Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

Activ endorses the Royal Commission’s investigations into promotion of a more inclusive society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

To support the Royal Commission’s investigations, Activ has submitted a response to the Employment Issues Paper.

Activ chose to submit a response to the Royal Commission on behalf of Activ as a whole, and on behalf of Activ’s supported employees to ensure their experiences are included.

In the response paper, Activ has endeavoured to provide responses to the issues of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation faced by people living with intellectual disability (PLWID) in the workplace.

Activ primarily uses the Australian Disability Enterprises (ADE) model of employment when providing employment opportunities to people living with intellectual disability. In this environment, people living with disability train and work in a supported environment.

In particular, the response paper addresses the following points:

• There are a number of problems, limitations and disadvantages inherent in the current ADE model.
  Activ has made many changes to supported employment processes to help address these. This includes the introduction of training opportunities and the trial of innovative pilots that foster skill development and pathways to open employment.
• Activ, working with the current tools available, remains committed to highlighting the need for a new, more fair and practical wage assessment tool.
• Acknowledgement that there are instances of violence in supported workplace environments and that, without sufficient safeguards, such environments may exacerbate or increase the risk of such incidence. Activ has implemented a number of safeguarding measures to improve the workplace experience for all supported employees. This includes:
  • the introduction of a confidential and independent ‘See Something, Say Something’ hotline;
  • changes to internal policies and improvements to reporting requirements; and
  • the provision of sexuality, relationships and protective education to supported employees.
• The challenges of employment planning within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
  Activ is participating in a nationwide working group, with the aim to understand recently introduced NDIS funding supports in employment to ensure appropriate levels of funding are secured for supported employees.

Within the response paper the broad range of experiences of our supported employees (provided with pseudonyms for confidentiality purposes) have been provided.

Activ would like to thank all staff members, especially our supported employees, who contributed to the response paper.

The Royal Commission may publish Activ’s response paper, with the case studies redacted, on its website. If the Commission chooses to make the response paper public, Activ will notify our staff and customers.

Further information about the Royal Commission, including how you can share your experiences, is available on the Royal Commission’s website.

Further Activ statements related to the Royal Commission are available on the Disability Royal Commission section of our website.

Read a summary of our response to the Employment Issues Paper in Easy English