The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) recently released the following:
PRESS RELEASE
Data confirms higher rate of disability amongst migrants
The National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) is the national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers throughout Australia.
‘The latest data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this week confirms what NEDA has been evidencing for years, the rate of disability of migrants from non English speaking countries is at times more than double of the average rate of disability’ states Juan de la Torre.
De la Torre notes, the figures indicate an Australian average rate of disability of 18.9 per cent, however for people born in Italy and Greece, the rate is 45.5 and 45.7 per cent respectively.’
‘Not even a year ago, NEDA launched its report What does the data say to illustrate the higher incidence of disability among migrants and also the earlier onset of disability among migrants’ he says.
Sibylle Kaczorek notes ‘NEDA has been advocating for better data collection, analysis and reporting with successive Governments and the ABS for years. Finally, we are proven correct with our own analysis in what is only the beginning of reporting on disability data with a break down of ethnicity.’
‘The timing could not be better’ adds Kaczorek, ‘given the Government’s new commitment to Multiculturalism and the release of the Productivity Commission’s first report on Disability Care and Support, these latest figures can no longer be ignored.’
‘NEDA will be advocating strongly for the need of a dedicated strategy for people from non English speaking background as part of the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme. The first report is too weak in its recommendations when it comes to people from NESB with disability. The latest data confirms NEDA’s call for free interpreting services and dedicated advocacy services.’
NEDA’s Patron for 2011 Professor Ron McCallum, Senior Australian of the Year 2011 and the Chair of the UN Committee of Experts on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) will be highlighting the urgent need for improvement in service access and service delivery for people from NESB with disability.
Prof McCallum notes, ‘NEDA’s work has been given new legitimacy and relevance with the latest ABS data. In line with the spirit of multiculturalism and the rights enshrined in the CRPD, the Australian Government has a clear mandate to guarantee that the higher rate of disability among its ethnic migrants is investigated, addressed and serviced in a cultural informed and competent way.’
Juan de la Torre is the President, Sibylle Kaczorek is the Executive Officer of NEDA. The National Ethnic Disability Alliance is the national peak organisation representing the rights and interests of people from non-English speaking background (NESB) with disability, their families and carers throughout Australia.
NEDA is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) to provide policy advice to the Australian Government and other agencies on national issues affecting people from NESB with disability, their families and carers.
4 March 2011
CONTACT for INTERVIEWS
Prof Ron McCallum 0411 880 228, Juan de la Torre 0427 480 671, Sibylle Kaczorek 0407 878 933Website: www.neda.org.au Email: office@neda.org.au
