Regional Living and Community Participation: Are People with Disability at a Disadvantage?

Australian Social Policy, No. 9, 2010

25 Pages Posted: 7 Jul 2010 Last revised: 9 Jul 2010

See all articles by Samara McPhedran

Samara McPhedran

Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs - Research and Analysis Branch

Date Written: July 1, 2010

Abstract

There is considerable evidence that people with disability are at a heightened likelihood of experiencing disadvantage in many facets of life. A greater likelihood of disadvantage may in turn increase the risk of exclusion from a range of opportunities, including social participation. However, factors that may lead to ‘double disadvantage’ among people with disability – such as living outside major cities – have not been well assessed in Australia in relation to social connectedness. The current study compared various socioeconomic, life satisfaction, community participation and social support measures among prime working age regional people with and with no disability. People with disability experienced greater relative disadvantage and reported lower levels of perceived social support compared with people with no disability. Irrespective of disability status, men in regional Australia reported lower levels of social support than women. However, engagement in community activities such as volunteering did not differ as a function of disability status. This in turn suggests potential avenues for consideration in terms of strengthening social connectedness among regional people with disability, and addressing the risk of social exclusion for this group.

Keywords: disability, social participation, regional, community, social support

Suggested Citation

McPhedran, Samara, Regional Living and Community Participation: Are People with Disability at a Disadvantage? (July 1, 2010). Australian Social Policy, No. 9, 2010, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1636065

Samara McPhedran (Contact Author)

Department of Family, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs - Research and Analysis Branch

Australia