Disability Royal Commission publishes new research on inclusion

The research, released this week, also found that funding increases were needed, along with changes to laws and regulations, guidelines and advertising.

The report follows the publication of 14 issues papers since the commission was established in April 19.

To date, the commission has received more than 4,400 submissions and 13,000 phone inquiries, and published five progress reports, as well as conducting 978 private hearings and 22 public hearings,

Areas of focus have included employment, discrimination, violence and abuse of people with disability at home, inclusion, safeguards and quality, restrictive practices, and the criminal justice system.

The most recent hearing focused on group homes, looking at two case studies of homes run by Life Without Barriers, which started out in Newcastle in 2005, but which now provides services throughout Australia and had a revenue in the 2019/2020 financial year in excess of $755 million.

Counsel assisting the commission, Patrick Griffin SC and Ben Fogarty, said the hearing's significance went beyond specific service providers, regulatory bodies or situations.

"Through examining the particular experiences of residents, these case studies consider themes that are of relevance to all group homes."

The commission heard reports of sexual assault, resident-on resident violence, the 'normalisation' of violence in group homes, staffing issues and unsafe, restrictive practices affecting residents' ability to conduct healthy relationships and receive appropriate care.

The latest research report looks at ways to create a more inclusive society where only 53.4 per cent, or one million people with disability participate in the labour force, and are twice as likely as those without disability to be unemployed.

"Many participants highlighted that attitude change needed leadership, by people with and without disability, and from within communities and from people in positions of authority (business, government, advocacy)," it says.

The findings included that the active presence of a diversity of people with disability across all life domains, including inclusive schooling, employment and communities was needed. Other interventions identified in the report included the need for measuring, monitoring and research that inform decisions about interventions and accountability across organisations.

The next hearing starts on May 16 and will look at day programs run by a particular service provider and what measures were taken to prevent and respond to the abuse of people with disability who were day program participants. The commission is due to deliver a final report in September 2023.

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