National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Quality and Safeguards Commission and Other Measures) Bill 2017

Submission 47 - Response from Department of Health and Human Services Victoria

Secretary

Department of Health and Human Services 50 Lonsdale Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 Telephone 1300 650 172 GPO Box 4057 Melbourne Victoria 3001 www dhhs vie gov au DX 210081 e4622386

Jeanette Radcliffe Committee Secretary Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs Department of the Senate Parliament House CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Ms Radcliffe

I am writing in response to your letter of 4 September 2017 in which you provided a copy of JacksonRyan Partners submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee’s Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Quality and Safeguards Commission and Other Measures) Bill 2017 for my consideration and response.

Thank you for the opportunity to review the submission.

The Victorian Government has amended the Disability Act 2006 to formalise a principle of zero tolerance of abuse, and to strengthen the Disability Services Commissioner’s (the Commissioner) oversight of the disability sector. Previously the Commissioner was restricted largely to investigating and dealing with complaints.

The Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing has also requested the Commissioner inquire into and investigate:

• incident reports of assault, injury and poor quality of care received by the Department of Health and Human Services (the department)
• deaths of people with a disability received by the department, as well as those referred to the Commissioner by the State Coroner

The Commissioner will provide me with advice on practice or systemic issues related to his inquiries or investigations. These additional powers will enable a strengthened approach to safeguarding for people with a disability.

Yours sincerely

’J~ RIA ·~-