Review of Carer Payment (child) - Statistical Compendium

This paper provides a statistical summary of the population of children with disability and their carers in Australia. It also provides a statistical summary of the Carer Payment and Carer Allowance populations, with a particular focus on comparing recipients caring for children with recipients overall. It draws on data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Centrelink administrative data.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), in 2003 around 317,900 Australian children (8.3% of all children aged 0–14 years) had disability (ABS 2004). Disability was defined as any limitation, restriction or impairment, which had lasted, or was likely to last, for at least six months and restricted everyday activity (ABS 2004).

An estimated 220,300 children had core activity limitations (5.7% of all children), including an estimated 165,300 children with severe or profound core activity limitations (4.3% of all children). Core activities were defined as communication, mobility and self-care.

Communication: Understanding family or friends, being understood by family or friends, understanding strangers or being understood by strangers.

Mobility: Getting into or out of a bed or chair, moving about the usual place of residence, going to or getting around a place away from the usual residence, walking 200 metres, walking up and down stairs without a handrail, bending and picking up an object from the floor or using public transport.

Self-care: Showering or bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, or bladder or bowel control (ABS 2004).

Four levels of core activity limitations were determined based on whether a person needs help, has difficulty, or uses aids or equipment with any of the core activities (communication, mobility or self-care). A person’s overall level of core-activity limitation is determined by his or her highest level of limitation in these activities. The four levels of limitation are profound, severe, moderate and mild.

Profound: The person is unable to do, or always needs help with, a core-activity task.

Severe: The person sometimes needs help with a core-activity task, has difficulty understanding or being understood by family or friends or can communicate more easily using sign language or other non-spoken forms of communication.

Moderate: The person needs no help but has difficulty with a core-activity task.

Mild: The person needs no help and has no difficulty with any of the core-activity tasks but uses aids and equipment, cannot easily walk 200 metres, cannot walk up and down stairs without a handrail, cannot easily bend to pick up an object from the floor, cannot use public transport, can use public transport but needs help or supervision, or needs no help or supervision but has difficulty using public transport (ABS 2004).

Between 1998 and 2003 the overall number of children decreased by around 1.4%; however, the proportion of children with disability increased from 7.6% (296,400 children) in 1998 to 8.3% (317,900 children) in 2003. The proportion of children with severe or profound core activity limitations increased from 3.7% (144,300 children) in 1998 to 4.3% (165,300) in 2003 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Children aged 0–14 years, disability status, Australia, 1998 and 2003

Source: FaCSIA analysis of 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File and AIHW analysis of 1998 SDAC CURF.

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1.1 States and territories

The proportion of children with severe or profound core activity limitations varied across the states and territories. South Australia recorded the highest proportion (5.5% of all children in South Australia), followed by Western Australia (5.4%). Tasmania recorded the lowest proportion (2.8%) (Table 1).

Table 1: All children, disability status, state/territory, 2003

	Core activity limitation
	Profound/severe		Moderate/mild		Total		Total with disability		Total
State/territory	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
New South Wales	49.0	3.8	24.3	1.9	73.3	5.7	109.3	8.4	1,294.9	49.0
Victoria	42.3	4.4	11.0	1.2	53.4	5.6	73.0	7.7	952.0	42.3
Queensland	31.7	4.3	7.8	1.1	39.6	5.4	57.0	7.7	737.5	31.7
South Australia	15.6	5.5	3.7	1.3	19.3	6.8	28.3	9.9	286.0	15.6
Western Australia	20.8	5.4	6.2	1.6	27.0	7.0	36.1	9.3	387.4	20.8
Tasmania	2.7	2.8	1.4	1.5	4.1	4.3	7.6	8.0	94.7	2.7
Australian Capital Territory	2.2	3.5	0.5	0.8	2.7	4.4	3.9	6.2	62.9	2.2
Australia(a)	165.3	4.3	55.0	1.4	220.3	5.7	317.9	8.3	3,850.6	165.3

(a) Includes Northern Territory.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

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1.2 Age and sex

In 2003, there were a greater proportion of boys with disability (10% of all boys aged 0–14 years) than girls (6.5% of all girls aged 0–14 years). Boys also had a higher rate of severe or profound core activity limitations (5.4%) than girls (3.1%) (AIHW 2006).

Children aged 5–9 and 10–14 years were more likely to have disability (9.1% and 11.0% of all children aged 5–9 years and 10–14 years respectively) than children aged 0–4 years (4.4%). The rates of severe or profound core activity limitations were also higher among children aged 5–9 and 10–14 (both 4.9%) than among those aged 0–4 years (2.9%) (see Table 2). This may be due, however, to difficulties in assessing core activity limitations at such young ages. Since infants and very young children cannot be expected to perform many core activities, the 2003 SDAC uses separate questions to identify core activity limitation among young children with disabilities (children aged 0–4 years) compared to children aged 5 years and over (AIHW 2006).

Table 2: All children, disability status, age and sex, 2003

	Core activity limitation
	Profound/severe		Moderate/mild		Total		Total with disability		All children
	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)
Boys
0–4	20.8	3.3	0.4	0.1	21.2	3.4	29.7	4.8	623.7
5–9	43.2	6.5	15.2	2.3	58.4	8.7	78.2	11.7	669.2
10–14	42.5	6.3	20.8	3.1	63.3	9.4	88.6	13.1	676.9
Total	106.6	5.4	36.3	1.8	142.9	7.3	196.5	10.0	1969.8
Girls
0–4	15.1	2.5	1.6	0.3	16.7	2.8	23.8	4.0	598.8
5–9	20.6	3.3	8.5	1.3	29.1	4.6	40.1	6.4	630.0
10–14	23.1	3.5	8.6	1.3	31.7	4.9	57.5	8.8	652.1
Total	58.7	3.1	18.7	1.0	77.4	4.1	121.4	6.5	1,880.8
Children
0–4	35.9	2.9	1.9	0.2	37.8	3.1	53.5	4.4	1,222.5
5–9	63.8	4.9	23.7	1.8	87.5	6.7	118.2	9.1	1,299.2
10–14	65.6	4.9	29.4	2.2	95.0	7.1	146.1	11.0	1,329.0
Total	165.3	4.3	55.0	1.4	220.3	5.7	317.9	8.3	3,850.6

Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

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1.3 Most prevalent disabling conditions

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2006) grouped disabling conditions into four major categories.

Intellectual/learning disability—associated with impairment of intellectual functions, with limitations in a range of daily activities and with restriction in participation in various areas of life.

