Barriers to Accessing Disability Support Services in Australia: A Report by Centre Disability Support

Updated on July 17, 2024

This report examines the multifaceted barriers hindering individuals with disabilities from accessing support services in Australia. Through a comprehensive analysis of physical, socio-economic, attitudinal and institutional aspects, it provides insights into these barriers and proposes recommendations for improvement.

Introduction

Disability services in Australia encompass a broad range of programs that enhance the quality of life and promote inclusion amongst individuals with disabilities. The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plays a pivotal role in providing tailored support to eligible participants across various domains, including healthcare, education, employment and social participation. Services offered under the NDIS include assistive technology, home modifications, therapy services, and personal support. Additionally, disability advocacy organizations, community support groups and government-funded initiatives contribute to the comprehensive support network available to individuals with disabilities in Australia. Accessing disability support services is crucial for individuals with disabilities to lead independent and fulfilling lives. However, numerous barriers often impede their access to these vital services.

Table of Contents

1. Overview of Disability Support Services in Australia
2. Barriers to Accessing Disability Support Services in Australia
3. Impact of the Barriers on Individuals with Disabilities
4. Policy and Legislative Frameworks
5. Recommendations

Overview of Disability Support Services in Australia

The primary framework for delivering disability support is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), introduced in 2013. NDIS provides funding for eligible participants to access a range of support services tailored to their individual needs, including healthcare, therapy, assistive technology, and community participation programs.

This graph shows the Disability prevalence rates by age and sex in Australia, 2018

According to recent statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on disability, approximately 4.4 million Australians (or 18.5% of the population) reported living with a disability in 2018. Among them, 2.6 million individuals had a profound or severe core activity limitation, highlighting the significant demand for disability support services in the country. Almost 3.9 million people had a limitation with the core activities of communication, mobility, self-care, schooling or employment restriction.

This graph shows the persons with disability and activities for which assistance is needed, Australia 2018

In 2018, of the 4.2 million Australians with disability (living in households), three in five (59.8% or 2.5 million people) needed assistance with at least one activity of daily life.

Despite the existence of NDIS, accessing disability support services in Australia remains a complex process, with many facing barriers such as eligibility criteria, limited funding, and bureaucratic hurdles. This has led to disparities in service provision, particularly for marginalized groups such as Indigenous Australians, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and those living in rural and remote areas.

To address these challenges, the Australian government continues to invest in improving the accessibility and inclusivity of disability support services (Whittle, et al. 2018). Initiatives include expanding the NDIS workforce, enhancing cultural competency training for service providers, and investing in innovative technologies to improve service delivery and outreach to underserved populations. Despite ongoing efforts, more work is needed to ensure equitable access to disability support services for all Australians (Foster, et al. 2016).

Barriers to Accessing Disability Support Services in Australia

Physical barriers

• Inaccessible infrastructure: In a research by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation on Disability and health inequalities in Australia, people with physical disability may avoid social situations due to physical obstacles such as inadequate access to transportation. Many public buildings, transport systems and facilities lack appropriate accommodations like ramps, elevators and accessible toilets, making it challenging for people with mobility impairments to navigate as this automatically limits their movement.

• Geographic location: According to a 2018 NDIS Report, the Australian government and the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) recognized that there are barriers as a result of geographical locations and there is indeed a need to develop solutions to address them. Rural and remote areas often face a shortage of disability support services, exacerbating the isolation and limited access to essential resources for individuals living in these regions. 

• Cost barriers: People living with disability face expenses associated with assistive devices, modification to living spaces and transportation especially for those with limited income or inadequate insurance coverage. They can also face additional costs of transport for the person on either public or private transport. For instance, public transport drivers may charge extra or fail to stop for people with disabilities as they are thought to be sluggish and require assistance most of the time. 

• Accessibility of healthcare facilities: Inaccessible facilities prevent individuals with disabilities from receiving timely and appropriate medical care. Based on research by the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health in Melbourne, Australia on Wellbeing monitoring framework, the 2014 General Social Survey confirms that a higher proportion of people with disability reported experiencing a barrier to accessing healthcare when needed.

