While the history of UD emanates from the disability rights movement of the 1960s in the United States, and the increasing age of the population of most developing countries has been recognised as a key trend in what is seen as an expanding market for UD, the broader benefits cannot be ignored. Items such as … Continued
Opportunities for people with disabilities under the NDIS are in danger of being wasted unless building standards are improved to provide better access to public transport and office blocks.
Australian building legislation does not currently mandate an inclusive approach to the safe evacuation of buildings. This poses a significant risk for the 20 per cent of the population with some form of disability, particularly the 10.5 per cent with a mobility disability when the options for evacuation in a multi-level building are generally limited … Continued
New data shows that in the whole of Melbourne there is only one suburb where a woman on an average weekly wage can rent a two-bedroom home and not be in housing stress (when you spend more than 30 per cent of your income on housing)
Despite rapes, deaths and neglect in care, the disability sector is obsessed with self-protection. The Age has recently detailed horrendous events that occurred in a disability house in the 1980s and 1990s. The question that cannot be avoided is: what has changed? Max Jackson is a consultant in the disability sector and former chief executive … Continued
At 16, Bree Synot was feeling ready to give up on life. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, or brittle bones, the prospect of finding a wheelchair-friendly house suitable for her needs was always going to be tough.
The inquiry into the abuse and neglect of people with disabilities in residential and institutional settings began hearings in Perth today. A group of six women from the disability advocacy group Bolshy Divas gave collective evidence before the hearing, citing 40 examples where disabled people had been severely beaten or raped.
A support group for young people who live in nursing homes has called on the Federal Government to bring departments together to get young people out of the aged care sector. A Senate inquiry into young people in nursing homes has held a hearing in Melbourne and is due to report in June. Di Winkler … Continued
March 2, 2015 One of five alleged sexual offenders employed by Victoria’s largest disability provider, Yooralla, worked 32 shifts while being investigated by police on suspicion of repeatedly raping a disabled woman at another disability provider. Fairfax Media can also reveal the overseas worker at the centre of the latest case was hired by … Continued
The disability, health, housing and aged care sectors must ensure young people with disabilities stay out of aged-care facilities. This week, the community affairs committee started hearings for the Senate inquiry into the lives of some of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and disabled people in Australia: young people in nursing homes. It has been 10 … Continued
An advocacy group has called on Victoria’s new premier Daniel Andrews to sack the board of disability service provider Yooralla, claiming misappropriation of taxpayer funds. United Voices for People with Disabilities on Tuesday night distributed an “Open Letter to Premier Andrews” to the media. The letter alleges excessive payments of up to $1.6 million were … Continued
Victoria’s ombudsman has launched a major inquiry into the bungling of sex abuse allegations involving Yooralla amid new allegations the disability services provider may have also engaged in financial misconduct. The new allegations are being separately probed by the Victorian government and Yooralla and involve claims that senior managers exaggerated the severity of their clients’ … Continued
One of Australia’s largest disability providers bungled the handling of rape and sexual harassment cases while some of its facilities have been riddled with corruption and mismanagement, leaked documents and whistleblowers say. The revelations come with Opposition Leader Bill Shorten backing calls from Graeme Innes, who left his post as national disability commissioner in July, … Continued
After months of uncertainty, Minister for Community and Disability Services and Reform Mary Wooldridge says a tender process will deliver for the Sandhurst centre. Last year the state government announced it was going to close the Sandhurst centre in Bendigo, which houses people living with disabilities. The government is moving the residents into more 21st … Continued
A union leader says an 18-day tender period for new disability services in Bendigo is rushed and lacks detail. The Victorian Government has advertised tenders for private operators hoping to provide services to residents of the Sandhurst Centre after the facility closes in 2016. The Minister, Mary Wooldridge, says running the tender process much sooner … Continued