Source: Melbourne Disability Institute
Author: Melissa Kavenagh, Anne Kavanagh, Stefanie Dimov, Helen Dickinson, Ashley McAllister, Marissa Shields
Posted May 7, 2021
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.
Source: Disability Services Consulting (DSC)
Author: Lisa Duffy
Posted May 4, 2021
Nice try, NDIA. Just when you thought we were distracted, you slipped a new NDIS Access Request Form (ARF) onto the NDaIS website. However, it’s hard to go unnoticed when you’re 28 pages and very purple.
Author: Australian Human Rights Commission
Posted April 30, 2021
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.
Author: Disability Royal Commission
Posted April 29, 2021
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.
Author: Disability Royal Commission
Posted April 16, 2021
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.
Author: Disability Royal Commission
Posted April 16, 2021
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.
Author: Social Ventures Victoria
Posted April 15, 2021
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.
Author: Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA)
Posted April 9, 2021
This podcast series features casual conversations with families of children with disability and/or developmental delay and the professionals they work alongside. The aim is to support and build families’ knowledge, skills and confidence when navigating the early childhood intervention (ECI) landscape. It is also an opportunity for parents to share their individual stories of everyday life in family with a child diagnosed with a disability and/or developmental delay.
Author: DARU
Posted March 30, 2021
Disability awareness is generally low in the broader community. Have you ever found yourself not making the effort to connect out of fear of saying or doing the wrong thing? Well, it’s just this that makes people with disability feel invisible and excluded. In this short course you will learn to understand what inclusion means to people with disability, what disability etiquette is and how to meet, write and talk about people with disability.
Author: NDIA
Posted March 26, 2021
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.
Source: Senate Estimates
Author: Dr Ben Gauntlett
Posted March 26, 2021
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Dr Ben Gauntlett told Senate estimates it was important to remember that the independent assessment policy change had not yet been put into legislation. While he said he welcomed increased consistency, equity and efficacy in the delivery of scheme, he had concerns the proposed process for independent assessments undermined its effectiveness and would not have the intended effect for individuals with complex support needs.
Author: Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System
Posted March 12, 2021
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.
Author: Every Australian Counts Blog
Posted March 12, 2021
This is the disability sector’s statement on the Australian Government’s planned reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). – People with disability, their families and the organisations that represent them are all worried about changes the Australian Government wants to make to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). We want the scheme to be consistent and fair. But we also want to make sure that people with disability get the support they need. There are too many unanswered questions and concerns for this proposal to continue in its current form. We therefore request…
Author: Office of the Public Advocate
Posted March 12, 2021
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.
Author: VCOSS on behalf of Empowered Lives Network
Posted March 12, 2021
This Issues Paper is specifically prompted by concerns that the NDIA’s proposed model of mandatory independent assessments will reinforce the growing inequalities in the Scheme. Instead of improving access and reducing out-of-pocket expenses, independent assessments will present another hurdle for people with disability. This hurdle will be higher and harder for people who experience multiple and intersecting forms of disadvantage, and will add another layer of stress, complexity and anguish for people with disability seeking support.
