Admin, Author at Queensland Advocacy Incorporated

UN Side Event 2020

It all begins with education

Realising inclusive education in Australia and the roadmap to change

Australia’s side event at the United Nations 13th Session of the Conference of State Parties to teh Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Co-hosted by Queensland Advocacy Inc. (QAI) and Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA).

On Thursday 3 December 2020, it is International Day of People with Disability. A day in which people with disability are celebrated all over the world.

This year, QAI is celebrating by co-hosting a side event to the United Nations 13th Session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We are excited to be collaborating with our colleagues at Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) to host a panel discussion, entitled “It all begins with education: Realising inclusive education in Australia and the roadmap to change”.

In this event, emerging young leaders with disability and disability advocates, activists and scholars from Australia will be discussing the relevance of Article 24 CRPD – the right to an inclusive education – in the Australian context, and offer nation states a roadmap charting the key elements required for full inclusion.

Panellists

Young Australians with disability

Cassandra Grey

Young person with disability, law student, QAI volunteer, Co-Chair working group for design of Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

Melanie Tran

Young person with disability, Chair of CYDA’s National Youth Disability Summit Co-Design Committee, CYDA Board Member, Recipient of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and the Laureate International Universities Here for Good Award.

Tim Chan

Young autistic non-speaker who uses assisted typing to communicate, sociology and political science student, passionate advocate for people with complex communication needs.

Jocelyn Neumueller

Young person who lives with significant physical disability, CYDA Board member, law student and passionate advocate for equal opportunities, true inclusion, choice and control, with a focus in education and sport

Jock Young

Young person with disability, lawyer and QAI volunteer.

With

Lisa Bridle

Senior Consultant, Community Resource Unit

Cecile Elder

Executive Officer, Family Advocacy

Bob Jackson

Registered Psychologist & Adjunct Associate Professor, Curtin University and member of the Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education

Catia Malaquais

Lawyer, Founder and Director of Starting with Julius, CoFounder of All Means All – the Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education, member of Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education

Emma Phillips

Principal Solicitor & Deputy Director, QAI

Mary Sayers
CEO, Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA), Chair of Australian Coalition for Inclusive Education

Tamara Walsh
Associate Professor School of Law, University of Queensland, parent

The event will be open for UN delegates to attend remotely on Saturday 5 December, 10am Brisbane time. The event will be recorded and QAI hope to be able to share it with the public in the near future.

More information on the UN site here.

2015 Summary of Submission – Senate Committee Inquiry – Violence, Abuse, Neglect PWD

QAI has campaigned for the closure of institutional and congregate care arrangements since
our inception in 1988, and have worked collaboratively with people with disability, family
members, other advocacy groups and allies to successfully close down a number of such
places. We need to support people to live in the community in accommodation arrangements
they choose.
Abusive practices can become embedded if they are not immediately addressed. When
subtle forms of abuse are viewed as harmless, more overt and serious issues are more likely
to occur and be ignored. People who are systematically abused can normalise this behaviour
and unwittingly perpetuate the abuse upon others. Other people who normalise abusive
behaviour can become perpetual victims.

Read the summary Summary Senate Inquiry – abuse

Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry – Violence, Abuse, Neglect against People with Disability in Institutional and Residential Settings

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

Read the submission here15.05.14 Submission to Senate Community Affairs Committee – abuse (1)

New Factsheet: Guardianship Law Reforms 2020

Key reforms to Queensland’s guardianship laws take effect on Monday 30^th November 2020.

They strengthen the protection afforded to Queenslanders with impaired decision-making capacity.

To help explain these important reforms, QAI has created a factsheet outlining the main changes.

National Disability Strategy – QAI Submission to DSS

Last month, the Department of Social Services commenced the second phase of consultations seeking feedback on a Position Paper to develop a new National Disability Strategy.

QAI made several recommendations:
QAI recommends: 1. The addition of the word ‘all’ before ‘people with disability’ in the proposed vision for the Strategy, so that it aims to achieve ‘An inclusive Australian society that enables all people with disability to fulfil their potential as equal members of the community’.

2. The inclusion of a person-centred approach to the ‘Involve and engage’ guiding principle, where policy processes engage with and listen to people with disability at all stages, people with disability are provided accessible information and opportunities for feedback and where implementation is person-centred and takes into account the needs and wishes of individuals.

