Summary

While the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is expected to largely replace the current provision of services to people with disability under the National Disability Agreement (NDA), many people were still receiving support under the NDA in 2016–17.

About 331,000 people used services

Of the 331,000 people who used services, about 2 in 3 (63% or about 208,000) used services that are expected to largely move to the NDIS as it rolls out.

The average age of service users was 35

Most service users were aged under 65 (95%), with an average age of 35. Existing service users aged 65 and over will not move to the NDIS.

About 2 in 5 service users had an intellectual or learning disability

Of all service users, 43% had an intellectual or learning disability. Service users with an intellectual primary disability continue to be the largest disability group, though this has fallen over time.

About 1 in 3 service users aged 15 and over were not in the labour force

Almost one-third (30%) of service users aged 15 and over were not in the labour force. Of those in the labour force, more than two-thirds (68%) were unemployed.

About 2 in 3 service users had an informal carer

About two-thirds (67%) of service users had an informal carer, most often their mother (73%). About 1 in 8 (13%) service users had an informal carer who was aged 65 and over.

About 29,000 service users transitioned to the NDIS

About 1 in 11 (9%) NDA service users transitioned to the NDIS during the year. Most of those who transitioned had an intellectual or learning primary disability (71%).