Psychiatric—associated with clinically recognisable symptoms and behaviour patterns frequently associated with distress that may impair personal functioning in normal social activity.

Sensory/speech disability—associated with impairment of the eye, ear and related structures and of speech structures and functions.

Physical/diverse—associated with the presence of an impairment which may have diverse effects within and among individuals, including effects on physical activities such as mobility.

In 2003, the most prevalent disabilities reported among children were intellectual/learning, reported for an estimated 166,700 children (4.3% of all children), and physical/diverse, reported for an estimated 162,800 children (4.2%). These were followed by sensory/speech (129,700 children or 3.4%) and psychiatric (81,000 children or 2.1%).

However, when considering only the main condition reported for a child, physical/diverse disabilities were the most prevalent (125,200 children, 3.3% of all children), followed by intellectual/learning (85,000 children, 2.2%), sensory/speech (60,200 children, 1.6%) and psychiatric (47,500 children, 1.2%) (Figure 2).

Certain types of disabilities are more likely to be reported as the main condition. For example, physical/diverse conditions had the highest likelihood of being reported as the main conditions—77% of children with a physical/diverse condition reported it as their main condition. In contrast, less than half (46%) of children with a sensory/speech condition reported this condition as their main condition.

Figure 2: Children with disability, prevalence rate of disability groups, main and all conditions, 2003

Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

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1.4 Type of assistance received

Around 94% of children with severe or profound core activity limitations received informal assistance with core activities. Of these, 69% received a combination of formal and informal assistance and 26% received informal assistance only. A further 3.2% received formal assistance only and 2.5% did not receive assistance with core activities (AIHW 2006).

The majority (80%) of assistance with self-care received by children with severe or profound core activity limitations was informal only. The majority of assistance with communication and mobility was a combination of informal and formal support (79% and 61% respectively) (AIHW 2006).

While 98% of children requiring assistance with communication received assistance with this activity, only 60% of these children had their need for assistance with communication fully met. In comparison, 90% of children requiring assistance with self-care had this need fully met (AIHW 2006) (Table 3).

Table 3: Children with severe or profound core activity limitations, need for assistance with daily activities by type of assistance received, 2003

	Assistance received			Extent need for assistance met				Number of children requiring assistance
Type of activity	Informal only	Formal only	Both	None	Fully met	Partly met	Not met
Number (’000)
Mobility	27.8	1.5	48.5	1.2	62.6	15.2	1.2	79.1
Communication	15.4	5.6	87.0	2.3	66.6	41.4	2.3	110.3
Self-care	63.5	0.9	12.0	3.3	72.0	4.4	3.3	79.7
Total core activities	41.6	5.2	110.7	4.1	107.0	50.6	4.1	161.7
Percentage
Mobility	35.2	2.0	61.3	1.6	79.2	19.3	1.6	100.0
Communication	14.0	5.1	78.9	2.1	60.4	37.6	2.1	100.0
Self-care	79.6	1.1	15.1	4.2	90.4	5.5	4.2	100.0
Total core activities	25.7	3.2	68.5	2.5	66.2	31.3	2.5	100.0

Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

2.1 Number of carers

According to SDAC, in 2003 there were 2.6 million carers who provided some assistance to those who needed help because of disability or age (ABS 2004). There were about 472,500 primary carers (19% of all carers). A primary carer was defined as a person who provides the most informal assistance, in terms of help or supervision, to a person with one or more disabilities. The assistance must be ongoing, or likely to be ongoing, for at least six months and be provided for one or more core activities (communication, mobility or self-care). Primary carers include people aged 15 years and over.

There were approximately 57,800 primary carers of children with disability (12% of all carers), including approximately 54,600 who were the primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations.

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2.2 Age and sex

Around 92% of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were female compared to 71% of all primary carers.

Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were younger than primary carers overall. Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were most commonly aged 35–44 years (49%), while primary carers overall were most commonly aged 45–54 years (24%) (Table 4 and Figure 3).

Table 4: Primary carers, age and sex, 2003

	Primary carers of children with severe/profound core activity limitations			All primary carers
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Age group (years)	(’000)	(’000)	(’000)	(’000)	(’000)	(’000)
24 and under	-	1.8	1.8	4.5	13.5	18.1
25–34	1.5	15.5	17.0	9.0	35.1	44.1
35–44	1.2	25.9	27.0	17.0	65.6	82.6
45–54	1.9	6.6	8.5	32.2	82.7	114.9
55–64	-	0.3	0.3	25.0	74.8	99.7
65–74	-	-	-	22.9	38.6	61.5
75 and over	-	-	-	24.9	26.8	51.6
Total	4.5	50.1	54.6	135.4	337.1	472.5

– = nil.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Figure 3: Primary carers, age distribution, 2003

Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

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2.3 States and territories

The proportion of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations varied across the states and territories. Nationally, primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations accounted for 12% of all primary carers. In Western Australia, primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations accounted for 18% of all primary carers (Table 5).

Table 5: Primary carers, states and territories, 2003

	Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations		All primary carers
State/territory	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
New South Wales	15.1	10.3	146.7	100.0
Victoria	13.1	11.1	118.9	100.0
Queensland	11.4	10.3	110.4	100.0
South Australia	5.2	14.0	37.0	100.0
Western Australia	7.2	18.4	39.0	100.0
Tasmania	1.3	9.0	14.5	100.0
Australian Capital Territory	0.6	13.8	4.0	100.0
Australia(a)	54.6	11.6	472.5	100.0

(a) Includes Northern Territory.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

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2.4 Relationship to care recipient

The majority of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were mothers (91%) (Table 6).

Table 6: Primary carers of co-resident children with severe or profound core activity limitations, relationship to care recipient, 2003

Primary carer	(’000)	%
Mother	49.4	91.1
Father	4.5	7.8
Female friend or relative	0.7	1.1
Male friend or relative	-	-
Total	54.6	100.0

– = nil.
Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

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2.5 Assistance with core activities

The majority of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations provided assistance with self-care (76%) and communication (67%). Less than half (45%) provided assistance with mobility (Table 7).

Table 7: Primary carers of co-resident children with severe or profound core activity limitations, assistance with core activities, 2003

Primary carer	(’000)	%
Self-care	42.2	76.0
Mobility	25.6	44.9
Communication	37.2	67.2
Total	54.6	100.0

Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

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2.6 Hours of care

The majority (32,200 or 59%) of primary carers of children aged 0–14 years with severe or profound core activity limitations provided more than 40 hours of care per week (Table 8).

