4430.0 - Disability, Ageing and Carers, Australia: Summary of Findings, 2015 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/03/2017   
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A PROFILE OF AUTISM IN AUSTRALIA

Image: A profile of Autism in Australia

Autism1 may present substantial challenges for those affected, their families and friends. It can also have an impact on a person’s education, as well as their social and economic participation.

In recent years an increasing number of Australians with Autism1 have been identified. There are numerous factors that may contribute to this increase in reporting. The results from the 2015 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers can provide insights into this complex and varied condition.

  • There were 164,000 Australians with Autism1 in 2015
  • The number of Australians with Autism1 increased by 42.1% since 2012
  • 4 out of 5 people with Autism1 were male
  • More than 3/4 of those with Autism1 were young (5-24 years)
  • Almost 2/3 of those with Autism1had profound or severe disability
  • Almost 3/4 of those with Autism1 needed help with cognitive and emotional tasks
  • Almost of half of those with Autism1 needed help with communication
  • Around 4 out of 5 children2 with Autism1 had difficulties at school
  • 40.8% of people with Autism1 participated in the workforce3, compared with 83.2% people with no reported disability

1 ‘Autism’ includes people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder, not otherwise specified. For more information, see Autism in Australia, 2015 (cat. no. 4430.0).
2 Living in households.
3 Labour force figures are for persons aged 15 and 64 years living in households.

Further information is available in Autism in Australia, available in Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, 2015 (cat. no. 4430.0) available from the ABS website (www.abs.gov.au). A pdf version of the information sheet is available from the Downloads tab of this publication.