National Disability Abuse Inquiry

Samantha Connor

A case from this website has helped make up the many stories of abuse of people with disabilities in Western Australia as part of the submissions for the National Disability Abuse Inquiry held this week. Taken from the 1980 Board of Inquiry Report the case added to the many cases that have been gathered around the country to highlight the serious abuse that has and continues to occur in settings were vulnerable people reside. A submission by Samantha Connor who is part of a group of strong advocates calling themselves the Bolshy Divas submitted and spoke to the Inquiry. They also had good representation throughout the national media, including ABC’s program PM in Tasmania. This come hot on the heels of the latest report out of Victoria of a scandalous 20-year cover-up of abuse of people with disabilities in the Mornington Peninsula state-run home.

Some of Victoria’s most profoundly disabled people were subject to six years of abuse in a state-run home, including a suspected rape, assault, unlawful restraint, denial of medical care and regular soap suppositories. Documents obtained by Fairfax Media reveal a 20-year cover-up by respective state governments over the scandal at the Department of Human Service’s care house on the Mornington Peninsula.

The revelations come as the federal and Victorian parliaments prepare to hold public inquiries into the abuse of disabled people in residential care and as the state Ombudsman investigates Yooralla over its failure to protect clients from serious sexual assaults by male carers.

Submission The Uncounted

Media: Click Here

Victorian Fairfax Media Report

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