Table 8: Primary carers of co-resident children with severe or profound core activity limitations, hours of care provided per week, 2003

Primary carer	(’000)	%
Less than 20 hours	6.2	11.4
20 to less than 40 hours	12.3	22.5
40 hours or more	32.2	59.0
Not stated	3.9	7.1
Total	54.6	100.0

Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

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2.7 Need for support

Almost half (48%) of primary carers of children with severe or profound core limitations reported needing more support. Of these primary carers, 40% reported more respite care as their greatest need and 34% reported financial assistance as their greatest need (Table 9).

Table 9: Primary carers of co-resident children with severe or profound core activity limitations, greatest need for support, 2003

	(’000)	%
Overall need
Needs more support	27.2	47.7
Does not need more support	22.6	41.9
Not stated	4.8	10.5
Total	54.6	100.0
Greatest need(a)
More respite care	11.1	40.4
Financial assistance	9.2	34.0
More physical assistance	0.9	3.4
More emotional assistance	2.2	8.5
Improvement in own health	1.6	5.9
Other	2.2	8.0
Total	27.2	100.0

(a) Includes only primary carers who reported needing more support.
Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

Access Economics (2005) reported that 37.2% of all primary carers felt they needed more support in their caring role. However, the need for more support varied depending on the type of disability of the care recipient. Carers of people with an intellectual disability (53%) and a psychological disability (44%) were most likely to report needing additional assistance. Carers of people with a sensory or speech disability (24%) or a physical disability (35%) were the least likely to report needing additional support.

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2.8 Effect of caring role on relationships

Most primary carers of a child with a severe or profound core activity limitation reported that their relationship with the child was either unaffected (44%) or was closer (37%) as a result of their caring role (AIHW 2006). However, around 36% of carers reported that their relationship with their spouse was strained, that they were losing touch or lacked time together alone. One-quarter (25%) reported that they had lost, or were losing, touch with friends. Around 39% reported that they had less time to spend with other family members.

Table 10: Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations, main effect on relationships with child, spouse, family and friends, 2003

	Child		Spouse/partner		Other family		Friends(a)
	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
Unaffected	24.0	44.0	14.5	33.0	15.2	31.1	24.9	46.2
Closer	20.4	37.3	8.8	19.3	3.1	6.1	2.9	5.1
Losing touch/lack of time alone	-	-	9.8	21.6	20.8	38.8	13.6	24.5
Strained	6.5	11.2	6.7	14.6	6.9	12.9	-	-
Other effect	-	-	-	-	1.6	3.0	9.8	17.2
Not stated	3.7	7.5	4.6	11.5	3.7	8.1	3.4	7.0
Total	54.6	100.0	44.5	100.0	51.3	100.0	54.6	100.0

– = nil.
(a) Primary carers who reported that their circle of friends increased are included in the row labelled ‘Closer’ and primary carers who reported that their circle of friends changed are included in the row labelled ‘Other effect’.
Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

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2.9 Labour force participation

In 2003, the majority (61%) of all primary carers were not in the labour force. The labour force participation characteristics of all primary carers and primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were similar. Around 61% were not in the labour force, 38% were employed, and 1% were unemployed. A lower proportion of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations (11%) were employed full time compared to all primary carers (17%) and a higher proportion were employed part time (27% compared to 21%) (ABS 2004).

Table 11: Labour force participation, carer status, 2003

	Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations		All primary carers		Not a carer(a)
Labour force participation	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
Employed full-time	5.8	10.7	82.1	17.4	6,013.2	45.4
Employed part-time	14.8	27.2	96.7	20.5	2,518.7	19.0
Unemployed, looking for full-time work	0.2	0.4	4.9	1.0	312.7	2.4
Unemployed, looking for part-time work	0.2	0.3	0.2	-	159.8	1.2
Not in the labour force	33.5	61.4	288.7	61.1	4,242.8	32.0
Total	54.6	100.0	472.5	100.0	13,247.1	100.0

– = nil.
(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Labour force participation by age of child

The labour force participation of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations varied depending on the age of the child. These carers were less likely to be employed full-time when the child they cared for was 0–4 years (2%), compared to when the child was aged 10–14 years (11%). Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were more likely to not be in the labour force (63%) compared to primary carers of children aged 10–14 years with severe or profound core activity limitations (57%).

Table 12: Labour force participation of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations, age of child, 2003

	Age of child
	0–4 years		5–9 years		10–14 years		Total
Labour force participation	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
Employed full-time	0.3	2.2	2.9	17.5	2.6	11.3	5.8	10.7
Employed part-time	5.2	34.8	2.4	14.8	7.2	31.1	14.8	27.2
Unemployed, looking for full time work	-	-	-	-	0.2	1.0	0.2	0.4
Unemployed, looking for part time work	-	-	0.2	1.0	-	-	0.2	0.3
Not in the labour force	9.5	63.0	11.0	66.7	13.0	56.6	33.5	61.4
Total	15.1	100.0	16.5	100.0	23.0	100.0	54.6	100.0

– = nil.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Labour force participation of mothers

The majority (62%) of mothers who were primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were not in the labour force, compared to 37% of all mothers of children of the same age (Table 13).

Table 13: Mothers, labour force participation, 2003

	Mothers who were primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations		All mothers of children
Labour force participation	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
Employed full-time	4.8	9.6	502.9	22.7
Employed part-time	13.7	27.7	823.5	37.2
Unemployed looking for full-time work	-	-	21.5	1.0
Unemployed looking for part-time work	0.2	0.3	56.5	2.6
Not in the labour force	30.8	62.6	811.9	36.6
Total	49.4	100.0	2,216.4	100.0

– = nil.
Source: AIHW 2006, Disability updates: children with disabilities, Bulletin 42.

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2.10 Income

The principal source of income for the majority (55%) of primary carers was a government pension or allowance. The proportion was higher for primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations (67%). Around one-quarter of primary carers (26%) reported wages or salary as their principal source of income. The proportion was slightly lower for primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations (24%).

In contrast, 51% of people without caring responsibilities reported wage or salary as their principal source of income and 24% reported a government pension or allowance. The median gross personal weekly income for a primary carer was $237 in 2003, compared to $407 for people without caring responsibilities (ABS 2004).

