Overview of responses to the Experience of First Nations people with disability in Australia Issues paper (Auslan)

Overview of responses to the Experience of First Nations people with disability in Australia Issues paper

Introduction

In June 2020 we asked First Nations people with disability, their families and communities about their experiences of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

We collected lots of responses and have published an overview of what we were told. This information will help inform our work and our recommendations to make a better society for people with disability.

This video highlights some key issues of what people told us.

What did people say?

People told us that systems like prisons, health services, out of home care and the National Disability Insurance Scheme were failing First Nations people with disability. For example, First Nations organisations may not understand the needs of people with disability. And disability organisations may not understand the cultural needs of First Nations people.

Over representation – People said there was an over representation of First Nations people with disability in out of home care, the criminal justice system and guardianship settings. People said that this was because of ‘systemic neglect and abuse’.

Lack of culturally appropriate services – People told us there weren’t enough services tailored to the needs of First Nations people that understood their issues. And that there weren’t enough First Nations people in the disability workforce. This means First Nations people don’t get the help they need, and they can be excluded and neglected.

Lack of access to supports – People said the disability sector is hard to navigate and understand. This could be because of language barriers and reliance on written information (this also makes it difficult for people who are blind). The First Nations workforce and First Nations people with disability say information needs to be clearer.

Racism – People said they experience racism in the health system, and as a result they don’t use some health services altogether.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) – People said the NDIS is not working for First Nations people with disability and this means they are at higher risk of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. The way the NDIS is set up to work means that First Nations people can’t access culturally appropriate services. As a result, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are left to ‘plug the gap’ as there are not enough disability services available that are culturally appropriate for First Nations people.

Undiagnosed disability – We heard about the impact when disability is not diagnosed and a person does not get the support they need. This may lead to them being excluded from school, put in out of home care or gaol.

Colonisation and social disadvantage – People said the impact of colonisation affects First Nations people with disability as well as issues like:

• poverty
• disease
• trauma passed through generations
• access to housing
• living in remote areas.

More information

For more information, visit the ‘Policy & research’ section on our website.  

www.disability.royalcommission.gov.au