News
Uniting Communities has been appointed as the advocacy service for vulnerable South Australians living with disability, following a number of recommendations made by a disability safeguarding taskforce set up following the death of Adelaide woman Ann-Marie Smith.
News
In the wake of Ann-Marie Smith’s death, disability campaigners have called for greater advocacy and simplified processes within the NDIS, saying without quick change the federal scheme risks becoming “a dual-track system” which may entrench disadvantage.
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The authors of a report given to state governments 17 months ago suggesting they expand community visitor checks on vulnerable people under the NDIS umbrella say the “disgusting and degrading” death of Ann-Marie Smith was the sort of scenario they were worried about.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme says it wasn’t told about Ann-Marie Smith’s “appalling” death for two weeks – and even then not by the Adelaide agency paid to ensure her welfare – despite it being required to report it within 24 hours.
A former Disability SA staffer says the decision to shut down the state-run agency and not continue to monitor or offer services to disabled clients moved to the federal NDIS may have contributed to the situation which led to Ann-Marie Smith’s “degrading” death while under care.
UPDATED: A political blame game has erupted in the wake of the death of an Adelaide woman with cerebral palsy in “disgusting and degrading” conditions while supposedly receiving help from a carer.