Table 14: Principal source of personal income, carer status, 2003

	Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations		All primary carers		Not a carer
Principal source of personal income	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
Wages or salary	13.1	24.1	123.6	26.2	6,832.3	51.6
Unincorporated business income	3.6	6.5	21.5	4.6	955.8	7.2
Government pension or allowance	36.4	66.7	261.1	55.3	3,163.3	23.9
Other(b)	1.3	2.3	34.2	7.2	915.5	6.9
Not stated(c)	0.2	0.4	32.0	6.8	1,380.3	10.4
Total	54.6	100.0	472.5	100.0	13,247.1	100.0

(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
(b) Includes child support or maintenance, worker’s compensation, profit or loss from rental property, dividends and interest, superannuation or annuity, and any other main source not elsewhere classified.
(c) Includes persons who reported no source of income, nil or negative income or main source of income not known.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Around 31% of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations were in the bottom two income quintiles, compared to 50% of primary carers overall and 34% of people without caring responsibilities (Table 15).

Table 15: Income quintiles, carer status, 2003

	Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations		All primary carers		Not a carer(a)
Quintile	(’000)	%	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
First	9.4	17.2	67.6	14.3	2,363.1	17.8
Second	7.8	14.2	169.9	36.0	2,107.4	15.9
Third	22.6	41.3	92.9	19.7	2,256.4	17.0
Fourth	7.7	14.1	50.9	10.8	2,360.7	17.8
Fifth	3.6	6.6	38.8	8.2	2,437.5	18.4
Unknown	3.6	6.5	52.4	11.1	1,722.1	13.0
Total	54.6	100.0	472.5	100.0	13,247.1	100.0

(a) Persons aged 15 years and over.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

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2.11 Work preferences and barriers to labour force participation

The 2003 SDAC asked whether the primary carer would like to be employed while caring. This question was asked of all primary carers living in households, who were unemployed or not in the labour force and were not retired. Of those applicable primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations, just over half (51%) reported that they would like to work. In contrast, of the applicable primary carers less than one-quarter (24%) reported that they would like to work (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Preference for work while caring, all primary carers and primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations, 2003(a)

(a) Population of primary carers living in households, who were unemployed or not in the labour force and were not retired.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

Of those who expressed a preference to work, almost half (47%) of primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations reported that no alternative care arrangement was their main perceived barrier to re-entering the workforce. A further 23% reported that difficulty in arranging working hours was their main barrier. Similarly, 32% of all primary carers reported no alternative care arrangement as their main barrier (Table 16).

Table 16: Main perceived barriers to re-entering workforce while caring, all primary carers and primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations, 2003(a)

	Primary carers of children with severe or profound core activity limitations		All primary carers
Perceived barrier to re-entering workforce while caring	(’000)	%	(’000)	%
No alternative care arrangement available	8.3	47	22.0	32.0
Disruption to main recipient of care	1.6	9.3	7.7	11.2
Difficulty in arranging working hours	4.0	23.2	10.9	15.9
Loss of skills from being out of workforce	0.4	2.1	3.0	4.4
Age	0.3	1.7	9.6	13.9
Other difficulty	2.8	16.3	14.5	21.1
No difficulties	-	-	1.1	1.6
Total(a)	17.4	100.0	68.8	100.0

– = nil.
(a) Population of primary carers living in households, who were unemployed or not in the labour force and were not retired and would like to work while caring for main recipient of care.
Source: FaCSIA analysis of ABS 2003 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers Confidentialised Unit Record File.

3.1 Number of recipients

At June 2007, there were 3,572 Carer Payment (CP) (child) recipients, accounting for approximately 3.1% of all CP recipients (116,614 recipients).

Around 91% of CP (child) recipients also received Carer Allowance (CA) (child) (3,234 recipients).

3.2 Age and sex

The CP (child) recipient population was younger than the total CP recipient population. CP (child) recipients were most commonly aged 35–44 years (47%), while CP recipients overall were most commonly aged 55–64 years (36%) (Table 17 and Figure 5).

Around 85% of CP (child) recipients were female compared to 67% of all CP recipients.

Table 17: CP recipients, age and sex, June 2007

	CP (child) recipients (number)			All CP recipients (number)
Age group (years)	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
24 and under	np	np	95	1,404	2,447	3,851
25–34	91	898	989	3,125	5,477	8,602
35–44	239	1,441	1,680	6,872	14,091	20,963
45–54	156	514	670	9,817	24,599	34,416
55–64	38	86	124	13,576	28,238	41,814
65–74	np	np	np	2,824	2,961	5,785
75 and over	np	np	np	521	662	1,183
Total	534	3,038	3,572	38,139	78,475	116,614

np = not published due to small numbers.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Figure 5: CP recipients, age distribution, June 2007

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.3 States, territories and regional distribution

The proportion of CP (child) recipients varies across the states and territories. At June 2007, CP (child) recipients accounted for 3.1% of all CP recipients nationally. The Australian Capital Territory (4.6%) and Queensland (3.7%) exceeded this proportion, while New South Wales (2.8%) and Western Australia (2.9%) fell below it (Table 18).

Table 18: CP recipients, states and territories, June 2007

	CP (child) (number)	All CP recipients (number)	Proportion of CP (child) to all CP recipients (%)
State/territory
New South Wales	1,190	43,059	2.8
Victoria	871	29,487	3
Queensland	825	22,158	3.7
South Australia	274	8,900	3.1
Western Australia	215	7,437	2.9
Tasmania	144	4,185	3.4
Northern Territory	20	578	3.5
Australian Capital Territory	31	674	4.6
Total	3,572	116,614	3.1

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

The proportion of CP (child) recipients to all CP recipients varied within the states. For example in New South Wales, Northern Statistical Division (5.9%) and Murrumbidgee Statistical Division (4.2%) had the highest proportion of CP (child) recipients compared to all CP recipients in those Statistical Divisions (Table 19).

