Media release: Govt ‘down payment’ on Disability Royal Commission takes no action on segregated education, or providing minimum wage for workers with disability
31 July, 2024
Today, Down Syndrome Australia (DSA) express our deep disappointment with the lack of decisive action in the response to the Disability Royal Commission (DRC), particularly the lack of commitment to ending segregated settings, specifically in education and employment.
“Today the Government handed down their response – and outlined their commitment – to ending violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation against people with disability. The experiences and stories from thousands in the community, which represent more than 5 million people in Australia with disability, were shared with the Disability Royal Commission. These experiences have led to the 222 recommendations handed down last year. Now, 9 months later – to see only 13 recommendations approved does not meet the expectations of the community, or match the ambition for reform that is needed. This is a significant opportunity to move towards not only ending violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation against people with disability but also ensuring people with disability belong, and are supported, as valuable members of the Australian community. We acknowledge the commitment to 117 recommendations that were accepted in principle by the Government. We look forward to working with the Government to further clarify how these recommendations will be implemented and over what timeline that will” said Darryl Steff, CEO of Down Syndrome Australia.
Ending segregated education was a clear recommendation from the Disability Royal Commission by Commissioners with lived experience of disability. Despite this, the Government today has only noted recommendation 7.14: indicating that there continues to be no roadmap to reform the current education system that discriminates against individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities.
Darryl Steff, CEO of Down Syndrome Australia, stated, “It is unacceptable in 2024 that Australia continues to have no clear plan towards an inclusive education system, which is a requirement under international human rights agreements. Students are currently all too often denied the opportunity to learn and grow alongside their peers. This Royal Commission presented Australian Governments with an opportunity to commit to reforming the education sector. DSA call on all Governments to take immediate and concrete steps towards a fully inclusive education system. Failing to commit to ending education segregation means students will continue to be impacted for generations.”
World Down Syndrome Day 2024 saw Down Syndrome Australia bring attention to this critical issue by hosting an event at Australian Parliament House. The event emphasised the need for a roadmap to phase out segregated education and ensure all students with disabilities receive the support they need within mainstream educational settings.
In addition to advocating for inclusive education, Down Syndrome Australia continues to push for fair wages for workers with a disability, and better supports to be in open employment. Disappointingly, the Government response today to recommendation 7.31 on raising subminimum wages and 7.32 on ending segregated employment by 2034 are both subject to further consideration. This means that workers in segregated employment, will continue to earn as little as $4 an hour. DSA calls on the Labor Government to ensure protections for all workers – including workers with disability – who are currently not entitled to receive the minimum wage in segregated employment settings. This is an unacceptable form of economic exploitation that discriminates against people with disability, setting many people up for a life of economic hardship and poverty.
“Discrimination and exploitation of people with disabilities have no place in our society. We know that students in segregated settings overwhelmingly go on to be workers in segregated settings – segregated education leads to segregated employment. We must tackle both to ensure people with disability live within our communities” added Steff. “We applaud the Government for considering the extensive recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission, but now is the time for action. The Government must demonstrate its commitment to inclusion by committing to a pathway to ending all forms of segregation – including education and employment – and ensuring fair wages for all workers with disabilities. Segregating people with disability in schools and workplaces remains a pervasive form of discrimination that only Governments have the power to reform, and these reforms need to happen in partnership with the disability community.”
Down Syndrome Australia will continue to advocate for these changes and work towards a society where individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities are valued and included in all aspects of life.
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For more information on this media release, please contact:
Alyssa Shaw – National Communications Manager, Down Syndrome Australia: media@downsyndrome.org.au
This announcement can be downloaded as a PDF: