Tasmania faces a number of challenges in ensuring the wellbeing of all members of the community. The changing demographic structure and changing workforce have increased social and economic pressures within the community, and Tasmania's small and decentralised population poses further challenges to the provision of effective welfare services.
Many members of the community require assistance with different aspects of life. The following table provides an overview of the numbers of people who may utilise community services, including older persons, families with children and persons with a disability.
SUMMARY OF POTENTIAL NEED FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES ASSISTANCE - Tasmania
|
| | | Period | Tasmania |
|
Population | | |
| People aged 65 and over | 30 June 2003p | 67,531 |
| Children aged 0-11 | 30 June 2003p | 76,635 |
| Total population | 30 June 2003p | 477,094 |
| | | | |
Families in Tasmania | | |
| Couple family with children | 7 August 2001 | 54,235 |
| Couple family without children | 7 August 2001 | 47,674 |
| One parent family | 7 August 2001 | 20,476 |
| Other family | 7 August 2001 | 1,693 |
| Total families | 7 August 2001 | 124,078 |
| | | | |
Persons with a disability | | |
| Core activity(a) restriction | 1998 | 81,500 |
| Schooling or employment restriction | 1998 | 49,200 |
| All with specific restrictions(b) | 1998 | 90,600 |
| Without specific restrictions(c) | 1998 | 14,500 |
| All with disability | 1998 | 105,100 |
| | | | |
Mental health | | |
| Persons with long term mental and behavioural problems(d) | 2001 | 47,100 |
| Persons aged 18 years and over: Level of psychological distress(e) | | |
| | High (22-29) | 2001 | 35,200 |
| | Very High (30-50) | 2001 | 12,900 |
(a) Core activites comprise communication, mobility and self care.
(b) Total may be less than the sum of the components as persons may have both a core activity restriction and a schooling or employment restriction.
(c) Includes persons who need assistance with health care, paperwork, transport, housework, property maintenance or meal preparation.
(d) Conditions which have lasted or are expected to last for 6 months or more.
(e) As measured by the Kessler 10 scale, from which a score of 10 to 50 is produced. This is a scale of non-specific psychological distress based on 10 questions about negative emotional states in the 4 weeks prior to interview. Higher scores indicate a higher level of distress, while low scores indicate a low level of distress.
Source: Population by Age and Sex, Australian States and Territories, June 2003 (cat. no. 3201.0); 2001 Census Basic Community Profile and Snapshot, Tasmania;; Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary Tables, Tasmania, (cat. no. 4430.6.40.001); National Health Survey: Summary of Results (cat. no. 4364.0). |