NDIA Accountability Project

Sexual abuse of a woman with physical and intellectual disabilities at a service

Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Thursday, 17 January 2013 5:51:49 PM

Please consider this email a formal submission by me to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012.

The current disability system has many problems that need to be addressed.

Because people with disabilities might have the same legal rights/treatment ON PAPER but the reality is vastly different. eg. I know of a very defenceless woman who has physical and intellectal disabilities who attends a service where she was sexually abused by another client - a male who is a known sexual predator. She received no counselling and he was not removed from the service so she comes face to face with this man each week and relies on staff intervention to prevent a reoccurrence. When I raised this with the service the CEO at the time said she did not see that this was a problem and instead said “What about HIS rights to a service?“if this happened to a non -disabled woman , he would be in gaol, there would be an AVO out against him if he WAS out and there would be no way that he would be permitted to continue at the same school/ uni/ workplace as the woman.

The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:

  • More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
  • Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family, Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Support for families and carers,
  • In-home care and domestic assistance,
  • Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Because I support any changes which will increase practical accessible support, options and funding to individuals living with disabilities, their carers and families.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Miss Kylie O’Brien