Table 2 Prevalence of main disabling conditions of care recipients living with carers and the labour force participation of primary carers among 37 186 Australians aged 15–64 years, 2009

Not a carer

35 918

12 427 469 (96.6)

7 121

2 456 120 (19.8)

Primary carer of UR recipient of care

1 268

433 338 (3.4)

628

215 477 (49.7)

Main disabling condition of UR recipient of care:

Neoplasms (tumours/cancers), blood diseases, disorders of immune system

33

10 535 (3.4)

19

6 392 (57.6)

Endocrine/nutritional and metabolic disorders (thyroid, diabetes, high blood pressure)

15

5 275 (1.2)

9

3 234 (60.0)

Schizophrenia

13

4 776 (1.1)

8

2 792 (61.5)

Depression/mood affective disorders

38

13 401 (3.1)

20

6 354 (52.6)

Phobic and anxiety disorders, nervous tension/stress

39

13 439 (3.1)

15

5 686 (38.5)

Intellectual and developmental disorders, mental retardation/intellectual disabilities

62

18 943 (4.4)

34

10 300 (54.8)

Autism and related disorders (including Rett's syndrome and Asperger's syndrome)

88

26 693 (6.2)

36

11 210 (40.9)

ADD/hyperactivity

28

9 195 (2.1)

11

2 955 (39.3)

Other mental and behavioural disorders

59

19 756 (4.6)

29

9 905 (49.2)

Dementia, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease

29

9 644 (2.2)

18

6 037 (60.1)

Other diseases of the nervous system (MS, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, paralysis, chronic fatigue syndrome)

87

32 070 (7.4)

34

12 157 (39.1)

Diseases of the eye and adnexa (retinal disorders/defects, glaucoma, sight loss)

22

9 539 (2.2)

9

4 215 (40.9)

Diseases of the ear and mastoid process (deafness/hearing loss congenital)

44

14 330 (3.3)

21

6 827 (47.7)

Heart diseases

28

9 133 (2.1)

15

4 666 (53.6)

Diseases of the circulatory system (stroke and hypertension)

51

18 058 (4.2)

28

10 380 (54.9)

Diseases of the respiratory system (emphysema, asthma)

39

13 568 (3.1)

20

7 401 (51.3)

Arthritis and related disorders

123

43 291 (10.0)

57

19 364 (46.3)

Back problems (dorsopathies)

153

51 972 (12.0)

82

28 709 (53.6)

Other soft tissue/muscle disorders (including Rheumatism)

15

6 089 (1.4)

7

2 452 (46.7)

Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (osteoporosis)

31

11 115 (2.6)

19

6 534 (61.3)

Conditions originating in perinatal period or congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities

59

22 006 (5.1)

25

10 110 (42.4)

Head injury/acquired brain damage

42

13 409 (3.1)

28

9 842 (66.7)

Leg/knee/foot/hip damage from injury/accident

46

14 665 (3.4)

26

8 628 (56.5)

Other damage from injury/accident (arm/hand/shoulder damage)

24

7 447 (1.7)

8

2 299 (33.3)

Other long term condition

100

34 988 (8.1)

50

17 028 (50.0)