Socio-economic barriers

• Unemployment and Under-employment: According to a population study on Disability, discrimination and health, nearly 14% of Australians with disability reported disability-based discrimination and this was higher among people who were jobless, in lower rank occupations, younger and underpaid. Notably, increased rate in unemployment and underemployment of people with disability results in reduced financial stability and access to employer-sponsored healthcare benefits.

• Educational Barriers: Lower educational attainment levels among individuals with disabilities restrict their employment prospects and limit their understanding of available support services. Inadequate access to inclusive education, assistive technologies and support resources further perpetuate educational disparities. An evidence report from a National Cross-Sectional Survey by BMC Public Health on Discrimination and Avoidance due to disability in Australia, notes that students living with disability are often excluded and/or teachers refuse to or are reluctant to make reasonable adjustments amounting to institutional discrimination. Also, a senate inquiry in 2016 received evidence of systemic barriers experienced by students with disability and their families including “difficulties enrolling, failure of schools to provide the reasonable accommodation needs by the students, ban from activities in school, insufficient services in rural and remote areas of Australia and skepticism of students with disability by school staff and others leading to not taking the educational need of these disabled students seriously” thereby reducing their chances in the work/labor market.

• Lack of housing options: In a research article by Disability Studies Quarterly, the lack of housing options places an unacceptable demand on many families and informal carers, restricting choice and opportunity for developing an independent life for many people with disabilities. Inadequate housing options including group homes and supported living arrangements, restrict choices for individuals with disabilities, impeding their ability to live independently and access necessary support services.

Attitudinal barriers

• Lack of Understanding and Empathy: Limited understanding of the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities often results in a lack of lack of empathy and sensitivity. This lack of awareness can lead to dismissive or patronizing behavior, further alienating individuals from accessing necessary support. In a research article in 2023 by Radha O’ Meara and Anna Debinski on the challenges facing disabled workers in the Australian industry, the survey taken in this analysis stated most importantly that the respondents who are disabled persons repeatedly called for greater understanding of disability issues. Many screen workers reported a widespread lack of understanding about accessibility in the industry. A producer who uses a wheelchair said he found that the physical barriers he faced went unnoticed by his employer and he was expected to “overcome” these barriers. Many respondents reported difficulties speaking about access requirements at work as employers are frequently inflexible when presented with options such as working remotely or using different technologies to aid them in working effectively as disabled people.

• Perceived Dependency: Negative perceptions of dependency associated with disabilities may lead to paternalistic attitudes, where individuals are not viewed as capable of making decisions about their own care. In a report by Professor Shane Clifton to the Disability Royal Commission in 2020, he mentions that “Paternalism is the assumption that people with disabilities need to be healed, cared for, supported or managed for their own good” He says the problem is not well-being and service provision in essence but that “Paternalistic presumptions of charity and pity still prevail” This undermines autonomy and self-determination, impeding access to person-centered support services. Disabled people are not objects of charity, medical treatment and social protection but people with rights, qualified to claim those rights, are able to make choices for their own lives based on their free and informed approval and be active members of society” (CRPD).

• Communication Barriers: Ineffective communication and language barriers between service providers and individuals with disabilities can create additional hurdles. Misunderstandings or misinterpretations may occur, resulting in inadequate service provision and frustration for both parties. Furthermore, Chen & Vandenbroek (2020) assert that policies that do not consider the linguistic diversity of Australia might unintentionally put at a disadvantage those whose first language is not English, especially for disabled Australians with ethnic diversity. Language barriers can pose significant challenges for non-English speaking Australians with disabilities when accessing public service. The inability to effectively communicate their needs and understand the information provided by service providers can result in limited access to essential services and a reduced quality of life (Luscher et al., 2022).

