Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697643307122.pdf (Australia)
Lindee Chiverton Submission: Requesting a National Enquiry into violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including the gender and age related dimensions, and the particular situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability.
My daughter has very complex care needs and went into a 24 hour care arrangement in 2010 – Department of Safety , whom contracted a service provider.

Unfortunately once my daughter needed more care in Queensland, I then had to relinquish care.

The department of safety then gets involved, and yes you’re treated like an abusive parent, ect.
The first service provider was not suitable for a child with disabilities, but employed youth workers (typically working with mainstream children that have been abused/neglected).

I was to remain guardian – involved in all aspects, but as soon as youth workers/care provider commenced, everything was a “secret”.

I was shut down on many occasions for “complaining”.
I was intimidated, bullied, ignored, and denied information about my daughters daily care, schooling, and involved in plans, denied phone access for my daughter, medical appointments but I was also ignored when I asked questions about “bruises, sores”.

After multiple issues with the first care provider, we were transferred to a second care provide 2013, and again more secrets and cover ups, as well as overlooking that I was guardian.
My daughter’s health has now deteriorated, from further neglect and abuse.

For the last 2 years, youth workers and teachers gave me updates about my daughter self harming/hurting herself, and changes in behaviour as a result of “problems at school”, the school said they didn’t know?

No community visitor was involved, and I had requested several times?

She’s also missed medical appointments.


My daughter was vocalizing for the last 2 years that her co-tentant cried and screamed most nights, but I was corrected by the Service Provider, and Child Safety.

Dec 2014 my daughter witnessed her cotenant being hurt by youth workers..And this is when she told her story to the police (with youth workers present – denied an advocate, I found out 4 days later).

Why didn’t someone investigate earlier??

So many red flag alerts...but she’s “intellectually imparied”.
My daughter’s cotenant parents were minimally involved, but she under state care/child and adult guardian – they also failed to act.

Department of Safety, have finally completed an internal investigation (from officers within the same department...not independent), stating neglect, etc.

The service providers, stood down 6 staff but no managers, etc.

I’m not sure why a new service provider didn’t take over??
I had to remove my daughter from care in Feb 2015 due to further incidents but these have also been ignored.

There’s also no follow care services/trauma services available for these children that are abused in Queensland.

Mental Health, don’t have the resources and the same with the Department of Safety/Disabilities.

Wwild is one organization that is available, but very limited with staff, and not able to make client visits.

Queensland Health don’t have the capacity – inpatient and outpatient services.
Nil community services available, as my daughter’s too complex.

There’s also limited lawyers interested in pursuing justice for disabled individuals in Queensland, “not enough compensation”, but we also had lawyers tell as “what do you expect, they’re handicapped”.

My daughter is still in fear, and struggles to leave the house.

The impact of my daughters’ circumstances has also affected her family’s health, and employment.
We’re still waiting for the youth workers to go to court but what about the service provider, department of safety, community visitor, school..why aren’t they being investigated?

I’d like changes and hope that know child/adult experiences the torture that my daughter and her cotenant received.

I’d also like to stop families being isolated, and ignored/bullied.
Violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including thegender and age related dimensions, and the particular situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people withdisability, and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disabilitySubmission 75 Highlighting terms of reference are: a. the experiences of people directly or indirectly affected by violence, abuse and neglect perpetrated against people with disability in institutional and residential contexts; b. the impact of violence, abuse and neglect on people with disability, their families, advocates, support persons, current and former staff and Australian society as a whole; c. the incidence and prevalence of all forms of violence, abuse and neglect perpetrated against people with disability in institutional and residential settings; d. the responses to violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability, as well as to whistleblowers, by every organisational level of institutions and residential settings, including governance, risk management and reporting practices; e. the different legal, regulatory, policy, governance and data collection frameworks and practices across the Commonwealth, states and territories to address and prevent violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability; f. Australia’s compliance with its international obligations as they apply to the rights of people with disability; g. role and challenges of formal and informal disability advocacy in preventing and responding to violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability; h. what should be done to eliminate barriers for responding to violence, abuse and neglect perpetrated against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including addressing failures in, and barriers to, reporting, investigating and responding to allegations and incidents of violence and abuse; i. what needs to be done to protect people with disability from violence, abuse and neglect in institutional and residential settings in the future, including best practice in regards to prevention, effective reporting and responses; j. identifying the systemic workforce issues contributing to the violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability and how these can be addressed; k. the role of the Commonwealth, states and territories in preventing violence and abuse against people with disability; l. the challenges that arise from moving towards an individualised funding arrangement, like the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including the capacity of service providers to identify, respond to and prevent instances of violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability; and m. what elements are required in a national quality framework that can safeguard people with disability from violence, abuse and neglect in institutional and residential settings.
2.

That for this inquiry: a.
‘institutional and residential settings’ is broadly defined to include the types of institutions that people with disability often experience, including, but not restricted to: residential institutions; boarding houses; group homes; workplaces; respite care services; day centres; recreation programs; mental health facilities; hostels; supported accommodation; prisons; schools; out-of-home care; special schools; boarding schools; school buses; hospitals; juvenile justice facilities; disability services; and aged care facilities; and b.
‘violence, abuse and neglect’ is broadly understood to include, but is not limited to: domestic, family and interpersonal violence; physical and sexual violence and abuse; psychological or emotional harm and abuse; constraints and restrictive practices; forced treatments and interventions; humiliation and harassment; financial abuse; violations of privacy; systemic abuse; physical and emotional neglect; passive neglect; and wilful deprivation.
Violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings, including thegender and age related dimensions, and the particular situation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people withdisability, and culturally and linguistically diverse people with disabilitySubmission 75