Table 19: CP recipients, Statistical Divisions(a) June 2007 (indicative data only)

	CP (child) recipients (number)	All CP recipients (number)	Proportion of CP (child) to all CP recipients (%)
Statistical Division(a)
New South Wales(b)	1,190	43,059	2.8
Sydney	587	23,613	2.5
Hunter	136	4,868	2.8
Illawarra	75	3,321	2.3
Richmond–Tweed	62	1,949	3.2
Mid-North Coast	115	3,484	3.3
Northern	74	1,245	5.9
North Western	24	803	3
Central West	24	1,100	2.2
South Eastern	29	1,067	2.7
Murrumbidgee	35	826	4.2
Murray	np	567	np
Far West	np	227	np
Victoria(b)	871	29,487	3.0
Melbourne	575	19,947	2.9
Barwon	46	1,703	2.7
Western District	np	574	np
Central Highlands	43	1,110	3.9
Wimmera	np	305	np
Mallee	21	620	3.4
Loddon	30	1,366	2.2
Goulburn	41	1,446	2.8
Ovens–Murray	27	548	4.9
East Gippsland	27	617	4.4
Gippsland	31	1,224	2.5
Queensland(b)	825	22,158	3.7
Brisbane	362	8,173	4.4
Gold Coast	98	2,812	3.5
Sunshine Coast	78	1,641	4.8
West Moreton	np	671	np
Wide Bay–Burnett	95	3,404	2.8
Darling Downs	39	1,426	2.7
South West	np	113	np
Fitzroy	35	890	3.9
Central West	np	44	np
Mackay	np	740	np
Northern	34	1,024	3.3
Far North	34	1,135	3.0
North West	np	88	np
South Australia(b)	274	8,900	3.1
Adelaide	204	6,168	3.3
Outer Adelaide	np	658	np
Yorke and Lower North	np	407	np
Murray Lands	np	481	np
South East	np	258	np
Eyre	np	172	np
Northern	np	761	np
Western Australia(b)	215	7,437	2.9
Perth	153	5,114	3.0
South West	22	944	2.3
Lower Great Southern	np	243	np
Upper Great Southern	np	72	np
Midlands	np	249	np
South Eastern	np	156	np
Central	np	313	np
Pilbara	np	56	np
Kimberley	np	274	np
Tasmania(b)	144	4,185	3.4
Greater Hobart	58	1,500	3.9
Southern	np	418	np
Northern	45	1,187	3.8
Mersey–Lyell	np	1,078	np

np = not published due to small numbers.

(a) Based on postcode concordance to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Australian Standard Geographical Classification boundaries.

(b) Indicative data only. Data by Statistical Divisions for states will not sum to state totals due to confidentialised cells and unknown postcodes.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.4 Marital status

At June 2007, the proportion of CP (child) recipients who were married or de facto (63%) was comparable to that of all CP recipients (65%). A lower proportion of CP (child) recipients were single (8% compared to 17% for all CP recipients). A higher proportion of CP (child) recipients were divorced or separated (28% compared to 15%). There was also a lower proportion of widows among CP (child) recipients (1%) compared to all CP recipients (3%) (Table 20 and Figure 6).

Table 20: CP recipients, marital status, June 2007

	CP (child) recipients		All CP recipients
Marital status	Number	%	Number	%
Single	283	7.9	20,133	17.3
Married/de facto	2,239	62.7	75,462	64.7
Divorced/separated	999	28	17,678	15.2
Widowed	51	1.4	3,341	2.9
Total	3,572	100	116,614	100.0

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Figure 6: CP recipients, marital status, June 2007

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.5 Indigenous recipients

There were around 150 Indigenous recipients of CP (child) and 4,085 Indigenous recipients of CP in total. Indigenous recipients accounted for 4.2% of CP (child) recipients and 3.5% of all CP recipients (Table 21).

Table 21: CP recipients, Indigenous status, June 2007

	CP (child) recipients		All CP recipients
Indigenous status	Number	%	Number	%
Indigenous	150	4.2	4,085	3.5
Non-Indigenous	3,172	88.8	103,753	89.0
Unknown	250	7.0	8,776	7.5
Total	3,572	100.0	116,614	100.0

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.6 Multiple care

Around 95% (3,390) of CP (child) recipients cared for one child only, 4% (160) cared for two children and the remaining 1% cared for three or more children.

There was 0.92 CP (child) recipient for every child receiving care and 0.99 CP recipient for every care receiver.

3.7 Country of birth of recipients

A higher proportion of CP (child) recipients were born in Australia (77%) compared to all CP recipients (64%) (Table 22).

Table 22: CP recipients, top 10 countries of birth, June 2007

CP (child) recipients			All CP recipients
Country of birth	Number	%	Country of birth	Number	%
Australia	2,740	76.7	Australia	74,950	64.3
United Kingdom	146	4.1	United Kingdom	6,725	5.8
Vietnam	85	2.4	Lebanon	3,464	3
Lebanon	81	2.3	Vietnam	2,682	2.3
New Zealand	71	2.0	Italy	2,260	1.9
Iraq	46	1.3	Iraq	2,225	1.9
China	35	1	Greece	1,752	1.5
Philippines	31	0.9	New Zealand	1,713	1.5
Turkey	np	np	Yugoslavia	1,506	1.3
Afghanistan	np	np	Philippines	1,308	1.1
Fiji	np	np	China	1,102	0.9
Other	286	8	Other	16,927	14.5
Total overseas-born	832	23.3	Total overseas-born	41,664	35.7
Total	3,572	100.0	Total	116,614	100.0

np = not published due to small numbers. Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.8 Total duration on payment

At June 2007, the majority of CP (child) recipients had been on the payment for one year or less (47%), compared to 37% of all CP recipients (Table 23 and Figure 7). It should be noted that there were additional behavioural criteria introduced on 1 July 2006 that allowed more people to claim the payment.

Table 23: CP recipients, total duration on payment, June 2007

	CP (child) recipients		All CP recipients
Duration (years)	Number	%	Number	%
One year or less	1,670	46.8	42,910	36.8
2	526	14.7	15,814	13.6
3	266	7.4	12,379	10.6
4	237	6.6	10,571	9.1
5	200	5.6	8,914	7.6
More than 5 years	673	18.8	26,026	22.3
Total	3,572	100.0	116,614	100.0

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Figure 7: CP recipients, total duration on payment, June 2007

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

3.9 Homeownership of recipients

A lower proportion of CP (child) recipients (42%) were homeowners compared to all CP recipients (49%) (Figure 8).

Figure 8: CP recipients, homeownership, June 2007

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.10 Claims, grants and rejections

In the past two financial years (2004–05 and 2005–06), 12% of CP (child) claims were granted. In 2004–05 the most common reason for rejection (73% of rejections) was that the child did not meet the definition of a ‘profoundly disabled child’ (Table 24).

Table 24. CP (child) claims, grants and rejections, 2003–04 and 2004–05(a)

	Grants		Rejections		Claims
Financial year	Number	%	no.	%	Number
2004–05	502	12.0	3,791	88.0	4,293
2005–06	591	12.0	4,299	88.0	4,890

(a) The above data is a count of claims made in the financial years, not a count of customers who lodged claims. It is possible for customers to have more than one claim record (e.g. a rejected claim can be followed by a granted claim).

Source: Centrelink administrative data.

