Headline indicator 6.1: Physical health
Measure 6.1.1: Proportion of people who report very good or excellent health
6.1.1 Rationale
Self-rated health is a standard health measure and is associated with many health outcomes, including mortality risk.
6.1.1 Results
| Year | People with disability | People without disability | Relative inequality |
|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 21.6% | 61.8% | 0.35 |
2022 | 22.4% | 30.2% | 0.37 |
6.1.1 Description of results
In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who reported very good or excellent health was 21.6%. By 2022, general health was largely unchanged, with 22.4% of people with disability reporting very good or excellent self-rated health.
Compared to people without disability, people with disability in 2018 were 0.35 times less likely, and in 2022 0.37 times less likely to report very good or excellent self-rated health. This data show that people with disability are much less likely to report very good or excellent general health than people without disability, and this inequality has not closed over time.
6.1.1 Definition
Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.
- Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
- Numerator: People who report very good or excellent health
6.1.1 Data source
Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey
6.1.1 Data availability
Baseline year: 2018
Frequency: Annual
6.1.1 Technical note
Self-rated health is a valid measure of health status and studies have shown that it can predict both mortality and chronic diseases, such as diabetes and stroke.
Headline indicator 6.2: Healthy living
Measure 6.2.1: Proportion of people who smoke
6.2.1 Rationale
Smoking causes preventable deaths and decreased health and wellbeing
6.2.1 Results
| Year | People with disability | People without disability | Relative inequality |
|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 18.7% | 14.9% | 1.25 |
2022 | 18.3% | 11.8% | 1.55 |
6.2.1 Description of results
In 2018, the proportion of people with disability who smoked was 18.7%. In 2022, the proportion of people with disability who smoked remained stable at 18.3%.
Compared to people without disability, in 2018 people with disability were 1.25 times more likely to smoke and by 2022 the inequality had widened with people with disability 1.55 times more likely to smoke than people without disability. The data indicates a widening inequality in smoking between people with and without disability.
6.2.1 Definition
Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.
- Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
- Numerator: People who smoke cigarettes or other tobacco products
6.2.1 Data source
Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey
6.2.1 Data availability
Baseline year: 2018
Frequency: Annual
6.2.1 Technical note
Smoking was determined based on the question ‘Do you smoke cigarettes or any other tobacco products?’ We classified participants who answered, ‘Yes, I smoke daily’, ‘Yes, I smoke at least weekly (but not daily)’, and ‘Yes, I smoke less often than weekly’ as smokers.
Measure 6.2.2: Proportion of people who spend more than 10% of their income on health costs
6.2.2 Rationale
Spending more than 10% of income on health costs is deemed ‘catastrophic healthcare expenditure’.
6.2.2 Results
| Year | People with disability | People without disabilty | Relative inequality |
|---|---|---|---|
2018 | 11.7% | 4.1% | 2.88 |
2022 | 12.2% | 4.9% | 2.48 |
6.2.2 Description of results
In 2018, the proportion of people with disability spending more than 10% of their income on health costs was 11.7%. In 2022, the proportion of people with disability spending more than 10% of their income on health costs had increased, to 12.2% among people with disability.
Compared to people without disability, people with disability were 2.88 times more likely in 2018 and 2.48 times more likely in 2022 to spend more than 10% of their income on health costs. Caution should be taken when assessing the gap between the two groups. It has closed slightly, but not because spending levels have decreased, but because more people without disability are spending more than 10% of their income on health costs.
6.2.2 Definition
Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.
- Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
- Numerator: People living in households in which health costs exceed 10% of household disposable income
6.2.2 Data source
Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey
6.2.2 Data availability
Baseline year: 2018
Frequency: Annual
6.2.2 Technical note
People with disability may be more likely to have serious health issues which incur significant costs. Health costs include private health insurance; fees paid to health practitioners; and medicines, prescriptions, pharmaceuticals, and alternative medicines.
Disposable income refers to ‘disposable regular income’ as reported by the HILDA survey. It is total income minus estimated income taxes. Regular income excludes irregular components of income such as inheritance.
Headline indicator 6.3: Mental health
Measure 6.3.1: Proportion of people who report psychological distress
6.3.1 Rationale
Psychological distress is a standard measure with a clinically significant interpretation.
6.3.1 Results
| Year | People with disability | People without disability | Relative inequality |
|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 56.5% | 35.7% | 1.58 |
2021 | 63.2% | 52.0% | 1.22 |
6.3.1 Description of results
In 2017, the proportion of people with disability who reported psychological distress was 56.5%. By 2022, mental health had worsened, with 63.2% of people with disability reporting psychological distress.
Even though the relative difference has fallen – people with disability have gone from 1.58 to 1.22 times more likely to experience psychological distress – people with disability report substantially higher levels of psychological distress than people without disability. Mental health is getting worse for both people with and without disability.
Caution should be taken when assessing just the gap between the two groups; it has closed not because mental health has improved, but because mental health has declined more for people without disability than people with disability.
6.3.1 Definition
Each measure is estimated separately for people with and without disability where data is available.
- Denominator: All people aged 15+ years
- Numerator: People with moderate to very high levels of psychological distress
6.3.1 Data source
Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey
6.3.1 Data availability
Baseline year: 2017
Frequency: K10 in HILDA is collected every other year
6.3.1 Technical note
Psychological distress is a form of emotional suffering marked by symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is measured with a tool called the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. People are asked how often they have felt negative feelings like nervousness or depression in the past 4 weeks. Based on their answers, they receive a score from 10 (indicating fewer negative feelings) to 50 (indicating more negative feelings). Aligned with the literature, a score of 16 or higher to be indicative of moderate psychological distress.
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