Today saw a small gathering of people laying white flowers, as part of the White Flower Memorial Movement in Australia. The movement highlights the abuse, neglect and isolation of people with disabilities in current and past care facilities. The memorial was held at the gates of Willow Court and was in memory of the Children that were institutionalised at the centre during it’s long 174 year history.

The Leader of the Tasmanian Greens, Cassy O’Conner was the surprise guest speaker and has been calling for a public apology, similarly to the past apologies give to the Stolen Generation and Wards of the State in Tasmania. The event was coordinated by Dannii Lane who was a previous resident of Lachlan Park Hospital. There was a reading of names and a poem during this rainy day event. Representing the Derwent Valley Council, was the Mayor, Martyn Evans who was also the photographer. ABC News reported during the evening news.

Other similar events have been held around Australia and the movement is gathering momentum in the call to have violence against vulnerable people recognised and stopped.

“Every day from October 27 until November 25, 2015, White Flower Memorial will remember a person or people with a disability.”

This is the call from a Facebook site that has called on the community to stop violence against people with disabilities and each day a place or a person is remembered.  On the 17th November Willow Court was remembered.

A short list of people who have suffered at the hands of the very people whom they trusted  is contained below. The ongoing campaign of protests and petitions is calling for change to systems where people are not receiving justice and or perpetrators of such offences are being let off and justified because their victim had a disability. The ongoing abuse of people with a disability is still an issue within our community. This does not take into consideration the isolation that institutionalisation care caused, when all of the Government policies and community resources are located in large establishments such as Willow Court and Yarra Bend. 

“We have had enough.” 

Take action now. Tell your local member of parliament that we need a Royal Commission into violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability. Ask them to#endtheviolence by clicking this linkbit.ly/etvagainstpwd

November 11 – Media reports that a NSW mother is being tried for manslaughter of her 11 year old son, who was bound to a chair, doused in cold water and left in a shed, where he died of hyperthermia. The prosecution alleges a long history of abuse, restraint and torture. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/autistic-boy-died-are-being-bound-to-chair-and-showered-in-cold-water-court-20151111-gkwc17

November 10 – A bus driver who allegedly told a Canberra child with special needs to put a pillowcase over his head and “go to sleep” and an aide who told the child to ‘change your underwear because you smell like shit’ have been stood down. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bus-driver-and-aide-stood-down-over-pillowcase-on-childs-head-20151110-gkv4j4.html#ixzz3rBmBG4o1

November 9 – A 16 year old autistic boy is found chained to a bed in Sydney. His mother is interviewed after she returned from her shopping trip.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-10/teenager-found-chained-to-bed-in-blacktown-sydney’s-west/6928444

November 6 – Multiple instances of abuse reported across NSW, including clients who were kicked and stamped on, locked in cars whilst staff played pokies and many other cases – https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/30021617/disabled-patient-kicked-stomped-on-in-horrific-accounts-of-abuse/#play

November 5 – Current Affair story about very young children put into a small room in a primary school.http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/9049647/boy-in-a-box

October 28 – Details emerge about WA worker fired from a government group home after a disabled man had his genitals blasted with water at such high pressure that he screamed. Other details included people with disability being left in unventilated vans, putting aftershave on shaving cuts and physically abusing clients. https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/29928005/staff-abuse-of-disabled-revealed/

October 28 – School puts autistic boy in cell like room with just a thin mattress on floor and pillow – Qldhttp://www.scribd.com/doc/287338662/School-Puts-Autistic-Boy-in-Cell-Like-Room-QLD

October 30 – Student with disability tied to chair with seat belt – https://www.scribd.com/doc/287809156/Parents-Claim-Special-Needs-Student-Tied-to-Chair-With-Seat-Belt

October 4 – Victoria – a coffin like structure is built to lock up Autistic people by a major service providerhttp://www.theage.com.au/victoria/wooden-box-built-to-lock-up-autistic-people-20151004-gk0uzo.html

September 22 – Victoria – teacher reports that students at a Bendigo school are caged and hurt by staff who use ‘pressure points’ to restrain students.

September 11 – ACT – Student locked in Canberra classroom in blue cage described as a ‘sanctuary’ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-11/cage-used-to-contain-boy-with-autism-described-as-sanctuary/6767710

August 31 – Victoria – Human services worker confesses to multiply raping and abusing eight clients in government run care facilities.http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/human-services-worker-craig-gilbert-handasyde-betrayed-parents-trust-court-hears-20150831-gjblp1.html

FOR HELP: Talking about crime can be a trigger for sad and upsetting experiences. If you feel like you need help you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit this website www.lifeline.org.au. You may also want to contact the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline by calling 1800 880 052 – or the 1800 Respect service by calling 1800 737 732. The Tell Someone website may also be able to help you – click this link to visit it www.tellsomeone.org.au

Image description – an image of a cage in a classroom, a coffin shaped box, a chair with restraints and a young woman with bruises across her legs. The title reads ‘enough’ and there is a hashtag which reads #endtheviolence.

In response to writing on the petition I have receive emails back from

Thank you for your email regarding ending violence against people living with a disability in Australia. 

There is a great deal of work and activity going on at both a local level in Tasmania and at a National level to address this issue. 

I am advised that Tasmania has a range of protections in place for people living with a disability, including the Department of Health and Human Services’ Quality and Safety Framework, support for the National Abuse Hotline, and the Preventing and Responding to Abuse in Disability Services Policy and Procedure. The Tasmanian Government is in the process of implementing Working with Children registration and will roll out Working with Vulnerable people registration in 2017. 

You may be aware of the Tasmanian Government’s Family Violence Action Plan, Safe Homes Safe Families, which was launched in August 2015. 

Eliminating family violence is a top priority for the Tasmanian Government, as violence against anyone, in any form, is unacceptable. 

It is anticipated that implementation of the Action Plan will provide:
○	greater awareness of, and better access to, support services;
○	better support for victims dealing with family violence through co-locating government services;
○	changing the attitudes and behaviours that lead to family violence across all communities;
○	targeted support for those at higher risk of being affected by family violence; and
○	focus on perpetrators of family violence being accountable for their crimes and changing their behaviour.

The Action Plan is responsive to the reality that women living with a disability are more likely to experience violence, that the violence can be more severe and last longer than for other women, and that this violence often goes unrecognised. 

The Tasmanian Government has also made a strong commitment to supporting the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022. The National Plan is focused on delivering a sustained reduction in violence against women by 2022.
There are a range of new developments which will further inform how we can better protect people with disability from violence and abuse. I am aware the Minister is watching closely and will participate as required in the National Senate Inquiry concerning violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings. The State Government will then consider recommendations from this inquiry carefully in the Tasmanian context. 

All Australian Governments have agreed to the development of a national approach to quality and safeguards as part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The national framework should maximise the opportunities for people living with a disability to make decisions about their supports whilst also enabling them to live free from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

I hope this information has reassured you that this issue is very much on the agenda of Governments around Australia and that significant effort is being directed into improving protections from violence for people living with a disability. 

Thank you once again for raising this matter direct with me. If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to make contact with me again.

Kind regards
Elise

On behalf of Minister Groom, I would like to acknowledge and thank you for your email.

This will be brought to the Minister’s attention.

Kind regards

Lauren

Lauren Hancox

Administration Assistant | Reception

Office of the Hon Matthew Groom MP

On behalf of Andrew Willkie:

Thank you for your email. These are very important matters you raise. 

I see that the committee resorts on 25 November. I will discuss the outcomes of that report and the matters you raise in your email with Mr Wilkie and get back to you.

Kind Regards

Nicky McKibben