The issues paper on Safeguards and quality asked the public to share their views about how people with disability experience safeguards, what promotes quality in services, and how these may prevent and reduce their exposure to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Fear of retribution held by the person making the complaint, or their supporters, was cited almost universally by respondents commenting on complaints processes.
Complaints bodies were criticised for treating serious cases of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation as regulatory breaches, rather than criminal matters to be referred to police, where appropriate.
Respondents proposed a raft of changes for the Royal Commission to consider including The lack of focus on prevention of abuse and neglect of people with disability and the need to identify the factors that potentially place individuals at higher risk of abuse. The importance of creating a service culture amongst disability service providers and support workers that respects human rights and does not tolerate violence or other abuses was also highlighted.
The full overview is available in a variety of formats including Auslan and Easy Read.
Download overview (off-site)- Topics:
- Disability Royal Commission
- Author:
- Disability Royal Commission
- Date published:
- Tue 14th Sep, 2021