These Sydney homes were supposed to be havens, not hellholes

A shadow often falls between words and action, but thousands of our most vulnerable citizens are living dark existences in group homes as governments and the care community fail to control the growing abuse of some residents.

A Herald investigation by Carrie Fellner has revealed the shocking and continuing reality endured by people living in group homes. A cache of photographic and video evidence documents alarming conditions inside disability group homes, including serious injuries, squalid and unhygienic living conditions, safety hazards and delays in medical treatment.

A Herald investigation can publish a cache of photographic and video evidence that documents alarming conditions inside Australia’s disability group homes.Credit: Matthew Absalom-Wong

Our report is against a backdrop of soaring complaints, with a 78 per cent increase to 29,000 accusations about provider practice, worker conduct and allegations of neglect or abuse. Disturbing statistics from the National Disability Insurance Scheme show seven of Australia’s largest for-profit disability providers recorded more than 7000 serious incidents of abuse or neglect over four years.

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability heard of sickening incidents of violence and appalling conditions in group homes, the widespread exclusion of children with disabilities in the school system, the glacial COVID-19 vaccine rollout for people living in disability homes and the abysmal employment rate of people with a disability.

The commission’s final report 18 months ago was supposed to be a path to a better future for Australians with a disability, including at least 17,000 people living in group homes. It aimed to transform Australia into a more inclusive society, supportive of their independence and their right to live free from abuse. Most commissioners recommended that group homes be disbanded entirely over 15 years to be replaced by alternative accommodation.

Governments have been wrestling with such issues since “deinstitutionalisation” started in the 1980s, but our report juxtaposes the mounting problems with the departure of Bill Shorten from parliament. His contribution to the NDIS under the Gillard government and his more recent attempts to rein in runaway expenditure are sullied by the failures of his own government and guardians of the scheme.

Last winter, the Albanese government said it was committed to a more “inclusive future” for people with disabilities and that it would accept 13 of the commission’s 222 recommendations. However, it put on hold recommendations for a disability rights act and a separate minister and department for disability inclusion.

As to the commissioners’ advice to close group homes? Eighteen months later, the government is still sitting on its hands and refusing to say if it will follow their recommendation.

A recent report by the Grattan Institute found NDIS packages cost taxpayers about $15 billion a year, or an average of more than $350,000 per person. Certainly, the NDIS is a valuable and good use of taxpayer funds, but the money should be spent effectively.

But our investigation captures the dire circumstances confronting the group homes and the failures by the industry and government to get the houses in order. The safety and welfare of residents and good practice demand the government stop prevaricating and act decisively to stop the rot.

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