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Section 10(a)

One in five Australians - 20% ie. 4 million is Disabled.  The cost to the public purse and foregone productivity is significant

Analysis of the types of Disabilities and age distribution indicates that one quarter, namely 5% which is 1 million Disabled Australians could compete in the Disabled Category Finals Day of the Annual KOM Challenge Series if the right support is provided

Engaging 100 Disabled within the Sydney community via the Inaugural Annual KOM Challenge Series will -

(I)         enhance their QOL and empower them;

(II)        create a framework and platform for 1 million Disabled Australians to -

             *          reduce the financial burden on the public purse; and

             *          increase their productivity

(III)       change public attitudes regarding opportunities for the Disabled.

A Federal Government investigation described a Disabled as "......a condition that in some way hampers or hinders a person in terms of their ability to carry out day to day activities..." 

The 2003 ABS "Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers" (SDAC) reported:

(I)           One in five people in Australia (3,958,300 or 20.0%) had a reported Disability. 

(II)          Disability was defined as any limitation, restriction or impairment, which has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least six months and restricts everyday activities - ranging from hearing loss requiring a hearing aid, vision impairment - 1.5% of all Australians, to difficulty dressing due to arthritis, to advanced dementia. 

(III)         6.3% of the 21 million people who live in Australia suffer profound or severe core-activity limitation known as a Chronic Disability.

(IV)        Persons aged 15-64 years with a reported Disability living in households:

              (a)        30% had completed year 12 and 13% had completed a bachelor degree or higher - compared to Australians with no Disability of 49% and 20% respectively.

              (b)        Labour force participation rate of persons with a Disability was 53% and the unemployment rate was 8.6% - compared to 81% and 5.0%.

              (c)        Median gross personal income per week was $255, compared to $501 for those without a disability.

              (d)        Median gross personal income per week decreased with increasing severity of disability down to $200 per week for those with a profound core-activity limitation.

Department of Family and Community Services, Annual Report, 2000-01 reported that the Commonwealth Government expended in excess of $6 billion per annum to provide income support for people with disabilities and the people who care for them.  Main types of income support provided by the Commonwealth Government for people with disabilities (and their carers) are:

ABS "4102.0 - Australian Social Trends, 2006" dated 20/07/2006 reported -

*        People's engagement with their community, be they Abled or Disabled, enhances their feeling of Wellbeing and forges stronger community spirit;

*        Factors in the living environment of Disabled, such as the attitudes of the people among whom they live, the constructed environment and the framing of social institutions may act as barriers to participation; and

*        Personal networks are particularly important in supporting the integration of people with disabilities into the wider community.

Patently, -

A.        the financial burden on the taxpayer of assisting the one in five Australians who are Disabled is enormous - Federal Govt alone contributes >$6b annually.

B.        more effectively engaging some of our 4 million Disabled via the Inaugural Annual KOM Challenge Series within the Greater Sydney community will -

            (i)        facilitate the integration of people with Disabilities into the wider community;

            (ii)       enhance their QOL; and

            (iii)      reduce the financial burden on the taxpayer due to their increased confidence to take on challenges, including greater work opportunities.

C.        Involving 100 Disabled in the Disabled Category Finals Day will achieve only an incremental improvement but it will establish a framework/platform to involve more Disabled in subsequent Annual KOM Challenge Series in other capital cities.

Analysis of the types of Disabilities and age distribution (explained below) indicates that one quarter of the 4 million Disabled Australians, being 1 million Disabled Australians could compete in the Disabled Category Finals Day of the Annual KOM Challenge Series in their state capital.

A person has to be 4 years or older to be Disabled under ABS Surveys. Disability Frequency according to Age and Sex - Section 10(a)(i) highlights that approx 40% of Disabled are below 18 or above say 60 years of age.

Schedule of 4 Million Australians with a Disability in 2003 representing 20% of the population - Section 10(a)(ii) identifies that some Disabled within each of the nine categories of Disability (in this Schedule) would not be fit enough to cycle up 2 KOM Climbs ie. back problems, heart disease, stroke. 6% of the Australian population, or 1.2 million people, in 2003 have a Chronic Disability and generally need help with everyday tasks like walking or dressing, or who had difficulty communicating. 

Most suffers of Chronic Disability would not be able to compete in a Annual KOM Challenge Series.  Whereas others with such Disabilities would benefit from cycling by strengthening their core muscles, thereby alleviating some back problems and strengthening heart and cardiovascular systems.  Certainly most suffers of Type 2 Diabetes and asthma would benefit.  Blind and deaf people would also benefit.

In summary, the above analysis suggests that one quarter of the 20% of Australians who are Disabled, namely 5% being 1.05 million Australians, could, with the right support, and in the same geographic area, compete in a Disabled Category Finals Day to -

(I)         enhance their QOL and empower them to greater expectations and horizons;

(II)        create a framework and platform for 1 million Disabled Australians to -

             *          reduce the financial burden on the public purse; and

             *          increase their productivity;

(III)       change public attitudes regarding opportunities for the Disabled resulting from -

            (i)        media reporting of the Inaugural Annual KOM Challenge Series via the RTV Series; and

            (ii)       health agencies/Registered Charities increased emphasis on strenuous exercise as a therapeutic adjunct for the Disabled - a stronger body creates a stronger mind.