4430.3.40.001 - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Summary Tables, Queensland, 1998  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/05/1999   
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MEDIA RELEASE

May 5, 1999
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
52/99
One in five Queenslanders has a disability - ABS

In 1998, an estimated 686,700 or approximately one in five Queenslanders had a disability. Of these, 87% had either an activity, schooling or employment restriction, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Younger Queenslanders were less likely to suffer from disabilities, with only 10% of 15 to 24 year olds having a disability compared with almost 90% of Queenslanders aged 85 and over.

Just over one third of Queenslanders with a disability had a profound or severe activity restriction. Of these, 31,400, or 14%, had arthritis and related disorders as their main condition.

An estimated 370,100 Queenslanders with a disability needed assistance with everyday tasks. The primary providers were informal providers such as partners, parents, children and friends. Formal providers also played a part with some people receiving care from both types of providers.

For the 181,700 older persons (aged 65 years or more) needing assistance with at least one activity, the most common areas of need were property maintenance (106,800), health care (88,200) and transport (79,200).

The principal source of cash income for most older Queenslanders with a disability was a government pension or allowance (81%). A further 10% reported superannuation or annuity, dividend or interest as their principal source of cash income.

There were an estimated 83,600 primary carers in Queensland in 1998. Over half (51%) of them were in the age range 35-54, with a further 28% aged 55 and over. The main reported reasons for taking on the caring role were "family responsibility" (50,500), "could provide better care" (32,300) and "emotional obligation" (28,300).

Further details are in Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary Tables, Queensland (cat. no. 4430.3.40.001) available from ABS bookshops in all capital cities.