The grant rate for CP (child) is much lower than for CP overall. The grant rate for all CP recipients was 66% in both 2004–05 and in 2005–06.

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3.11 Rate of payment

Around 80% (93,600) of CP recipients received the maximum rate of payment in June 2007. In comparison, approximately 73% of CP (child) customers in May 2007 received the maximum rate of payment.

The proportion of CP (child) customers who received the maximum rate of payment varied across the states and territories. CP (child) customers in the Northern Territory were most likely to receive the maximum rate of payment (80%), while customers in the Australian Capital Territory were least likely to receive the maximum rate (60%). It should be noted that these proportions are based on small numbers of customers. Among the other states, customers in Tasmania were most likely to receive the maximum rate of payment (80%), while customers in Victoria were least likely (70%) (Table 25).

Table 25: CP (child) customers, payment rate, May 2007(a)

	Less than maximum rate (number)	Maximum rate (number)	Total CP (child) customers (number)	Proportion on maximum rate (%)
State/territory
New South Wales	264	793	1,057	75
Victoria	239	550	789	70
Queensland	201	570	771	73.9
South Australia	66	184	250	73.6
Western Australia	53	145	198	73.2
Tasmania	26	104	130	80
Northern Territory	np	np	np	85
Australian Capital Territory	np	np	np	60
Total	864	2,381	3,245	73.4 (average)

np = not published due to small numbers and confidentiality concerns.

(a) Data for June 2007 was not available at time of publication.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.12 Care receivers of CP recipients

At June 2007 there were 3,862 children (0–15 years) and 113,855 adults receiving care from CP recipients (Table 26).

Table 26: Care receivers of CP recipients, sex, June 2007

	Children		Adults		Total care receivers
Sex	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Male	2,477	64.1	57,604	50.6	60,081	51.0
Female	1,383	35.8	56,251	49.4	57,634	49.0
Total	3,862	100.0	113,855	100.0	117,717	100.0

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Around 64% of children receiving care were male, while 51% of adults receiving care were male (Figure 9).

Figure 9: Care receivers of CP recipients, sex, June 2007

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.13 Care receivers of CP recipients across states and territories

The proportion of children receiving care from CP recipients varied across the states and territories. The states or territories with the highest proportion of children receiving care were the Australian Capital Territory (4.5%) and Queensland (4.0%). Children accounted for 2.9% of care receivers in New South Wales (Table 27).

Table 27: Care receivers of CP recipients, states and territories, June 2007

	Children		Adults		Total care receivers
State/territory	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
New South Wales	1,268	2.9	42,235	97.1	43,503	100.0
Victoria	957	3.2	28,750	96.8	29,707	100.0
Queensland	901	4	21,475	96	22,376	100.0
South Australia	290	3.2	8,762	96.8	9,052	100.0
Western Australia	236	3.2	7,221	96.8	7,457	100.0
Tasmania	155	3.7	4,085	96.3	4,240	100.0
Northern Territory	20	3.3	578	96.7	598	100.0
Australian Capital Territory	33	4.9	647	95.1	680	100.0
Total(a)	3,862	3.3	113,855	96.7	117,717	100.0

(a) Includes overseas residents and people whose state or territory was not specified.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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3.14 Medical conditions of children receiving care from CP recipients

The most common medical condition for males and females under the care of CP (child) recipients was severe multiple mobility disability (18% of males and 27% of females). For boys, the next most commonly reported conditions were autistic disorder (17%) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (17%). For girls, the next most commonly reported conditions were IQ less than 55 (13%) and autistic disorder (9%) (Table 28).

Table 28: Children receiving care from CP (child) recipients, top 10 first-listed medical conditions, sex, June 2007

Top 10 first-listed medical conditions
Males	Number	%	Females	Number	%
Severe multiple disability – mobility	443	17.9	Severe multiple disability – mobility	369	26.7
Autistic disorder	425	17.2	IQ less than 55	174	12.6
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder	216	8.7	Autistic disorder	122	8.8
IQ less than 55	214	8.6	Cerebral palsy	73	5.3
Learning disability	151	6.1	Learning disability	65	4.7
Cerebral palsy	131	5.3	Down syndrome	42	3
Asperger's disorder	114	4.6	Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder	37	2.7
Down syndrome	87	3.5	Rett syndrome	29	2.1
Bilateral blindness	46	1.9	Other chromosomal or syndromic condition	26	1.9
Leukaemia, haemophagocytic lymphohistiocystosis and other childhood malignancies	46	1.9	Bilateral blindness	26	1.9
Other	604	24.4	Other	420	30.4
Total	2,477	100	Total	1,383	100.0

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

3.15 Treating health professional for children receiving care from CP recipients

Around 76% of children receiving care from CP recipients were treated by a medical practitioner and 23% were treated by a child specialist.

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3.16 Profound disability categories of children receiving care from CP recipients.

Around 44% of children receiving care from a CP recipient had severe multiple disabilities and around 39% had severe behavioural disabilities or medical conditions (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Children receiving care from CP recipients, profound disability category, June 2007

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

4.1 Number of recipients

At June 2007, there were 109, 118 Carer Allowance (CA) (child) recipients, accounting for approximately 28% of all CA recipients (393,263 recipients).

4.2 Age and sex

The age distribution of CA (child) recipients was more heavily skewed towards the younger age groups, while the age distribution of all CA recipients was more evenly distributed. The highest proportions of the CA (child) recipient population and the total CA recipient population were aged 35–44 years (53% and 23% respectively) (Table 29 and Figure 11).

Around 94% of CA (child) recipients were female compared to 76% of all CA recipients.

Table 29: CA recipients,(a) age and sex, June 2007

	CA (child) recipients (number)			All CA recipients (number)
	Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Age group (years)
24 and under	np	np	1,724	1,829	4,806	6,635
25–34	967	27,063	28,030	4,620	33,863	38,483
35–44	3,204	54,780	57,984	11,977	76,750	88,727
45–54	1,853	17,230	19,083	16,194	62,471	78,665
55–64	402	1,519	1,921	20,664	59,987	80,651
65–74	75	262	337	20,001	35,616	55,617
75 and over	np	np	39	20,670	23,815	44,485
Total	6,549	102,569	109,118	95,955	297,308	393,263

np = not published due to small numbers.

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Figure 11: CA recipients,(a) age distribution, June 2007

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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4.3 States, territories and regional distribution

The proportion of CA (child) recipients varies across the states and territories. At June 2007, 28% of CA recipients were CA (child) recipients nationally. The Australian Capital Territory (38%) and the Northern Territory (36%) had the higher proportion of CA (child) recipients, while Tasmania (24%) and New South Wales (27%) had the lowest proportions (Table 30).

