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OTA’s statement on the Federal Government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission
Published: Wednesday 31 July 2024
Earlier today the Federal Government released its initial response to the Disability Royal Commission Final Report.
OTA has reviewed and considered the government's response.
Below you will find summary statements of OTA's position on different aspects of the government's response by topic:
- Disability discrimination
- Inclusive education
- NDIS
- Reduction and elimination of restrictive practices
- The role of practitioner CPD in best practice services for people with cognitive disabilities
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Disability discrimination
OTA is disappointed that state, territory and federal governments have not made stronger commitments to end disability discrimination and build an inclusive and accessible Australia for the more than four million Australians with disability.
OTA calls for a stronger unified vision from state and federal governments to end disability discrimination in Australia, and build supports, adjustments and specialised services to promote accessibility and independence.
Occupational therapists are a key workforce in the Australian disability sector and work alongside Australians with disability to help them build independence and participation in daily life.
Inclusive education
OTA would like to see stronger commitments from state and federal government to promote inclusive education and better support students with disability in both mainstream and specialist settings.
Occupational therapists play a key role in specialist education settings and are increasingly working in mainstream schools to support all students to participate fully in their school experience and achieve their goals, working at whole school, group and individual levels to ensure that students achieve their potential.
Moves to successfully transition education systems toward truly inclusive education will need to ensure that the valued supports like occupational therapy available in special schools can be readily accessed in mainstream settings.
OTA strongly encourages government to consider the benefits that occupational therapy interventions can deliver in all future disability education reforms to ensure that access to occupational therapy is supported and utilised.
NDIS
OTA notes that many recommendations intersect with the NDIS, and government has signalled that these will be explored as part of the Government’s response to the Independent Review of the NDIS.
OTA calls on Government to prioritise the release of this response as soon as possible, to provide better clarity on the scale and pace of future disability reforms, to provide confidence to the disability community, and the sectors who support them.
OTA is pleased to see some commitments that will enhance accessibility of disability employment support services, and better support Australians with disability who are in justice and forensic settings, including transitioning into the NDIS.
OTA welcomes the federal government’s in-principle support to improve NDIS registration and audit processes (Recommendation 10.21). OTA supports risk-based regulation for providers practising under the NDIS, who currently face significant regulatory duplication and cost and administrative burden as a result of NDIS Registration requirements. OTA has engaged heavily with the NDIS Provider and Worker Registration taskforce and has advocated strongly for recognition of the protections offered by the AHPRA registration scheme, and we await more detail from government on future NDIS regulatory arrangements.
Reduction and elimination of restrictive practices
OTA also welcomes steps to reduce and eliminate the use of restrictive practices. Occupational therapists work with people to reduce and eliminate restrictive practices wherever possible, and OTA strongly encourages governments to draw on the clinical skillset of OTs when implementing changes to reduce and prohibit their use, to ensure approaches are person-centred, multidisciplinary, and uphold human rights. In its efforts to implement this change, OTA also encourages the Federal Government to expand recognition and use of the evidence-based practice of sensory modulation in disability settings, especially within the NDIS, as a means to reduce restrictive practices.
The role of continuing education in best practice services for people with cognitive, intellectual and developmental disabilities
OTA accepts the Commission’s recommendation directed to allied health professional bodies, to enhance continuing professional development (CPD) offerings to improve allied health care to people with cognitive disability, including intellectual and developmental disabilities. OTA will review our suite of CPD resources to ensure they support occupational therapists to provide best practice services for clients with cognitive disability.
Background information on the Disability Royal Commission Final Report
The Disability Royal Commission was established in April 2019 in response to community concern about widespread reports of violence against, and the neglect, abuse and exploitation of, people with disability.
The Disability Royal Commission undertook a significant consultation with the Australian disability community and published its final report in September 2022.
The Final Report made 222 recommendations to state and federal governments, including a wide range of improvements to legislation and government policy to reduce discrimination and exploitation, and increase accessibility.
The report included 172 recommendations for the Federal Government (either as a primary or shared responsibility), and Government has decided to accept 13 recommendations in full, and 117 in principle. It has also noted 6 recommendations and will consider a further 36 recommendations.
Read the Royal Commission’s Final Report here.
Read the Federal Government’s response to the Commission’s Final Report here.
Individual States and Territories have each published their own responses to the Final report, and a unified joint response, which includes various levels of commitment to specific recommendations. Find the Joint Government response, and individual state and territory Government responses here.
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