activity limitation.
* Acquired brain injury was reported by 317,400 people under 65 and 120,900 people over 65. Of these, 99,900 people under 65 and 57,500 people over 65 had a profound or severe core activity limitation.
South Australia
* The Australian Association for Families of Children with Disability (AAFCD), using ABS data, estimated that 154,231 or 11.8% of South Australians aged 0–64 had a disability ranging from moderate or mild to profound or severe. They also estimated that 57,877 or 4.4% of South Australians aged 0–64 had a profound or severe disability i.e. one in every 25 people.
Disability among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
* In the past it has been difficult to obtain adequate data on disability among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, in 2002 the ABS ran a multi-dimensional social survey, the National Aboriginal and Torres Islander Social Survey.
* The ABS found that 102,900, or 37% of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 15 years and over had a disability or long-term health condition. It was estimated that 21,800, or 8% of these people had a ‘profound or severe core activity limitation’ i.e. they either always, or sometimes needed assistance with self-care, mobility or communication.
References
* Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2004. Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2003 [online]. [Accessed 3rd April 2008]. Available from World Wide Web:
http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4430.0Main+Features12003?OpenDocument
* Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2006. Disability and disability services in Australia: based on an extract of Australia’s Welfare 2005. Canberra, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
* Australian Association for Families of Children with Disability (AAFCD). 2005. Disability counts 2005. National Noticeboard, Edition 17
- This web page is from the Disabled World Facts & Statistics section which provides: World health and disability statistics and facts including country and state population with disabilities.