3. The removal of ‘where possible’ in relation to the ‘Design universally’ guiding principle, removing any ambiguity and ensuring it is a minimum standard of practice.

4. The return to the previous Strategy’s order of outcome areas, with ‘economic security’ listed as the third not first policy domain.

5. Accept and adopt proposals for a federal Human Rights Act to extend the human rights protections now afforded to all Queenslanders to every single Australian, removing disparities in access to justice between state and territory jurisdictions and ensuring a coherent approach to implementation of the Strategy and Australia’s obligations under the CRPD.

6. Adoption of the Senate Committee’s recommendation that the government develop best practice guidelines for consultation with people with disability.

7. The development of a multi-layered plan to address community attitudes at the personal, organisation and government levels.

8. The development of mandatory disability action plans in all jurisdictions.
9. The creation of an Office of Disability Strategy to act as a coordinating agency for the Strategy under the auspice of the Disability Reform Council. Ensure the Office of Disability Strategy can integrate the key findings from the Disability Royal Commission into the Strategy over the coming years.

10. Further clarification regarding the interface between the NDIS and mainstream services. Update the current publicly available information to ensure the content is easy to understand, including the development of Easy Read versions.

11. Widening the scope of the Strategy to encompass non-government entities. For example, place greater emphasis on addressing media bias toward people with disability, seek to remove barriers to employment created by employers, continued and increased funding for individual disability advocacy services and community legal services, and working to ensure the dominance of the social model of disability and the supported decision-making model in the health setting. 12. Biannual, mandatory reporting by all levels of governments regarding progress against an outcomes framework to be developed in consultation with people with disability. QAI considers the International Day of People with Disability a suitable milestone on which to report progress. QAI further recommends that governments be required to issue ‘statements of compatibility’ when creating new policies, to signify compliance with the Strategy’s vision and guidance principles.

13. Consultation of people with disability on the development of all Targeted Action Plans, with clarification as to whether state and territory jurisdictions will have tailored targets under the outcomes framework to reflect varying levels of progress under the six domains. Regular program evaluations to become mandatory for states and territories. Collaboration with non-government entities to develop industry specific Targeted Action Plans is also recommended.

14. The employment of people with disability at all levels of government decision-making to ensure people with disability are actively involved in the delivery of the Strategy. A well-funded and

image of Senator Ann Ruston on tv screen — The current National Disability Strategy was the first ever commitment by all Australian governments

well-resourced disability advocacy sector is integral to this.

Read all the submission here

Time to Assess the Assessors: QAI warns against Independent Assessors in the NDIS

15 October 2020

For immediate release

QAI and its allies in the disability sector have today raised grave concern over the proposed introduction of Independent Assessments in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) from early 2021.

QAI has written an open letter to the NDIS Minister, The Hon Stuart Robert MP, calling for an urgent halt on plans to introduce Independent Assessments to the Scheme and has urged for further consultation with the disability community before any more announcements are made.

“The introduction of mandatory Independent Assessments takes away a person’s choice and control and goes against the very objectives of the NDIS”, QAI Director Michelle O’Flynn said today.

“Forcing people with disability to endure repeated and unnecessary assessments by assessors who have not been chosen by the participant or who may not possess the required specialist knowledge regarding a person’s disability, is degrading to people with disability and must not be allowed.”

QAI thanks its allies who endorsed the letter:

Advocacy For Inclusion
Disability Advocacy Victoria Inc
Disability Justice Australia Inc
Independent Advocacy NQ
People with Disability Australia
Queensland Collective for Inclusive Education
Queenslanders with Disability Network
Rights In Action
Speaking Up For You
TASC
Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service Inc
Your Rights, Your Voice

Media contact: Michelle O’Flynn, Director, QAI
Phone: 0481 381 528

#MakeItSafeToSpeak: QAI calls for legislation to protect confidentiality at the Disability Royal Commission

13 October 2020

QAI stands with Disabled People’s Organisations Australia (DPOA) and urges the government to pass legislation to protect the confidentiality of submissions made to the Disability Royal Commission.

This week, QAI gave evidence at the Disability Royal Commission’s public hearing into education. It was a timely reminder that for many people with disability, sharing stories of abuse, neglect, violence and/or exploitation can be deeply distressing and carry significant risk.

“People are afraid of reprisals”, QAI Director Michelle O’Flynn said today. “If people cannot tell their stories safely and without fear of retribution, how will the Commission truly understand the experiences of people with disability and achieve its purpose of creating meaningful change?”

