“
Alone we can do
so little; together
we can do so much.
”
– Helen Keller
From our Carer Information
Kit There are a lot of complex legal terms that need to be understood. It's
What is important to you? It's worth it though. Once arrangements are made you can stop worrying and
We understand the most important thing to you is protecting, caring and have some sense of security and peace of mind about the future. It may help
providing for your child living with a disability. you avoid difficult situations, especially at times of crisis or emergency
To assist, EBL Disability Services Inc. (EBL) has prepared this Carer Information What is in this carer information kit?
Kit for general information purposes. Summarised and helpful information to get you started.
Disability affects us all Please note that nothing in the Carer Information Kit constitutes or is intended
It's more common than you think. Almost all Australians are touched in some to constitute investment, financial, property, mortgage or legal advice and
way by disability. should not be relied upon by any person as a substitute for professional advice.
People with disability are part of every section of our community: men, women We strongly encourage you to seek independent legal and financial advice
and children; employers and employees; students and teachers; indigenous before making any decisions.
and non-indigenous; customers; and citizens. No two people experience their 1. WHAT IS DISABILITY?
disability in the same way. 1
Over 4 million people in Australia have some form of disability. That's 1 in 5
people.
• 19% are men and 18% are women.
• 43% of people over 55 years have one or more disabilities.
sometimes difficult to plan ahead – planning for illness and death may seem
morbid, or to be inviting bad luck, especially, when you are already busy with
the many demands of caring it may seem like a lot of extra work.
2. GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE
2.1 National Disability Insurance Scheme
2.2 Disability Support Pension (DSP)
3. PLANNING AHEAD
3.1 Carers
• 2.2 million Australians of working age (15 - 64 years) have disability. 3.2 Guardians
People with disability are twice as likely to be in the bottom 20% of gross 3.3 Bank Signatories
household incomes. 2 3.4 Powers Of Attorney
Some harrowing statistics: 3.5 Advance Care Directives
• 1 in 6 Australians are affected by hearing loss. 3.6 Wills
3.7 Superannuation
• 357,000 people in Australia are blind or have low vision.
• 10% of the population are dyslexic (some 2 million Australians).
4. TRUSTS
4.1 Discretionary Trusts
4.2 Testamentary Trusts
4.3 Special Disability Trusts
4.4 Injury Compensation Trusts
4.5 Life Insurance Proceeds Trusts
• almost nine in ten people aged 90 and over (88%) have a disability.
4.6 Child Maintenance Trusts
• 39% of complaints lodged with Australian Human Rights Commission are To get your copy of the Carer Information Kit, contact the team at EBL on
• 45% of the population will experience a mental health disorder during their
lifetime.
Furthermore, the likelihood of living with disability increases with age.
• some 31% of 55-64 year olds are living with disability.
against businesses and related to disability. 3
“
We lead by example,
treating all in our
community with
genuine respect and
equity.
”
(08) 8252 1000.
There are a lot of people with disability that need help. Many are unemployed
and need a chance, while others are, unfortunately, unemployable.
This Carer Information Kit aims to point you in the right direction to find the
1 Australian Network on Disability
2 Australian Bureau of Statistics, Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers 2012
3 xcept where stated otherwise, data is taken from Australian Bureau of Statistics,
E
2012, Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC).
advice and resources you need to make the most important of decisions –
caring for your child.
It's aim is to help you think about making the right legal arrangements for your
circumstance.
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