Table 30: CA recipients,(a) states and territories, June 2007

	CA (child) recipients (number)	All CA recipients (number)	Proportion of CA (child) to all CA recipients (%)
State/territory
New South Wales	35,530	133,608	26.6
Victoria	28,266	103,550	27.3
Queensland	20,954	75,719	27.7
South Australia	9,811	33,028	29.7
Western Australia	9,740	30,216	32.2
Tasmania	2,689	11,277	23.8
Northern Territory	621	1,745	35.6
Australian Capital Territory	1,505	3,999	37.6
Total(b)	109,118	393,263	27.7

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

(b) Includes overseas residents and people whose state or territory was not specified.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

The proportion of CA (child) recipients to all CA recipients varied within the states. For example in New South Wales, Murrumbidgee Statistical Division (30.6%) and Central West (30.3%) had the highest proportion of CA (child) recipients compared to all CA recipients in those Statistical Divisions (Table 31).

Table 31: CA recipients, Statistical Divisions(a) June 2007 (indicative data only)

	CA (child) recipients (number)	All CA recipients (number)	Proportion of CA (child) to all CA recipients (%)
Statistical Division(a)
New South Wales(b)	35,530	133,608	26.6
Sydney	20,816	72,419	28.7
Hunter	3,776	15,556	24.3
Illawarra	2,156	10,077	21.4
Richmond–Tweed	1,530	6,038	25.3
Mid-North Coast	1,825	9,061	20.1
Northern	1,021	3,563	28.7
North Western	632	2,363	26.7
Central West	1,140	3,759	30.3
South Eastern	940	3,708	25.4
Murrumbidgee	904	2,953	30.6
Murray	513	2,191	23.4
Far West	132	704	18.8
Victoria(b)	28,266	103,550	27.3
Melbourne	19,453	70,769	27.5
Barwon	1,744	6,320	27.6
Western District	596	2,080	28.7
Central Highlands	1,010	3,491	28.9
Wimmera	287	1,038	27.6
Mallee	510	1,990	25.6
Loddon	1,034	3,953	26.2
Goulburn	1,207	4,558	26.5
Ovens–Murray	539	2,022	26.7
East Gippsland	607	2,054	29.6
Gippsland	1,154	4,159	27.7
Queensland(b)	20,954	75,719	27.7
Brisbane	10,007	31,079	32.2
Gold Coast	2,230	9,187	24.3
Sunshine Coast	1,341	5,868	22.9
West Moreton	477	1,964	24.3
Wide Bay–Burnett	1,827	9,041	20.2
Darling Downs	1,228	4,538	27.1
South West	89	297	30.0
Fitzroy	1,175	3,410	34.5
Central West	32	141	22.7
Mackay	660	2,496	26.4
Northern	877	3,525	24.9
Far North	854	3,440	24.8
North West	91	279	32.6
South Australia(b)	9,811	33,028	29.7
Adelaide	7,502	24,112	31.1
Outer Adelaide	784	2,487	31.5
Yorke and Lower North	221	1,200	18.4
Murray Lands	344	1,415	24.3
South East	302	932	32.4
Eyre	164	561	29.2
Northern	457	2,056	22.2
Western Australia(b)	9,740	30,216	32.2
Perth	7,318	21,852	33.5
South West	1,016	3,801	26.7
Lower Great Southern	238	881	27.0
Upper Great Southern	92	265	34.7
Midlands	239	826	28.9
South Eastern	258	625	41.3
Central	294	972	30.2
Pilbara	149	247	60.3
Kimberley	93	458	20.3
Tasmania(b)	2,689	11,277	23.8
Greater Hobart	1,124	4,427	25.4
Southern	209	985	21.2
Northern	806	3,103	26.0
Mersey–Lyell	543	2,710	20.0

(a) Based on postcode concordance to Australian Bureau of Statistics 2006 Australian Standard Geographical Classification boundaries.

(b) Indicative data only. Data by Statistical Divisions for states will not sum to state total due to confidentialised cells and unknown postcodes.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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4.4 Marital status

At June 2007, the proportion of CA (child) recipients who were married or de facto (66%) was slightly below that of all CA recipients (73%). A lower proportion of CA (child) recipients were single (8% compared to 10%). A higher proportion of CA (child) recipients were divorced or separated (25% compared to 15%). There was also a lower proportion of widows among CA (child) recipients (1.0%) compared to all CA recipients (2.3%) (Table 32 and Figure 12).

Table 32: CA recipients,(a) marital status, June 2007

	CA (child)		All CA recipients
Marital status	Number	%	Number	%
Single	8,374	7.7	40,017	10.2
Married/de facto	72,450	66.4	285,801	72.7
Divorced/separated	27,202	24.9	57,056	14.5
Widowed	1,066	1.0	9,135	2.3
Total	109,118	100.0	393,263	100.0

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Figure 12: CA recipients,(a) marital status, June 2007

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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4.5 Indigenous recipients

There were 3,135 Indigenous recipients of CA (child) and 8,517 Indigenous recipients of CA in total. Indigenous recipients accounted for 2.9% of CA (child) recipients and 2.2% of all CA recipients (Table 33).

Table 33: CA recipients,(a) Indigenous status, June 2007

	CA (child) recipients		All CA recipients
Indigenous status	Number	%	Number	%
Indigenous	3,135	2.9	8,517	2.2
Non-Indigenous	94,818	86.9	352,939	89.7
Unknown	11,165	10.2	31,807	8.1
Total	109,118	100.0	393,263	100.0

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

4.6 Multiple care

There is no available data to show exactly how many recipients of CA are caring for more than one care receiver. However, there was 0.84 CA (child) recipient for every child receiving care and 0.93 CA recipient for every care receiver.

4.7 Shared care

Around 99% (108,400) of CA (child) recipients were not providing shared care. Almost 100% (391,600) of all CA recipients were caring alone.

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4.8 Country of birth of recipients

A higher proportion of CA (child) recipients were born in Australia (80%) compared to all CA recipients (69%) (Table 34).

