According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics 17.9% of Queenslanders, or just less than 1 in every 5 people have a disability. Over 150 000 Queenslanders have a severe disability and require help or assistance with self-care, mobility or communication needs.
Disability services are provided by a range of government, non-government and private organisations across Queensland. These include approximately 715 accommodation support services; 311 community support services; 379 community access services; 238 respite services; 70 advocacy, information and referral services; and 48 other support services.
A range of services are provided including personal care, supported accommodation, family support, employment services, respite care, education, community access, lifestyle support, recreation, transport, information, technical aids and advocacy. Around three quarters of staff across Australia work for not-for-profit service providers, while government run and private for profit agencies employ the remainder.
Females comprise around 80% of disability services workforce with the age profile indicating that there is a middle aged bulge – with relatively few young workers and the share of workers between 40 and 59 years one third higher than the female workforce generally and 50% higher than the female population as a whole across industries. Casual and part time employment rates are high across Australia with 24% of disability support workers working more than one job.
For more information view the 2012 Industry Skills and Workforce Development Report - Social Disability Services summary
