Victorians with a disability will have greater protections thanks to new safeguards introduced by the Victorian Government, which commence today under the new Victorian Disability Worker Commission.
The safeguards are part of the Government’s zero-tolerance approach to neglect and abuse of people with disability, developed in response to recommendations of the Victorian Parliament’s 2016 Inquiry into Abuse in Disability Services.
The independent Victorian Disability Worker Commission will uphold safety standards through the new Disability Service Safeguards Code of Conduct for all Victorian disability workers, which complements the NDIS quality and safety standards.
The new standards will protect all Victorians with disability, regardless of service funding arrangements.
The scheme allows people with disability to lodge a complaint about any disability worker in Victoria and requires disability providers and workers to notify the Commission about certain types of worker conduct.
The Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner, Dan Stubbs, was appointed in 2019 and lives with a disability, bringing strong expertise from across the public and not-for-profit sectors with a long history of advocating for the rights of people with disability.
The Commission will support the Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria to oversee the registration of Victorian disability workers which commences in July 2021.
The Board made the decision to delay worker registration by one year in light of the impacts of coronavirus on the workforce.
To find out more visit vdwc.vic.gov.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers Luke Donnellan
“Ensuring the safety of Victorians with disability is incredibly important – that’s why today we’re taking it a step further by delivering new protections that will even further strengthen their quality of care and safeguards.”
“Our new safeguards will support Victoria’s workforce to lead the way in providing high quality disability services, regardless of funding arrangements for disability workers.”
Quote attributable to Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner Dan Stubbs
“People with disability have a right to strong safeguards for services they rely on. That’s why we’re building a stronger, safer disability sector in Victoria.”