Policy Submission: Development of the 2009 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers

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The purpose of this briefing paper is to provide people living with disability, their families and the disability sector with easy access to the main points discussed in the review and development of the 2009 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC). The Julia Farr Association felt it was important to explore how the review of the SDAC is progressing and the extent that the survey is addressing key issues relating to disability, because the information gathered from it can be used to guide governments and decision makers about the provision of services to people living with disability in the community.

Findings

For the 2009 SDAC to become a more potent source of information, the ABS needs to not only consider increasing the 2009 survey sample size and aligning it with the 2003 version, but take into account the following key points:

Linking the SDAC with the support areas of the CSTDA would help identify potential and unmet demand for services
Gathering more information about the employment of people living with disability and the impact this has on their caregivers, the economy and demand for services would help establish greater awareness about the relationship that exists between disability and work
Ensuring the SDAC provides sufficient information about the impact of social exclusion on the lives of people living with disability would help inform decision makers about how best to respond to such circumstances
Collecting more information about the experiences of people caring for a loved one living with disability is necessary in a climate where the number of caregivers is likely to increase due to an ageing Australian population. This would help ensure that any decisions made about supports and services are responsive to the current and future needs of caregivers.

With a focus on these areas the 2009 SDAC can be a valuable resource that better informs people and governments when making decisions about the supports people living with disability need now and in the future.