Disability, Ageing and Carers Survey
Name of Collection
Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers
Contact
Assistant Director
Welfare Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics
PO Box 10
BELCONNEN ACT 2616
Telephone: Canberra 02 6252 7430
Facsimile: Canberra 02 6252 8007
Email: client.services@abs.gov.au
Internet: www.abs.gov.au
Purpose
To enable government departments and community groups to develop policies for the current and future needs of older people and people with disabilities.
Description
This survey provides estimates of the numbers and main characteristics of persons with disabilities, persons aged 60 years or more, and their carers. It is the only national source of information on the assistance requirements of those groups, the extent to which these requirements are met, and the characteristics of those with unmet needs.
The survey is conducted in private dwellings, in establishments such as hospitals, nursing homes, hostels and retirement villages, and other special dwellings. For the 1998 survey, about 16,000 households representing 40,000 persons were selected at random for inclusion in the household component. About 7,000 persons from nursing homes, hostels and hospitals were randomly selected for the establishment component.
Information is collected by personal interview with persons with one or more disabilities, persons aged 60 years and over, and their carers. A mail-based methodology is used for persons living in cared establishments. The ABS provides instructions to the administrators on how to randomly select respondents from their list of occupants and on how to complete the forms.
Data Detail
Disabling conditions;
Core activity restrictions;
Carers;
Assistance (e.g. transport);
Travel in the previous fortnight
Community activities;
Aids;
Accommodation;
Employment;
Education;
Income;
Geographic details;
Household description;
Family description; and
Personal description.
In relation to transport, data are available on ability to use public transport, private transport assistance, carers' involvement in providing assistance, possession of driver's licence and frequency of driving. A further module asks about travel for a range of common purposes (work, school, doctors, shopping, social and leisure) in the previous fortnight, and the main mode of travel on the most recent trip.
Geographic Coverage
Australia.
Frequency of Data Availability
The survey is conducted every five years. The most recent was conducted from March to May 1998. Results will be available in February 1999.
Historical Data
Three previous surveys have been conducted, in 1981 (Survey of Handicapped Persons), 1988 (Survey of Disabled and Aged Persons) and 1993 (Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers). These surveys collected similar but not strictly comparable information.
Products and Services
Publications from the 1993 survey
Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, Australia (cat. no. 4430.0)
Disability, Ageing and Carers: User Guide, Australia (cat. no. 4431.0)
Focus on Families: Caring in Families: Support for Persons Who Are Older or Have Disabilities, 1995 (cat. no. 4423.0)
Disability, Ageing and Carers: Disability and Disabling Conditions Australia (cat. no. 4433.0)
Disability, Ageing and Carers: Visual Impairment (cat. no. 4434.0)
Disability, Ageing and Carers: Hearing Impairment, Australia (cat. no. 4435.0)
Disability, Ageing and Carers: Brain Injury and Stroke, Australia (cat. no. 4437.0)
Other
Disability, Ageing and Carers: Unit Record File on Magnetic Media: Floppy Disk, Magnetic Tape, Compact Disc (cat. no. 4431.0)
Special data services are available on request.
Example of Information Available
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