Report on Government Services 2017

In 2015-16, total government expenditure on specialist disability services was $8.4 billion — a real increase of 2.3 per cent from 2014-15. Of all specialist disability funding in 2015‑16, 71.1 per cent came from State and Territory governments and 28.9 per cent came from the Australian Government.

Assistance is provided by governments to people with disability and their carers, through specialist disability services provided under the National Disability Agreement (NDA) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Nationally in 2014-15 (2015-16 data were not available for this Report), the number of people with disability using NDA specialist disability services as a proportion of the estimated potential population was:

• Accommodation support, 5.7 per cent (33 081 users)
• Community support, 22.6 per cent (131 652 users)
• Community access, 7.9 per cent (45 871 users)
• Respite, 14.6 per cent (34 992 users)
• Supported employment, 6.8 per cent (20 009 users)
• Open employment, 8.6 per cent of people who had an employment restriction (124 215 users).

In 2014-15, 1857 people who used disability support services under the NDA transitioned to the NDIS. As at 30 June 2015, there were 10 067 NDIS participants who were existing State/Territory service users (that is, had transferred at some time from NDA services).

The Australian, State and Territory governments aim to ensure that people with disability and their carers have an enhanced quality of life, enjoy choice and wellbeing, achieve independence, social and economic participation, and full inclusion in the community.

The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of government funded services for people with disability. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2017 Report.

An overview of the Services for people with disability performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the Services for people with disability chapter and attachment tables.

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Notes

These data and caveats for these data are available in chapter 15 and attachment 15A.

Some percentages reported in these tables include 95 per cent confidence intervals (for example, 80 per cent ± 2.7 per cent).

* Indicates the estimate or proportion has a relative standard error between 25 per cent and 50 per cent and should therefore be used with caution.

.. Not applicable.

Performance indicator data for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in this chapter are available in the attachment tables listed below. Contextual data and further supporting information can be found in the chapter.