00:00 23 year old Olivia Sidhu is living a life that the Royal Commission wants for all people
00:07 with disability. She works in open employment.
00:12 I love working with the people in the office. It gives me joy.
00:19 For advocates there were mixed emotions as the final report of the Royal Commission into
00:26 violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability was made public.
00:31 It's a difficult day because there's a lot to digest and a lot for people to take in.
00:38 Today is a huge day for our community. It is one that is filled with both pride but
00:45 also grief. It is a day where we reflect on everything that we gave to get that Royal
00:50 Commission on the national agenda.
00:52 The message of this report is clear. We do need to do better.
00:56 The report is 5000 pages long and contains 222 recommendations impacting the lives of
01:03 the 4.4 million Australians who live with disability.
01:07 It involves recommendations around health, education, housing, employment. It involves
01:14 not just governments but non-government organisations as well.
01:20 Major reforms are recommended around segregated settings. Some commissioners want group homes
01:26 to be phased out within 15 years. An end to segregated employment by 2034 and no students
01:33 remaining in special schools by 2051.
01:36 We cannot allow as a society another generation of children to be educated in separate settings.
01:43 There will be families worried at the prospect of group homes and special schools closing.
01:49 But it is important to remember these are recommendations. The report makes clear change
01:54 won't happen overnight and it must be done in consultation with the disability community.
02:00 The report also recommends a federal disability portfolio including a dedicated minister and
02:06 the introduction of a national disability commission to enforce a new Disability Rights
02:11 Act.
02:12 The government has announced $4.25 million over two years will be allocated to a task
02:18 force to coordinate its response to the report.
02:21 I do see this as a moment of national unity. I do see this as a moment where we can paint
02:28 the horizon for people with disability in Australia.
02:32 A call to action.
02:33 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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