Women with disabilities fear they'll be excluded in government's domestic violence package

Women with a disability are nearly twice as likely to face sexual and physical abuse. And while those fleeing a violent partner are eligible for the $5000 payment, that doesn’t actually apply to those who are trying to escape a carer or a family member. That’s something president of People With Disability Australia Marika Junkers says is a massive problem. That’s where violence is. Sexual assault is happening from caregivers, and they may not be your intimate partner, but you’re trapped in there and don’t have a way to escape. Despite these calls, the government says it’s not going to expand eligibility. So we asked the Social Services Minister, Amanda Rishworth, what exactly women with disabilities being abused by a carer or a family member should do. There is obviously the complaints if it’s if this is a carer registered with the NDIS, there’s quality and safeguards avenues there for someone with a disability. Obviously there are other avenues through Centrelink for crisis payments, but in in a case where someone with a disability was being abused by. A A paid carer, for example. Then they should get in touch with the NDIS Safeguards Commission. While many NDIS participants do use paid carers, not all of those who use these services are on the NDIS President of Women with Disabilities Australia, Karen Swift says for many, it’s not as simple as going to complain to the NDIS Safeguards Commissioner or to Centrelink. She says many wouldn’t even know where to start or would be prevented from doing so. Her organization wants the government to urgently expand eligibility for this payment so that women amongst those most at risk can actually access it. Less than half of those who applied for the government’s escaping violence payment were successful in actually getting the funding. Were 23% deemed ineligible, 7% still waiting for an answer, and 33% not completing the process.