Statistics on Acquired Brain Injury in Queensland - Fact Sheet
Few are aware of how many people are affected by brain injury and how few services are provided. Here we look at some statistics to get an idea of the prevalence and impact that acquired brain injury has on our society.
Around 1 in 50 Australians have an acquired brain injury.
Of these 338 700 people, 47% had a severe disability.
686 700 Queenslanders have disabilities. 7.2% have an intellectual disability. 7.4% have an acquired brain injury.
31% of people with disabilities are in full time employment compared to only 17% of people with Acquired Brain Injury.
A brain injury often has a dramatic impact on a person’s ability to work. The report goes on to show that 36.5% of people with Acquired Brain Injury participate in the workforce compared to 80.1% with no disability.
When asked to identify restrictions in employment or getting into it, 48% of people with Acquired Brain Injury reported being unable to work compared to 27% of people with disabilities in general.
In the same groups almost twice the number of people with Acquired Brain Injury report a higher need for ongoing assistance and supervision in employment.
Services received by people with all disabilities: 4 761
Services received by people with Acquired Brain Injury: 305
These figures were taken from a ‘snapshot’ day to see how many people received services on 5th September 1996.
Out of 11 000 people in Queensland admitted to hospital with Acquired Brain Injury, only 10% will receive some assistance in the community.
These figures were estimates in 1991 in the Kendall Report. The Hearn report estimated similar figures for 1993 to 1998, suggesting 244 100 people in Qld with Acquired Brain Injury and 25% of these experiencing a disability as a result.
People with Acquired Brain Injury are four times more likely to be living in health, aged care or disability support establishments.
There are 1 223 people with disabilities under the age of 65 living in nursing homes in Queensland. A large proportion of these are there due to Acquired Brain Injury and have no appropriate facility to enter.
Around 63 400 Queenslanders reported a disability from Acquired Brain Injury in 1998. Hospital separation statistics for 1996 to 1997 showed Queensland as having the highest rate of traumatic brain injury for both males and females.
Appropriate responses to the needs of people with Acquired Brain Injury remains as one of the highest areas of neglect in Queensland. The Brain Injury Association of Queensland is working to get public recognition of Acquired Brain Injury as a disability affecting many Australians that requires a response in return.
People with Acquired Brain Injury who develop psychiatric complications or a mental illness are unable to access community health services.
Between 9 000 and 11 000 Queenslanders are expected to acquire a brain injury in the coming year, 40% of whom will experience a serious disability that affects their quality of life. This figure is expected to increase in coming years due to the advances being made in medical science and technology.
In spite of the acknowledgement of historic marginalisation and neglect of people with Acquired Brain Injury, government departments continue to sidestep their responsibilities under the Disability Services Act. When people with Acquired Brain Injury are treated as if they did not exist it is no wonder it is called the hidden disability.
Of these 338 700 people, 47% had a severe disability.
686 700 Queenslanders have disabilities. 7.2% have an intellectual disability. 7.4% have an acquired brain injury.
31% of people with disabilities are in full time employment compared to only 17% of people with Acquired Brain Injury.
A brain injury often has a dramatic impact on a person’s ability to work. The report goes on to show that 36.5% of people with Acquired Brain Injury participate in the workforce compared to 80.1% with no disability.
When asked to identify restrictions in employment or getting into it, 48% of people with Acquired Brain Injury reported being unable to work compared to 27% of people with disabilities in general.
In the same groups almost twice the number of people with Acquired Brain Injury report a higher need for ongoing assistance and supervision in employment.
Services received by people with all disabilities: 4 761
Services received by people with Acquired Brain Injury: 305
These figures were taken from a ‘snapshot’ day to see how many people received services on 5th September 1996.
Out of 11 000 people in Queensland admitted to hospital with Acquired Brain Injury, only 10% will receive some assistance in the community.
These figures were estimates in 1991 in the Kendall Report. The Hearn report estimated similar figures for 1993 to 1998, suggesting 244 100 people in Qld with Acquired Brain Injury and 25% of these experiencing a disability as a result.
People with Acquired Brain Injury are four times more likely to be living in health, aged care or disability support establishments.
There are 1 223 people with disabilities under the age of 65 living in nursing homes in Queensland. A large proportion of these are there due to Acquired Brain Injury and have no appropriate facility to enter.
Around 63 400 Queenslanders reported a disability from Acquired Brain Injury in 1998. Hospital separation statistics for 1996 to 1997 showed Queensland as having the highest rate of traumatic brain injury for both males and females.
Appropriate responses to the needs of people with Acquired Brain Injury remains as one of the highest areas of neglect in Queensland. The Brain Injury Association of Queensland is working to get public recognition of Acquired Brain Injury as a disability affecting many Australians that requires a response in return.
People with Acquired Brain Injury who develop psychiatric complications or a mental illness are unable to access community health services.
Between 9 000 and 11 000 Queenslanders are expected to acquire a brain injury in the coming year, 40% of whom will experience a serious disability that affects their quality of life. This figure is expected to increase in coming years due to the advances being made in medical science and technology.
In spite of the acknowledgement of historic marginalisation and neglect of people with Acquired Brain Injury, government departments continue to sidestep their responsibilities under the Disability Services Act. When people with Acquired Brain Injury are treated as if they did not exist it is no wonder it is called the hidden disability.
Contact Us
Level 1 - 262 Montague Road, West End, Brisbane Q 4101
(Please note we have moved from our Petrie Terrace office.)
View our street address at Google Maps.
PO Box 3356
South Brisbane QLD 4101
P: +61 7 3137 7400
P: 1800 673 074 (outside Brisbane)
F: +61 7 3137 7452
Or you can use the Contact Us form on the right hand side of the page.
