General Issues - Annual Report

Submission 67 - Supplementary Submission

The DRC detailed the disability field problems through its very extensive findings published in its very extensive report, yet we are at a loss to see an “action group” to ensure the DRC findings do not collect dust on the too-hard-shelf as has happened to most previous reviews of the disability field - being the need for the DRC.

As a specific example, the DRC strongly recommended the phasing out of group homes. Clearly they had very good reasons for this. Whereas we see no “action group” seeking group home problems and why group home providers are not being scrutinised for using their current captive market to avoid seeing complaints as tools to service improvement.

The main failure of group homes being the failure of provider management to set, monitor and maintain direct care staff work value expectations for resident quality of life care and support as should be set in their position descriptions.

We seek your views, and those of the Senate Committee,

Kind regards,

Tony & Heather Tregale