The Disability Information and Resource Centre

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 878 933

Website: www.neda.org.au Email: office@neda.org.au

28/08/2008

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children Services, Bill Shorten Joint Media Release with The Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

New research has shown that the number of children with disability attending school has more than tripled over the last 25 years but people with disability continue to have significantly higher levels of unemployment than people without disability.

Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Jenny Macklin and Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children Services, Bill Shorten, today launched the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report Disability in Australia: trends in prevalence, education, employment and community living.

The report provides important insight into trends relating to people with disability over the past two decades, particularly in relation to education and employment.

Education:

The number of students with a disability attending school increased by 93 per cent between 1981 and 2003
The number of students with a severe or profound limitations rose by 260 per cent rising from 40,000 in 1981 to 150,000 in 2003.
In 2003, almost 115,000 students with severe disability attended mainstream schools rather than special schools, up from around 26,700 students in 1981.

Employment:

In 2003 the unemployment rate for people with disability was almost 9 per cent – significantly higher than people without disability at 5 per cent.
In 2003 there were 21,200 fewer people with disability aged 15 to 64 with a severe or profound limitation in the workforce than in 1998.
Between 1998 and 2003, the number of people with disability in the private sector grew 18 percent, compared to four per cent in the government sector.
Between 1988 and 2003, there was no significant increase in participation in the labour force for people with severe disability.

Community living:

Between 1981 and 2003 there was a trend towards more people with severe disability living in the community, strongest in those aged 5 to 29.

“While the increase in the number of children with disability attending school is encouraging, more has to be done to close the significant gap in employment between people with disability and people without disability,” Ms Macklin said.

“The Australian Government is working with the States and Territories to ensure adequate education and support services for children with disability,” Ms Macklin said.

“The results demonstrate the importance of the Australian Government’s National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy, which will help address the many barriers people with disability face when looking for and keeping work,” Mr Shorten said.

“The Strategy, to be released at the end of the year, will outline clear and practical steps that can be put in place to support people with disability and mental illness in the workplace.

“We also understand the urgent need to establish better data collection to help improve support services for people with disability and their family.

“Last month, Federal, State and Territory Ministers agreed to provide $6.5 million to enhance the ABS Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC); including doubling the sample size which will significantly improve the collection of information in this important area,” Mr Shorten said.