Autonomy and participationAutonomy and participation
Autonomy and participation are considered to be essential indicators of welfare, and reflect the very human and personal aspects of individuality, and workplace and community interactions that are vital to positive wellbeing. Data relating to autonomy the capacity to have freedom of opportunity and choice in daily living and participation in the community provide information on personal and environmental factors that make up welfare.
Further sub-dimensions are autonomy and participation:
education and knowledge, economic resources, employment, transport and communication, and recreational use of time.
These indicators not only identify our individual resources and our national employment patterns, but also reflect the ways in which Australians interact within society.
Indicators in this framework
- National Disability Agreement: e(1)-Proportion of potential population expressing unmet demand for disability support services, 2012
Community Services (retired), Superseded 23/05/2013 - National Disability Agreement: e(3)-Proportion of potential population expressing unmet demand for disability support services, 2012
Community Services (retired), Superseded 23/05/2013 - National Disability Agreement: e(2)-Proportion of potential population expressing unmet demand for disability support services, 2012
Community Services (retired), Superseded 23/05/2013 - National Disability Agreement: e(1)-Proportion of the potential population of people with disability who report a need for more formal assistance, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: e(2)-Proportion of people with disability who are satisfied with the range of organised and formal service options available, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: e(3)-Proportion of people with disability who are satisfied with the quality of assistance received from organised and formal services in the last six months, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: i(3)-Proportion of carers of people with disability who are satisfied with the quality of assistance received from organised and formal services, for the person with disability and the carer (last 6 months), 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: d(1)-Proportion of the potential population who used State/Territory delivered disability support services, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: f(1)-Rate of non-Indigenous persons and Indigenous persons admitted to permanent residential aged care, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: f(2)-Number of non-Indigenous persons and Indigenous persons receiving permanent residential aged care services, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: f(3)-Number of non-Indigenous persons and Indigenous persons who separated from permanent residential aged care to return home/family, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: h(1)-Proportion of primary carers of people with disability who feel satisfied with their caring role, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: h(2)-Proportion of primary carers of people with disability who do not experience negative impacts on their wellbeing due to their caring role, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: i(1)-Proportion of primary carers of people with disability who report a need for further assistance in their caring roles, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: i(2)-Proportion of carers of people with disability who are satisfied with the range of organised and formal services options available to help them in their caring role, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015
Dimensions of this framework
Economic resources and security
The material standard of living enjoyed by individual Australians primarily depends on their command of economic resources, both in the immediate and long term. Economic factors are related to all aspects of the welfare framework, including health, education, employment and social networks.
Indicators to describe the economic wellbeing of Australians . While income data are the most commonly reported measures of economic status, an individual's income can fluctuate dramatically across different life stages, and alone does not determine material quality of life. Other factors are the extent to which income is 'buffered' by accumulated wealth, and the amount of economic resources needed to fulfil different financial commitments.
Income and income distributionIncome disadvantage
Financial stress and hardship
Wealth and wealth distribution
Indicators in this framework
- National Disability Agreement: c(1)-Proportion of Disability Support Pension recipients who report earnings, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: c(2)-Proportion of Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients with disability and an assessed future work capacity of 0-29 hours per week who report earnings, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015
- National Disability Agreement: c(1)-Proportion of Disability Support Pension recipients who report earnings, 2013
Education and knowledge
Education and knowledge help to empower individuals and allow them to become more autonomous within society. Education is increasingly viewed as a lifelong process by which both individuals and their communities benefit from the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. Education relates to many other facets of society, including employment, health and participation in the civic, cultural and social life of communities. Three major indicators of education and knowledge are : participation, attainment and literacy.Employment and labour force participation
Employment provides avenues for income and as such is a major factor influencing material wellbeing. In addition, employment is strongly related to other aspects of the welfare framework. It is recognised as an integral part of adult participation in society, providing individuals with opportunities for personal development and social interaction. Indicators include:
Labour force participation and employment
Employment basis and conditions
Employment and labour force differentials
Indicators in this framework
- National Disability Agreement: a(1)-Labour force participation rate for people with disability aged 15-64 years, 2012
Community Services (retired), Superseded 23/05/2013 - National Disability Agreement: a(2)-Labour force participation rate for people with disability aged 15-64 years, 2012
Community Services (retired), Superseded 23/05/2013 - National Disability Agreement: a(3)-Labour force participation rate for people with disability aged 15-64 years, 2012
Community Services (retired), Superseded 23/05/2013 - National Disability Agreement: g-Labour force participation rate for carers aged 15-64 of people with disability, 2012
Community Services (retired), Superseded 23/05/2013 - National Disability Agreement: a(1)- Proportion of people with disability who are in the labour force, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: a(2)- Proportion of people with disability who are employed, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: a(3)- Proportion of people with disability who are unemployed, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: a(4)- Proportion of people with disability who are underemployed, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: d(2)-Proportion of people with a disability with an employment restriction who used Disability Employment Services (Open Employment), 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: d(3)-Proportion of the potential population who used Australian Disability Enterprises (Supported Employment), 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: g(1)-Proportion of carers (of people with disability) who are in the labour force, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: g(2)-Proportion of carers (of people with disability) who are employed, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: g(3)-Proportion of carers (of people with disability) in the labour force who are unemployed, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015 - National Disability Agreement: g(4)-Proportion of carers (of people with disability) who are underemployed, 2013
Community Services (retired), Standard 23/05/2013
Disability, Standard 13/08/2015
- National Disability Agreement: a(1)-Labour force participation rate for people with disability aged 15-64 years, 2012
Recreation and leisure
Participation in recreational and leisure activities contributes to overall wellbeing through benefits to physical and mental health, and by providing opportunities for social interaction and community engagement. The importance of leisure time is recognised by the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that 'Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays without pay' (UN 1948).Transport and communication
Having access to reliable transport allows people to participate and interact with the community. Reliable transport not only enhances social wellbeing but can also broaden access to jobs, which in turn may increase financial security.
Access to means of communication is also beneficial to many aspects of welfare. The rapid increase in communication technologies is making interpersonal communication more accessible through mobile phones and over the Internet. This enables greater access to many more educational and social resources.