The disability royal commission heard horrific stories of harm – now we must move towards repair
Retrieved on:
Tuesday, October 3, 2023
People, Human, Stolen Generations, Organic, Housing, Private law, Intellectual disability, Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, Disability, Trauma, Eugenics, Woman, Rehabilitation, Research, History, Institutionalisation, Government, Royal commission, Social isolation, Council, First Nations, Health, Nursing, Insurance, Tutoring, Residential care, Health insurance, Peat Island, Violence
The final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability follows years of advocacy from the disability community.
Key Points:
- The final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability follows years of advocacy from the disability community.
- The final report recommends disability service providers offer redress to people with disability who experience harm while receiving their services.
- Read more:
Disability royal commissioners disagreed over phasing out 'special schools' – that leaves segregation on the table
What do ‘institutionalisation’ and ‘segregation’ mean?
- All people with disability have the human right to live independently in the community regardless of how high their support needs are.
- In 20th century Australia, people with disability were institutionalised in many large residential settings.
- People with disability remain traumatised by their experiences, yet governments and charities have not been called to account.
- Read more:
The disability royal commission recommendations could fix some of the worst living conditions – but that's just the start
Problems today
- Today, many people – especially those with intellectual disability – live in group homes where segregation, social isolation, violence and lack of choice in their daily lives are a common reality.
- The disability royal commission heard how group homes replicate the harm of large residential settings, with operators failing to prevent violence and avoiding accountability.
Recognising wrongs
- Reparations are actions to recognise and respond to systemic wrongs.
- They might involve compensation, restitution (such as returning money or property) or rehabilitation (health or legal services).
- Reparations can seek satisfaction (with apologies and memorials) and guarantees something won’t happen again via law reform or human rights education.
What do people with disability want?
- It is time to work with people with disability towards a national apology from the government.
- In 2021, the Council for Intellectual Disability demanded withdrawal of an application for tourist re-zoning of Peat Island (the site of a disability institution for 99 years) and for memorialisation and truth-telling.
- We found people with intellectual disability support the wider community learning more of what was experienced in these places.
- Read more:
'Don't shove us off like we're rubbish': what people with intellectual disability told us about their local community
A way forward
- The disability royal commission has highlighted systemic violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in today’s Australia.
- Reparations are one way to do this.
- Jack Kelly has contributed to projects that have been funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).