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 2017–18:

About 280,000 people used services

Of the 280,000 people who used services under the NDA, over half used services that are largely expected to move to the NDIS as it rolls out (54%, or about 150,000).

The average age of service users was 37

Most service users were aged under 65 (95%), with an average age of 37. Existing service users aged 65 and over will not move to the NDIS.

The proportion of service users with an intellectual or learning disability has fallen

About 1 in 3 (37%) of services users had an intellectual or learning disability, down from almost 1 in 2 (44%) in 2013–14. The decrease in the proportion of service users with intellectual or learning disability in the last 5 years is largely the result of the transition of these service users into the NDIS.

About 3 in 4 service users were unemployed

Almost three-quarters (71%) of service users aged 15 and over who were in the labour force were unemployed.

About 2 in 3 service users had an informal carer

About two-thirds (65%) of service users had an informal carer, most often their mother (69%). About 1 in 7 (14%) of service users had an informal carer who was aged 65 and over.

About 40,000 service users transitioned to the NDIS

About 1 in 7 (14%) of NDA service users transitioned to the NDIS during the year. Many of those who transitioned had an intellectual or learning disability (67%).