Scope CEO Kate MacRae participated a public hearing of the Disability Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation in Brisbane earlier this week.
Kate appeared alongside other leaders of Australian service providers in two separate panel discussions. In the Choice and Control session, Kate was joined by Angela Yee from Supported Independent Living Cooperative and Donna Shkalla from UnitingCare Queensland. The panel titled Human Rights in Practice also featured Hayley Dean from Melba and Jennifer Cullen from Synapse.
Kate emphasised the importance of taking part in the hearing, as part of Scope’s broader support for - and advocacy of – the Disability Royal Commission.
“Without a shadow of doubt, the Royal Commission will help advance the rights of people with disability, and importantly, the work of the Commission is consistent with our own
mission to enable each person we support to live as an empowered and equal citizen,” Kate said.
“As a service provider, we were pleased to answer questions concerning choice and control for people with disability – it is a critical enabler for better support and improved outcomes, and is a guiding principle for the way we deliver our services.
“The second panel concerning human rights offered opportunity to emphasise the fact that Scope people go to work every day to make them a reality, as part of our collective creation of a rights-based culture.”
Kate added that while it was important to contribute to the hearing, she also valued the opportunity to listen.
“The information, views and insights of other panel members, along with the enquiry from the Commission, will be invaluable learning for Scope as we embrace continuous improvement of our services.”
Safer Internet Day is a timely reminder of the importance of equipping young people with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the online world safely and for Courtney King, a Sexuality and Relationships Educator at Rubix Support, this is a constant concern.
At the eSafety Commissioner’s national consultation on Australia’s impending social media minimum age requirements, we highlighted the importance of education and accessible information to ensure every young person is supported to be safe online.
The online world presents countless opportunities for young people, offering avenues for connection, learning, and self-expression. For young people living with disability, digital platforms can provide unique ways to engage and participate in communities that may at times be harder to access in the physical world. However, alongside these opportunities, there are also challenges—especially for those who face cognitive difficulties and low literacy.
