In 2009, four million people in Australia reported having a disability (18.5%), according to new profiles released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). 


The main conditions associated with disability were back problems (15.6%), arthritis (14.8%), hearing loss (6%), leg damage from injury/accident (3%), depression (3%) and asthma (3%). Most (87%) people with disability had specific restrictions, meaning they had limitations in one or more of the everyday core activity areas of self-care, mobility and communication or that they had a schooling or employment restriction. The remainder (13%) had disability that was non-restricting. 

Other key findings:

  • Most young people (92% or 260,000) with disability aged 15-34 years used internet in last 12 months.
  • Almost half (46% or 132,000) of young people with disability aged 15-34 years contacted family and friends via the internet at least once a day.
  • The prevalence of disability has decreased since 2003 from 20% to 18.5%.
  • An estimated 23,700 people in Australia, or around 1 in every 100,000 people, have Multiple Sclerosis.

 

Designed to further inform key policy issues surrounding disability in Australia, these are the first of many planned for future release across the domains of:

  • society 
  • economic security
  • environment/accessibility
  • population groups and 
  • conditions and impairments. 

 

4429.0), together with Disability, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 4446.0) and Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 4430.0) which are available for free download from www.abs.gov.au.