Table 34: CA recipients,(a) top 10 countries of birth, June 2007

Country of birth	Number	%	Country of birth	Number	%
Australia	87,340	80.0	Australia	272,129	69.2
United Kingdom	5,105	4.7	United Kingdom	24,538	6.2
New Zealand	2,343	2.1	Italy	11,707	3.0
Vietnam	1,712	1.6	Greece	7,718	2.0
Lebanon	1,265	1.2	Lebanon	6,235	1.6
Philippines	916	0.8	New Zealand	5,691	1.4
China	663	0.6	Vietnam	5,484	1.4
India	492	0.5	Serbia & Montenegro	4,411	1.1
Iraq	483	0.4	Philippines	3,495	0.9
Malaysia	371	0.3	Iraq	2,908	0.7
South Africa	371	0.3	Germany	2,894	0.7
Other	8,057	7.4	Other	46,053	11.7
Total overseas-born	21,778	20.0	Total overseas-born	121,134	30.8
Total	109,118	100.0	Total	393,263	100.0

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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4.9 Total duration on allowance

At June 2007, around 45% of CA (child) recipients and 31% of all CA recipients had been receiving the allowance for more than five years. Approximately 11% of CA (child) recipients and 18% of all CA recipients had been receiving the allowance for one year or less (Table 35 and Figure 13).

Table 35: CA recipients,(a) total duration on allowance, June 2007

	CA (child) recipients		All CA recipients
Duration (years)	Number	%	Number	%
One year or less	11,690	10.7	72,046	18.3
2	7,201	6.6	55,152	14.0
3	15,197	13.9	60,518	15.4
4	14,369	13.2	46,663	11.9
5	11,299	10.4	36,808	9.4
More than 5 years	49,362	45.2	122,076	31.0
Total	109,118	100.0	393,263	100.0

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Figure 13 : CA recipients,(a) total duration on allowance, June 2007

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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4.10 Homeownership of recipients

A lower proportion of CA (child) recipients (50%) were homeowners compared to all CA recipients (55%) (Figure 14).

Figure 14: CA recipients,(a) homeownership, June 2007

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

4.11 Claims, grants and rejections

In the past two financial years (2004–05 and 2005–06), 73% of all Carer Allowance claims were granted.

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4.12 Care receivers of CA recipients

At June 2007 there were 129,298 children (0–15 years) and 292,491 adults receiving care from CA recipients (a total of 421,789) (Table 36).

Table 36: Care receivers of CA recipients,(a) gender, June 2007

Gender	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
Male	88,546	68.5	156,321	53.4	244,867	58.1
Female	40,752	31.5	136,170	46.6	176,922	41.9
Total	129,298	100.0	292,491	100.0	421,789	100.0

(a) Excludes care receivers of recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Around 68% of children receiving care were male, while 53% of adults receiving care were male (Figure 15).

Figure 15: Care receivers of CA recipients,(a) sex, June 2007

(a) Excludes care receivers of recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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4.13 Care receivers of CA recipients across states and territories

The proportion of children receiving care from CA recipients varied across the states and territories. The two territories had the highest proportions of children receiving care (40% of care receivers in both territories). Children accounted for 27% of all care receivers in Tasmania (Table 37).

Table 37: Care receivers of CA recipients,(a) states and territories, June 2007

	Children		Adults		Total care receivers
State/territory	Number	%	Number	%	Number	%
New South Wales	42,402	29.6	101,067	70.4	143,469	100.0
Victoria	33,181	29.9	77,692	70.1	110,873	100.0
Queensland	24,970	30.7	56,375	69.3	81,345	100.0
South Australia	11,793	33.1	23,842	66.9	35,635	100.0
Western Australia	11,308	35.0	20,983	65.0	32,291	100.0
Tasmania	3,238	26.9	8,816	73.1	12,054	100.0
Northern Territory	689	37.6	1,144	62.4	1,833	100.0
Australian Capital Territory	1,715	40.1	2,561	59.9	4,276	100.0
Total(b)	129,298	15.4	292,491	84.6	421,789	100.0

(a) Excludes care receivers of recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

(b) Includes overseas residents and people whose state or territory was not specified.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

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4.14 Medical conditions of children receiving care from CA recipients

For male children under the care of CA (child) recipients, the most commonly reported medical conditions were attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (18%), learning disability (17%) and autistic disorder (17%). For females the most commonly reported conditions were learning disability (17%), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (10%) and IQ less than 55 (8%) (Table 38).

Table 38: Children receiving care from CA (child) recipients(a), top 10 first-listed medical condition, sex, June 2007

Top 10 first-listed medical conditions
Males	Number	%	Females	Number	%
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder	15,745	17.8	Learning disability	6,949	17.1
Learning disability	15,009	17.0	Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder	3,909	9.6
Autistic disorder	14,619	16.5	IQ is less than 55	3,254	8.0
Asperger’s disorder	5,305	6.0	Autistic Disorder	2,967	7.3
IQ less than 55	5,054	5.7	Severe Multiple Disability – Mobility	1,911	4.7
Speech disorder – other	4,106	4.6	Diabetes – insulin dependent	1,839	4.5
Severe multiple disability – mobility	2,285	2.6	Speech disorder – other	1,493	3.7
Asthma	2,140	2.4	Down syndrome	1,437	3.5
Diabetes – insulin dependent	1,969	2.2	Asthma	1,101	2.7
Down syndrome	1,807	2.0	Leukaemia, haemophagocytic lymphohistiocystosis and other childhood malignancies	912	2.2
Other	20,507	23.2	Other	14,980	36.8
Total	88,546	100.0	Total	40,752	100.0

(a) Excludes recipients who were eligible only for the Child Health Care Card.

Source: Centrelink administrative data, 2007.

Centrelink administrative data in this report is drawn from various sources, including extractions from aggregate SuperStar databases in production and test databases, Centrelink administrative data (available on request) and Centrelink’s Performance Reporting Information System for Managers (PRISM). Data may be on varying reference periods and may differ in quality. In particular, care should be taken with the Carer Payment (child) data, which has been extracted from a test database that is still under development.

Data from the 2003 SDAC Confidentialised Unit Record File differs from figures published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS 2004) because the Confidentialised Unit Record File is based on a subset of the larger survey population. Refer to Australian Bureau of Statistics Information Paper: Basic Confidentialised Unit Record File: Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers, 2003, cat. no. 4430.0.00.001.

Children in the SDAC are aged 0–14 years, while children in the Carer Payment and Carer Allowance populations are aged 0–15 years.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2004, Disability, ageing and carers: Summary of findings, cat. no. 4430.0.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2004, Children with disabilities in Australia.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2006, Disability updates: Children with disabilities, Bulletin Issue 42.

Access Economics 2005, The economic value of informal care, report prepared for Carers Australia.