A motion from Greens Senator Jordan Steele-John to establish a Royal Commission into abuse in the disability sector passed the Senate and had the numbers to pass the House of Representatives. The Government extended Question Time by an extra hour to avoid the vote, but they’ll have to deal with it when Parliament resumes on Monday.
Labor and the Greens are calling for a royal commission into the disability services sector, firming up a path for legislation if this year’s federal election puts Labor into government.
As the first person with a disability to sit in the Upper House, Senator Steele-John said he often heard of horrific cases of abuse in the disability sector. “We speak every day with each other about people who have died because of the neglect they have been subjected to,” he said. “I’m talking about being locked in rooms, I’m talking about being kicked, I’m talking about being spat at and restrained.
An important law was approved by the Government last week – the “National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Quality and Safeguards Commission and Other Measures) Bill 2017. This means there will be a new organisation in the NDIS set up to keep an eye on things to try to make sure NDIS participants are safe from harm. It is called the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
This research report aims to help tertiary response services to respond effectively to the needs of women with disabilities. Women with disabilities who have experienced violence seek help and support from tertiary services for similar reasons that other women do, including family and intimate partner abuse, sexual harassment and assault, coercive control, and stalking. However, women with disabilities also experience abuse related to their disability, including institutional violence and denial of provision of essential care
A Queensland mother has called for national disability provider Lifestyle Solutions to be closed down after it reinstated a carer accused of abusing her intellectually disabled daughter. The call comes as the Victorian Government announces it has ripped up contracts with Lifestyle Solutions to run two state-owned group homes over client safety concerns and “shortcomings” … Continued
The Victorian Government has launched an independent review of a disability group home provider accused of ignoring claims of sexual abuse of its clients.
A hundred years ago people with an intellectual disability were locked up in “lunatic asylums”. Today they’re still locked away, but it’s just behind the walls of suburbia.
The mother of an intellectually disabled woman who was repeatedly abused in respite care says her daughter was barred from accessing justice because of her disability.
In investigating the abuse of disabled people, Victorian Ombudsman Deborah Glass found a system where process rates above the needs and human rights of people. We must support the independence and decision making of people with disability, and never more steadfastly than when they make allegations of abuse. We must support the independence and decision … Continued
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 recent forum saw women with disabilities ask the three major parties contesting the Victorian State Election in November to answer questions around healthcare, equal access and violence against women. Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) has long been at the forefront of Systemic advocacy, ensuring that the voices of Victorian women with disabilities continue to … Continued
This is the first in the Advocacy Sector Conversations forum series that aims to support disability advocates to regularly get together and discuss matters which directly impact on their work, as well as to provide informal time to network.
Australian females with a disability are twice as likely to experience violence than other women. In many cases powerless to do anything to protect themselves, their experiences of violence will last over a longer period of time and will result in more severe injuries. The issue will be discussed at a national symposium at the … Continued
Many disabled Victorians are being repeatedly assaulted and exploited because authorities do not have the appropriate power or expertise to investigate their cases, experts warn. State watchdogs say countless numbers of vulnerable people are facing even greater risk because current gaps in the system are preventing alleged crimes from being properly examined. In one recent … Continued