Research reports contained in the collection were produced between 2012 and 2021 with the aim of sharing evidence and knowledge on a range of topics to help advance the rights of people with disability. Designed to improve policies and practices, this Collection is for people with disability, their family, caregivers, allies or supporters, disabled people’s organisations, policymakers, researchers, advocacy organisations, service providers and practitioners.
The study provides important insights into the challenges experienced by staff working in Victorian disability residential settings in the second wave of Victoria’s COVID-19 pandemic. It describes the findings from a national on-line survey of 357 disability support workers (DSWs) conducted between May and June 2020.
This report is the culmination of a three-year national investigation into human rights risks posed by new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. It reflects the Commission’s extensive public consultation regarding the impact of new technologies and contains 38 recommendations.
The report analyses and summarises the evidence presented during public hearing 6. It suggests that psychotropic medication, which are drugs that affect a person’s mind, emotions or behaviour, is being over-prescribed to people with cognitive disability to deal with what are commonly described as ‘behaviours of concern’. Medical evidence along with observations from family and carers indicate people with cognitive disability often experience serious negative consequences from using psychotropic medication And there is not much evidence to support the effectiveness of psychotropic medication as a way to address behaviours of concern
In Victoria’s second wave, we saw COVID-19 outbreaks in over 60 group homes. Achieving high-levels of vaccination among workers is critical if people with disability are to be protected against COVID-19. Between March and April 2021 300 Disability Support Workers were asked about their vaccine intentions, who they trust to provide information, and other concerns that they have. This report presents the findings from the survey.
In Australia, 4.4 million people live with disability, and 96% of people with disability live in private homes. Many existing homes are inaccessible and finding appropriate housing remains a challenge for many Australians with disability. Improving housing accessibility can and should be achieved in two ways: by ensuring that new homes are constructed to meet minimum accessibility requirements; and by modification or adaptation of existing homes, which is the focus of this report.
People with disability are often called ‘inferior’, ‘a burden’, or ‘a menace’. They say people assume they are ‘of no value’, ‘not fully human’, ‘objects of pity’, ‘eternal children’ or ‘better off dead’. Many respondents talked about the long term harm such language can have and how this language reflects the ingrained attitudes and discrimination which still exists in Australia towards people with disability.
Restrictive practices limit a person’s rights or freedom of movement and come in various forms. Seclusion, such as locking someone in a room, using restraints like handcuffing someone to a bed or medicating someone to control their behaviour are all examples of restrictive practice. Respondents said restrictive practices can have negative effects on people with disability. This includes trauma, poor health, shorter lifespan and death. They said using restrictive practices can be degrading and cruel. Their use can create a culture which does not value people with disability, and make denying them their rights seem normal.
Disability Employment Services (DES) were singled out and concerns were raised about their design and implementation. Some responses said the very service that was established to help people with disability find and keep a job, is falling far short of what it was set up to do. Responders described how some DES consultants didn’t have specialised disability knowledge or qualifications, and didn’t act in their client’s best interest.
Access to appropriate and affordable housing is a key driver to enable people with disability to be full and equal participants in society. Yet while the stock of specialist disability housing has grown over the last few years,2 the sector’s understanding of how these homes facilitate better outcomes once tenants have moved in has remained limited. This outcomes framework was developed to help better understand the impact of housing and in-home supports on the lives of people with disability.
This data report measures the progress of participants since joining the Scheme up to June 2020. It offers a unique view into how the NDIS is benefiting participants as well as helping identify areas that may need additional focus. There are four different versions of the outcomes framework questionnaires, corresponding to four participant age groups. Where relevant, the baseline and the longitudinal reports have analysed the impact of COVID-19 on outcome indicators.
This report finds that Victoria’s mental health system operates in crisis mode, has “catastrophically failed to live up to expectations” and must be rebuilt. Demand has now overtaken the capacity of the system. Among the final report’s 65 recommendations, outlined in a mammoth five-volume report, are the phasing out of seclusion and restraints treatments over the next decade, and making compulsory treatments an option of last resort.
The report focuses on matters relevant to people with cognitive disabilities, including mental health and neurological disabilities, which may affect their ability to make decisions without support. The 25 recommendations support reform to improve laws and practices and reduce the impact these laws have on people with cognitive disabilities. Such reforms will enable Australia to meet its obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Final Report calls for fundamental reform of the aged care system. Royal Commissioners Tony Pagone QC and Lynelle Briggs AO make 148 wide-ranging recommendations in their Report, which comprises 5 volumes. The report finds that the extent of substandard care in Australia’s aged care system reflects both poor quality on the part of some … Continued
The Government supports, or supports-in-principle, 26 of the recommendations made in the Committee’s report. Given the ongoing reforms to the planning process being progressed by the NDIA, the Government notes the Committee’s remaining 16 recommendations and provides information on the key initiatives underway and planned to address them.