Institutional barriers

• Complex Service Systems: Individuals often face challenges navigating through various government systems. In an NDIS review article on support for all people with disability to better navigate mainstream and disability support, most disabled people have several interactions with government service systems. Participants and providers find the interfaces between the NDIS and other systems complicated. Presently, the NDIS has multiple functions to assist participants in navigating the ins and outs of the NDIS. Nonetheless, these roles are split and at times accidentally duplicated across Partners in the Community, Support Coordinators, Specialist Support Coordinators and Community Connectors as well as Plan Managers. Also, this review by NDIS states that splitting these roles into many places has added needless complexity and resulted in significant variation in the type and quality of navigation support. 

• Limited Resources: Insufficient funding and resources allocated to disability support services contribute to barriers to accessing timely and quality care. Budget constraints may result in long waiting times, inadequate staffing levels, and limited availability of essential support services. According to Mellifont (2022), one of the significant barriers to the effective operation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is insufficient funding for participants. Several disabled people struggle to obtain the funding they need to receive the needed support and services. This could mean a lack of access to the care required to manage their disabilities, leading to further health difficulties and decreased quality of life. Managing their budgets is another significant challenge faced by NDIS participants. Various participants find it difficult to maneuver the complex system of funding and services causing confusion and frustration. Acquiring funding for services can be a tedious process with various participants facing long delays and bureaucratic obstacles.

• Policy and Legislative Framework: In a publication by the Australian Human Rights Commission on the rights of people with disabilities, Project workers interviewed a range of staff in states and territories who work in Disability Service Programs and gathered information which implied that several disabled people found the eligibility criteria too confining. There was particular concern as regards the need to have been permanently living in a nursing home, or an extended-stay patient in a hospital, before being qualified for attendant care services. Some respondents felt as well that the highest number of hours per week (28) of personal care prevents some people from utilizing the Scheme. Institutional policies and legislative frameworks can create barriers by imposing restrictive eligibility criteria or bureaucratic requirements for accessing disability support services. These regulations may inadvertently exclude individuals with disabilities from receiving the assistance they need.

Addressing these barriers requires comprehensive strategies, including improving access to education and employment opportunities, increasing affordable housing options, enhancing transportation infrastructure, combating discrimination, and promoting inclusive policies and practices. Policymakers, service providers and advocacy groups play crucial roles in implementing these measures to ensure equitable access to disability support services for all Australians.

Impact of these Barriers on Individuals with Disabilities

• Limited participation: For people with disabilities, the aforementioned barriers can restrict their ability to participate fully in social, economic and cultural activities, leading to social isolation and exclusion. As stated by Dr Zoe Atiken et al, “for people with disability, which is one in five Australians, participating in daily life can be blocked by factors such as discrimination and poorly designed environments”. People living with disability encounter a range of barriers which then impacts their activity and involvement in everyday activities. For example, an event charging full ticket prices for accompanying carers or not listing accessibility information, might act as barriers to attending for persons with disability.

• Healthcare disparities: Social barriers faced by people with disability that restrict their participation in everyday activities lead to discrepancies in health and well-being like increased uneasiness and decreased life satisfaction (Dr Zoe Aitken et al, 2022). As stated by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, disabled people have the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination based on disability. The inability of disabled persons to participate in events and have equal and active roles in society as a result of stigmatizing attitudes, discriminatory policies or inaccessible buildings, has a negative impact on their health and overall well-being.

• Education Challenges: Enrolment barriers in educational institutions hinder access to education, limiting opportunities for personal and professional development. In a 2019 survey conducted by the Centre for Youth Development Activities (CYDA), disabled students had been denied enrollment, a few of these students were rejected by government schools and others by non-government schools. The reasons provided concerning the exclusion involve schools advising families that they are short of necessary support and resources to assist them as disabled students. 

• Employment Obstacles: Structural and individual barriers impede employment opportunities, leading to higher unemployment rates among people with disabilities. In a research article by Alexandra Devine et al. (2021) on the Australian Disability Employment Service Program, evidence suggests that people with disabilities have greater socio-economic and mental health benefits from paid employment than people without disabilities. Similarly, the downside of unemployment (social prohibition, economic hindrance, poor psychological system and physical health, unsteady housing) appears to be prominent for disabled people, possibly due to the existing socio-economic disparities they are often exposed to. Insufficient investment and resources made available to people living with disability to meet their basic and disability-related needs should be considered as a structural barrier. As such, many disabled people have not been provided with equitable opportunities to participate across all life domains on an equal basis with others, undermining their capabilities for career development and employment.

