Submission to Senate Inquiry into the violence, abuse and neglect against people with disability in institutional and residential settings

This document is a submission made in 2015 by the APS to the Senate Inquiry regarding the 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.

Violence against people with disabilities within institutional settings can be broadly understood as being either an act of malicious intent or one of ignorance. The APS believes that two approaches are required in unison to address the violence, abuse and neglect experienced by people with disabilities in institutions.

The first approach addresses the culture of residential and institutional settings. The second focuses on having specific guidelines about how to address abuse and trauma. The APS draws attention to the APS publication: Evidence-based guidelines to reduce the need for restrictive practices in the disability sector, along with a wide range of therapeutic and systemic responses designed and delivered by psychologists to support optimal institutional or residential arrangements.

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