Better Together, Inclusion for All - Response to Disability Royal Commission Recommendations

Better Together, Inclusion for All - Response to Disability Royal Commission Recommendations

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

The 'Better Together, Inclusion for All'' campaign aims to ensure people with disability have access to inclusive education, employment, housing, and community so we can create a more inclusive society. 

The Disability Royal Commission (DRC) heard overwhelming evidence that people with disability in segregated settings are more likely to experience violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. All Commissioners agreed that reforms are required to ensure that no one is forced to participate in settings designed exclusively for people with disability. Importantly, the 6 Commissioners made the key point: 

"Education is the starting point for an inclusive society".

Based on the DRC recommendations, we have written a Position Statement on Inclusive Education, endorsed by disability advocacy and representative organisations, proposing that inclusive education can only be achieved through ongoing enhancement of mainstream practices alongside a phased and responsible transition away from segregated approaches. These major reforms need to be implemented with clear timelines, transparency around the process and co-designed by people with the lived experience of disability (their families and representative organisations).

The Position Statement on Inclusive Education is backed up by the recent NDIS Review which recommends:

Action 2.5: All Australian governments should take steps to protect the right to inclusive education for children with disability and developmental concerns in early childhood education and care and schools.

On 19th February, the NSW government announced 243 new support units are approved for 2024 mostly in mainstream schools. This decision is deeply disappointing as it perpetuates segregation, the opposite of the above recommendations for inclusive education.  

We need you to help us encourage the NSW government to adopt and implement these major reforms by sending this email template to your NSW Member of Parliament.  

Your voice is important and powerful! By emailing your local MP, we can work together to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all!

EMAIL YOUR LOCAL MP 

You can use our email template to the right, or adapt it to tell your own story as to why it is important that your local MP endorses the expectation for the NSW government to support the Disability Royal Commission’s Inclusive Education Recommendations 7.1-7.14.

If you receive a reply, we would love you to share it with us, email [email protected] 

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN

The 'Better Together, Inclusion for All'' campaign aims to ensure people with disability have access to inclusive education, employment, housing, and community so we can create a more inclusive society. 

The Disability Royal Commission (DRC) heard overwhelming evidence that people with disability in segregated settings are more likely to experience violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. All Commissioners agreed that reforms are required to ensure that no one is forced to participate in settings designed exclusively for people with disability. Importantly, the 6 Commissioners made the key point: 

"Education is the starting point for an inclusive society".

Based on the DRC recommendations, we have written a Position Statement on Inclusive Education, endorsed by disability advocacy and representative organisations, proposing that inclusive education can only be achieved through ongoing enhancement of mainstream practices alongside a phased and responsible transition away from segregated approaches. These major reforms need to be implemented with clear timelines, transparency around the process and co-designed by people with the lived experience of disability (their families and representative organisations).

The Position Statement on Inclusive Education is backed up by the recent NDIS Review which recommends:

Action 2.5: All Australian governments should take steps to protect the right to inclusive education for children with disability and developmental concerns in early childhood education and care and schools.

On 19th February, the NSW government announced 243 new support units are approved for 2024 mostly in mainstream schools. This decision is deeply disappointing as it perpetuates segregation, the opposite of the above recommendations for inclusive education.  

We need you to help us encourage the NSW government to adopt and implement these major reforms by sending this email template to your NSW Member of Parliament.  

Your voice is important and powerful! By emailing your local MP, we can work together to create a more inclusive and equitable society for all!

EMAIL YOUR LOCAL MP 

You can use our email template to the right, or adapt it to tell your own story as to why it is important that your local MP endorses the expectation for the NSW government to support the Disability Royal Commission’s Inclusive Education Recommendations 7.1-7.14.

If you receive a reply, we would love you to share it with us, email [email protected] 

Email your NSW Member of Parliament

Compose your email