Policy and Legislative Frameworks

Existing policies and legislation related to disability support services in Australia have made significant strides in addressing barriers faced by individuals with disabilities. Here is an evaluation of their effectiveness:

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992:

• Effectiveness: The DDA prohibits discrimination based on disability and promotes equal access to various services and facilities. It has been effective in raising awareness and advocating for the rights of individuals with disabilities. However, enforcement and compliance mechanisms need strengthening to ensure its full effectiveness.

National Disability Strategy:

• Effectiveness: The strategy aims to improve the lives of people with disabilities by addressing barriers to participation in various areas. While it provides a comprehensive framework, its effectiveness depends on the implementation at the federal, state and local levels. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are necessary to assess its impact.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD):

• Effectiveness: Ratification of the CRPD demonstrates Australia’s commitment to upholding the rights of individuals with disabilities. It provides a legal framework for promoting accessibility, inclusion and participation. However, challenges exist in translating its principles into actionable policies and practices.

Disability Services and Inclusion Bill 2023:

• Effectiveness: The bill aims to provide a flexible legislative framework for delivering disability services and support. While it shows progress in recognizing the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, its effectiveness will depend on adequate funding, implementation strategies and ongoing evaluation.

Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC):

• Effectiveness: The AHRC plays a crucial role in enforcing anti-discrimination laws and promoting human rights for individuals with disabilities. Its effectiveness lies in its ability to investigate complaints, provide advocacy and raise awareness. However, more resources may be needed to address the growing demand for its services.

Overall, while existing policies and legislation have made strides in addressing barriers to disability support services, ongoing efforts are needed to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, ensure adequate funding and promote meaningful participation and inclusion for individuals with disabilities.

Recommendations

1. Enhance Accessibility:

• Implement universal design principles to make services and facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities.
• Provide funding and resources for modification such as ramps, accessible transport and communication aids.
• Conduct regular accessibility audits and involve individuals with disabilities in the planning and design process

2. Improve Coordination and Collaboration:

• Partnerships should exist among government agencies, service providers and advocacy groups to streamline service delivery and avoid duplication.
• Establish inter-agency working groups to address complex issues and share best practices.

3. Enhance Training Awareness:

• Provide comprehensive training programs for service providers on disability rights, communication strategies and inclusive practices.
• Raise awareness among policymakers, community leaders and the general public about the needs and rights of individuals with disabilities.
• Develop educational materials and campaigns to combat stigma and promote inclusion.

4. Expand Funding and Resources:

• Increase funding for disability support services to meet growing demand and address unmet needs.
• Allocate resources for research, innovation and pilot programs to test new approaches and interventions.
• Ensure equitable distribution of resources across geographical areas and demographic groups.

5. Strengthen Legal Protections:

• Enforce existing anti-discrimination laws and regulations to hold accountable entities that discriminate against individuals with disabilities.
• Review and amend legislation to address emerging challenges and gaps in protection.
• Provide legal assistance and advocacy support for individuals with disabilities to navigate the legal system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the barriers to accessing disability support services in Australia are complex. Addressing these barriers requires a concerted effort from government agencies and policymakers, advocacy groups and the broader community. By implementing the recommendations outlined in this report and promoting a culture of inclusivity and accessibility, Australia can ensure that individuals with disabilities have equal opportunities to thrive and participate fully in the society.

Looking for reliable and trustworthy care services?

At Centre Disability Support, we offer tailored support services for individuals with disabilities throughout Australia. We offer housing options in Logan, Ipswich and Brisbane areas, where we provide independent supported living or assist individuals in finding suitable options for individualised living.

Additionally, we provide day-to-day support for individuals with mental health issues, complex behaviour and other types of disabilities. We also have support coordinators available to assist with planning, navigating NDIS plans, and offering casework support. 

Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, or a loved one, or simply wish to learn more about our services, we’re here to help.

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