The CCTV Pilot study in South Australia Disability houses then and now… sign my petition: change.org/disabilitycameras
A CCTV camera trial has started in April 2021 and was expanded in July 2021 to five more disability houses, already 25 incidents of harm have been reported to the SA Police to investigate from having the cameras in the disability houses (Adelaide Newspaper September 2021) waiting to hear more results from this.
Then…Amazingly in South Australia we see something great starting to happen for disability people’s safety there. It was noted on 29th April 2021 that South Australia was starting a CCTV pilot in two disability homes, under the Marshall government there who responded to calls by parents and advocates for cameras in disability homes. They noted this was for “enhancing The safety and wellbeing of vulnerable South Australians living with disability” as the focus of the state-first CCTV camera pilot which has begun in state-run disability homes.
The article by Miragenews.com also noted that this followed extensive consultation with clients, families, guardians, staff and stakeholders, and the three month trial has begun in two southern suburbs in supported accommodation homes with 10 people living with disability.
They also note that the ‘privacy of clients and staff is a key priority – and the pilot is operating with consent of the residents and their guardians.”
The minister for Human Services in SA, Michelle Lensink said the Marshall Liberal Government had “listened to calls from families and clients about their desire to implement a CCTV camera trial”. Lensink also said “People with disability and their families should have a full peace of mind about the quality of care they receive”
This is what we as parents want! Our children to not be harmed and peace of mind about where we leave them for care and for their future care when we are no longer here.
“The use of CCTV has the potential to add an additional layer of safety and security for people living with disability as well as for staff who are some of the most dedicated and committed workers of any sector”
Some of the staff are wonderful others are extremely devious and untrained and uncaring. We as parent know what we have had to deal with in respite house and group homes and the lies that came with the harm our children endured – in my sons case twice because he cannot talk. So many vulnerable persons have suffered and our adult children deserve better than that. No providers should be taking our child’s funds and then hurting them and lying about it and covering up the incidents of harm. It is wrong and downright evil hurting those who cannot defend themselves is a crime and they know it.
Lensink notes “ The pilot will allow us to assess whether visual surveillance can contribute to a greater sense of security, while maintain the privacy and dignity of people in their home. We know that disability support work can present complex and challenging situations and anything we can do to improve safeguards for people living with disability is worth exploring…” The article notes CCTV devices will only be placed in common areas and stored for later review only if an incident is reported…(the cost of the pilot is $30,000)
NOW… The Adelaidenow.com.au news has reported five days (1st September 2021) ago that since the expansion of the CCTV pilot trial after three months, to include five more group homes and continue running its trial, there have been 25 incidents of harm reported to the SA Police. Obviously, the cameras have made a difference.
The Expansion of the CCTV Pilot in group homes for disabilities (5 September 2021) written on the Stephen Marshall MP website the Premier of SA and on the South Australia Government website.
It states that the CCTV pilot has been expanded to further safeguard people with disability.
Following a successful three month trial of the initial pilot in South Australia disability homes is being expanded to include five more disability state run homes. (An additional $120,000 will be invested to trial cameras in a least five additional homes)
No significant incidents were captured during the initial three month trial it was noted (people are better behaved as workers when they know they are being watched of course) and the expanded trial will enable more data to be collected and this may include video capture of critical incidents. Lensink stated “The Marshall liberal Government has implemented some of the strongest safeguards for people with disability ever enacted in South Australia…on coming into Government in March 2018 we discovered many aspects of supported accommodation needed reform”
I think they have implemented some of the strongest safeguards for people with disabilities not just in SA but in Australia and we need reform in NSW and right through Australia to protect our vulnerable.
Even so Anne Marie Smith still died in South Australia from neglect by a worker in her own home…due to lack of accountability by the provider involved and their support worker literally got away with murder and exploitation of poor Ann Marie…we parents will never forget what happened….the reforms last year in 2020 did not protect her and hence further changes in SA were needed and NSW also needs the CCTV cameras for that further protection as our children and adult children, as at present they are not safe in any disability care accommodation without cameras for accountability and safeguarding those so very vulnerable ones who cannot defend themselves. Sign my petition to mandate in all Australian disabilities places of care and accommodation to protect our disability vulnerable children and adult children and give them a voice and justice: change.org/disabilitycameras
Lensink notes from a political perspective “There is now more accountability across the board, with a new zero tolerance to abuse and neglect policy, being implemented, among many other new safeguarding measures… As minister, I insisted on more accountability in the critical client incident process and under this government, staff are regularly reminded and encouraged to report incidents – no matter how big or small…” Sign my petition for cameras to be made mandatory in disability places of care, at least in the public areas of accommodation and programs or school classrooms for special needs kids change.org/disabilitycameras
I hope the providers keep to that because they all have those policies here in NSW but are still not reporting or claiming ignorance of incidents, afraid of losing their jobs the workers are silent. With cameras you cannot hide it
Lensink states “Unlike previous labor ministers who were happy to be kept in the dark, I’m alerted when a critical client incident occurs and I lowered the threshold of what is classified as a critical client incident with an external, independent review of the process.”
She further claims that “Under this Government any criminal offence allegations are reported to SA Police and incidents are promptly investigated…She notes number of critical client incidents continues to trend downwards, peaking at 37 in 2017.
Her additional measures…
- Zero tolerance to abuse and neglect policy
- Increased education and training for staff on how to recognize and report abuses
- Restructured the service to increase supervision in group homes to better manage and mentor frontline workers
- Undertaken robust internal and external auditing.
- Recruited a team of quality and safeguarding officers to monitor and improve practice.
- Implemented announced and unannounced internal audit site visits of homes.
- Improved reporting through a new, anonymous complaints option for staff, clients and families.
- Begun pilot of CCTV in disability homes.
- Established a customer group to self-advocate for greater voice in their support and access to community.
These disability houses are state owned so the government has more control over this than those private providers we are dealing with in NSW who pretty much can do what they like to our vulnerable disability children and get away with it since cctv cameras in care or programs for disabilities is not mandated but is legally allowed, yet the providers do not put cctv into their houses using privacy as an excuse but is also a way of hiding any abuse that occurs.
all the best Anndrea Wheatley
#ifjamescouldtalkactiongroup
#disabilitylivesmatteroz
#cctvcameras4disabilities