The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has released an issues paper on education and learning. The paper is available in Easy Read, PDF and DOCX.
• Education and Learning – Issues paper [PDF 936KB] https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/Documents/education-learning-issues-paper.pdf
• Education and Learning – Issues paper [DOCX 134KB]
• Easy Read Education and Learning – Issues paper [PDF 425KB]https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/publications/Documents/education-learning-issues-paper-easy-read.pdf
• Easy Read Education and Learning – Issues paper [DOCX 45KB]
The issues paper has been adapted from a paper developed for a workshop on education and learning held in Melbourne on 3 October, 2019 with representatives from community and disability organisations and education academics.
The Royal Commission has identified that abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability in the education sector is an important topic to address.
Research suggests that children with disability experience higher rates of suspension and expulsion from schools and that children with disability may be excluded from school activities, such as excursions, assemblies, sports carnivals etc.
Over the last decade, the segregation of children with disability into special education units/classes or ‘special’ schools has increased. Students with autism have been disproportionately affected by this increase. First Nations students with disability are also disproportionately over-represented in special schools.
The Royal Commission issues paper on education outlines the Commission’s preliminary understanding of the key issues and barriers experienced by students with disability and asks 13 questions.
The Royal Commission is encouraging responses from individuals and organisations to the issues paper, if possible, by 20 December 2019 although submissions will be accepted after that date.
Responses to the issues paper should be provided, either:
• electronically to DRCEnquiries@royalcommission.gov.au, or
• in writing to GPO Box 1422, Brisbane, Queensland 4001.
Please indicate if you consent to your responses being made public on our website.