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Queensland Advocacy Incorporated

Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (Q A I) is an independent, community-based systems and legal advocacy organisation for people with disability in Queensland, Australia.

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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)

  • 26 Nov, 2020
  • (0) Comments
  • By Admin
  • Submissions

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

  • 2 Nov, 2020
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  • By Admin
  • Latest news, Submissions

Guardianship and Administration and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

Read QAI’s submission here: QAI’s submission on the Guardianship and Administration and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

For more information about the inquiry, including a list of other submissions, see http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-committees/committees/LACSC/inquiries/current-inquiries/GAOLAB2017 

  • 20 Sep, 2017
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  • By Admin
  • Submissions

Decisions About My Life? The Choice Should be Mine

QAI’s position statement on supported decision-making

QAI Paper on supported decision-making

  • 12 Sep, 2016
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  • By Emma Phillips
  • Papers, Resources
Cover page of Queensland Handbook for practitioners on legal capacity

Queensland Handbook for Practitioners on Legal Capacity

Cover page of Queensland Handbook for practitioners on legal capacity

To open an electronic copy of the Queensland Handbook for Practitioners on Legal Capacity, please click here. The Handbook is not available in hard copy.

The idea for the Queensland Handbook for Practitioners on Legal Capacity had its genesis through regularly coming across issues of client capacity in QAI’s work and realising there was a gap for this sort of resource in the Queensland legal landscape. It is hoped that Queensland lawyers will find the Handbook useful in supporting their vulnerable clients and increase access to justice for people with disability.

QAI first approached Allens to assist in producing a capacity handbook on 17 July 2013. It was launched by The Honourable Justice Ann M Lyons on 19 May 2015.

QAI gratefully acknowledges the significant pro bono support of Allens and Scott Lang without whom this project would not have been possible.

We also thank the Queensland Law Society and Stafford Shepherd for their input and endorsement of the handbook for use by Queensland solicitors.

This handbook was prepared by:

Allens: Scott Lang, Corin Morcom, Andrea Moffatt, Kelly Lloyd, Ashleigh Dixon, Gillian Hayden and Daniel Bradford; Supervising Partner: Karla Fraser; Publications: Irene D’Errico

Queensland Advocacy Incorporated: Rebekah Leong, David Manwaring, Michelle O’Flynn

With the contribution of:

Seniors Legal and Support Service, Nundah Community Legal Centre, Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House Inc (QPILCH), Queensland Association of Independent Legal Services (QAILS), Queensland Law Society, Legal Services Commission, Legal Aid Queensland, Office of the Public Advocate, Office of the Adult Guardian, the Public Trustee of Queensland, members of QCAT, and volunteers of the University of Queensland Pro Bono Centre.

  • 1 Jul, 2014
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  • By Admin
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The importance of the inclusion of people with decision-making disabilities in the Federal government’s new Disability Care scheme

QAI media release on including people with disabilities in decisions made about them

final SDM release June 2013

  • 27 Jun, 2013
  • (0) Comments
  • By Emma Phillips
  • Media releases
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