4147.4.55.001 - Culture and Recreation News, Sep 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 26/09/2007   
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PARTICIPATION IN SPORT BY PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY

The 2006 General Social Survey (GSS) collected information on a wide range of social indicators for people aged 18 years and over. Some of the topics included health and disability, education, employment, sports attendance and participation, and attendance at cultural venues and events. This allows analysis of participation in sport and recreation by people with a disability.

The data shows that people with a disability had consistently lower rates of participation in sport and physical recreation in the 12 months prior to interview than people with no disability or long term health condition. People aged 18 years and over with no disability or long term health condition had a participation rate of 68% (6.3 million persons). This decreased to 60% (1.9 million) for people with a disability but no specific restriction; 54% for people with a mild core activity restriction (162,400); 52% for people with a schooling/employment restriction only (436,400); 45% for people with a moderate core activity restriction (457,400); 44% for people with a severe core activity restriction (294,400); and 29% for people with a profound core activity restriction (101,300).

The participation rate for persons with a sight, hearing or speech disability was 53% (1.1 million), and slightly lower for those with a physical disability (48%, 2.0 million) or a psychological disability (46%, 365,500). The participation rate for those with an intellectual disability was 42% (149,700). Within each type of disability, males had a higher rate of participation in sport and physical recreation. This was particularly noticeable for those with a sight, hearing or speech disability (59% for males compared to 37% for females) as well as for those with a physical disability (53% and 40% respectively).

Summary results from the 2006 GSS are available in the publication General Social Survey: Summary Results, Australia, 2006 (cat. no. 4159.0) available for download free-of-charge from the ABS web site <www.abs.gov.au>.