Obtaining support to give evidence through a private hearing is not an option for everyone. The Disability Royal Commission must provide the same protections that were afforded to those who courageously gave evidence to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

QAI therefore calls upon the Federal government to amend the Royal Commission Act to ensure that submissions made to the Commission are confidential not just now, but beyond the life of the Commission.

Media contact: Michelle O’Flynn, Director, QAI
Phone: 0481 381 528

Make Disability Count virtual forum: 2020 Queensland Election

HURRY NOW! Register for this online forum to raise the issues impacting people with disability and to promote possibilities with political contenders for this year’s state election. Register now to listen, ask the candidates questions and be informed to make your election decisions!

QDN have capacity to hold 500 attendees at this event.

You are invited to attend the Make Disability Count virtual forum to discuss the issues that matter to Queenslanders with disability and the services and organisations that support them in the lead up to the State Election.

The forum will be hosted by eight state-wide organisations, including Queenslanders with Disability Network, ADA Australia hosting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland, National Disability Services, Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, Community Services Industry Alliance, Queensland Advocacy Inc., Health Consumers Queensland and the Queensland Collective for Inclusive Education.

1 in 5 Queenslanders live with a disability and our organisations represent thousands of people with disability, their families, disability support and community sector workers who are passionate about ensuring we build a more inclusive Queensland.

The forum will be held on:
Thursday, 8 October 2020 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm via Zoom

2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education – QAI Submission

QAI provided a submission to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment’s 2020 Review of the Disability Standards for Education.

Drawing upon our extensive experience of working with families who have children with disability in the education setting, we highlighted a lack of awareness of the Standards and inconsistent adherence among education providers as key issues.

We drew attention to the enrolment gatekeeping practices that continue to deny children with disability their right to an inclusive education and raised concern about the lack of accountability regarding the decision-making of principals in response to requests for reasonable adjustments.

Further to this, we raised the difficulties within the current complaint processes and highlighted how a student’s ability to access education on the same basis as students without disability is highly dependent upon the culture of the school as opposed to best practice.

We urged the government to amend the wording of the Standards to impose clearer legislative requirements on education providers, increase awareness of the Standards, ensure greater accountability of decision-making and implement measures to improve the culture of schools to ensure they welcome and encourage the participation and learning of students with disability.

Turning words into action: QAI has elected to be bound by the Human Rights Act 2019

6 October 2020

QAI is excited to announce it has been declared a ‘public entity’ for the purpose of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) (HRA)!

The passage of the HRA in Queensland was a significant milestone for this state and this nation. It is the first time this state has had dedicated legislation to protect the human rights of all Queenslanders. Queensland is the first Australian jurisdiction to protect the right to health and to establish an accessible complaints mechanism.

“Human rights belong to everyone and are fundamental to an inclusive society,” QAI Director Michelle O’Flynn said today. “QAI has always operated within a human rights framework and endeavours to protect and defend the human rights of the most vulnerable Queenslanders, in particular Queenslanders with disability.

“In becoming the first organisation to voluntarily opt-in to be bound by the HRA, QAI seeks to honour our commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and hopes to contribute to a broader human rights culture within our community,” Ms O’Flynn continued.

So what does this mean for QAI?

With uncertainty around who will be deemed a ‘public entity’ for the purpose of the Act, QAI has removed any ambiguity regarding its own obligations and is now legally bound by the substantive and procedural obligations under the Act. In other words, QAI must act and make decisions in a way that is compatible with human rights and must consider human rights when making decisions. If we have practices that do not comply with the standard required by the Act then we, like everyone, must do better. We welcome the opportunity to improve our practices and want to ensure we comply with the standard we campaigned so long to attain.

“We hope others will join us in demonstrating their commitment to creating a society where everyone is treated with dignity, fairness and respect and where the inherent value of each person is acknowledged and protected,” Ms O’Flynn said.

Media contact: Michelle O’Flynn, Director, QAI
Phone: 0481 381 528

It all begins with education

Realising inclusive education in Australia and the roadmap to change​

Australia’s side event at the United Nations 13th Session of the Conference of State Parties to teh Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Panellists

Young Australians with disability

Cassandra Grey

Melanie Tran

Tim Chan

Jocelyn Neumueller

Jock Young

With

Realising inclusive education in Australia and the roadmap to change