Unmet need for disability support in SA

South Australia now has record levels of unmet need for category 1 disability support services, according to figures recently released.

John Gardner, Shadow Minister for Disabilities said today’s March figures revealed that there are 519 people with a disability on the category 1 waiting list for supported accommodation and 1,069 on the category 1 waiting list for all levels of support – including therapy services, behavioural intervention and respite.

Category 1 represents the highest level of critical need – people with a severe disability who are at immediate or high risk of harm to themselves or others, or of homelessness.

“Since the last election, the supported accommodation waiting list for the most vulnerable in our community has increased by 70 per cent, from 306 (in December 2009) to 519.

“For the first time, more than a thousand vulnerable South Australians with a disability are now classified in the category 1 group, waiting for all levels of support.

“...South Australia spends 15 per cent less per head on disability support than the national average, and we’re the worst state in the nation for supporting students with a disability in public schools.

“Premier Weatherill was the longest serving Minister for Disability over the course of this Labor Government.

“He received Monsignor Cappo’s Strong Voices report calling for these issues to be urgently addressed more than six months ago.

“The Weatherill Labor Government talks big on disability. It’s time for them to deliver the goods.”

See data below. Disability Services Unmet Need Historical Data Set Data taken from The Provision of Disability Services in South Australia document produced by DFC and DCSI.

3 May 2012.