IDEAS (Information on Disability, Education and Awareness Services) has released the latest data on the Australian Government’s Disability Information Helpline.

The Disability Information Helpline answers people’s questions about coronavirus and what support is available for people with disability and their carers.

Since April:

• 2,587 people have called the Helpline or used the live chat
• IDEAS staff have spent 3,340 hours on the phone
• by far the highest number of calls have come from Victoria at 65%
• there has been a fairly even spread of people calling in across people with disability (35%), family members (31%) and workers (34%).

IDEAS has found that people calling in are anxious about how they will stay safe. The calls its been receiving show that people are worried about:

• lack of accessible testing
• changes to support
• supply shortages
• not enough accessible information
• people with disability being invisible during the crisis.

The organisation has found that the people who call the helpline are relieved and thankful they have a place where they can be listened to and get the information they need.

The Disability Information Helpline is available 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. You can contact them through:

• free call 1800 643 787
• live chat on the IDEAS website
• email info@ideas.org.au.