South Australia’s troubled disability sector
Despite the death of Adelaide disabled woman, Ann-Marie Smith occurring almost two months ago, many within Australia’s disability community including advocates, their families and carers remain enraged and critical of South Australia’s troubling support care sector and it’s systemic failings.
Flinders University’s College of Medicine and Public Health has published a report – A South Australian woman dies from long-term abuse and neglect: A disability community response, which details findings from an online survey of 136 respondents who said they weren’t surprised that Ms Smith’s welfare was not properly assessed and have also called for the appointment of an independent Disability Commissioner who will show ‘strength to hold their ground and drive change’.