CENTRE FOR DISABILITY RESEARCH AND POLICY

Maximising economic and social participation of people with disabilities THE CENTRE FOR DISABILITRESEARCH AND POLICY

The Centre for Disability Research and Policy will make a THE PROBLEM significant contribution to national and regional efforts to redress the profound disadvantages faced by people In 2011 the first-ever People with disabilities experience World Report on Disability more disadvantages than those without with disabilities. disabilities. These include poorer health; suggested that more than a lower education levels; less employment Our aim is to enable people with disabilities to have an billion people worldwide and lower earnings when they are equal opportunity to realise their potential and participate employed; lower levels of social experience disability. contact; and higher rates of poverty. productively in society. This figure is expected Globally, disability is more common Our emphasis is on research and real-world analysis of to rise due to population among older people, the poor and ageing, growth in chronic women. A large proportion of the the problems faced by people with disabilities, and on world’s disabled, 650 million, live in providing practical policy solutions to governments, health conditions and our region, the Asia Pacific. service providers and policymakers. in response to trends in For more information, visit ww w. wh o .i n t / disabilities / w orld_ r eport environmental factors.

Elias Bahamid, Self portrait, paper collage

Cover artwork: Helen Cooke, Self-portrait, paper collage All artworks contained in this brochure are produced by artists supported by The Lorna Hodgkinson Sunshine Home’s Community Access Program Art Studio THE CENTRE FOR DISABILITY RESEARCH AND POLICy

THE CHALLENGE WE FACE Many Australians are living with long- Between 2001 and 2011 the gap About 15 percent of term physical, sensory, intellectual or between young disabled and non- Australians experience mental disability or a chronic health disabled Australians actually widened. condition. not all of these disabilities disability lasting five years or The lack of opportunity for people are obvious; mental illness, intellectual with disabilities to participate fully in longer. How can we ensure disability, diabetes, arthritis, heart employment and society results in they have the opportunity to disease and chronic pain are often not a huge loss to individuals, families, evident to the casual observer. communities and the economy. fully participate in society? People with disabilities experience Governments need better knowledge and significant economic and social evidence to develop legislation and build disadvantages. young disabled programs to enable people with Australians are particularly vulnerable. disabilities to participate more fully. We They are five times more likely to need effective monitoring systems to experience long-term unemployment assess the scale of the problem and to than other young people, and are less measure the impact of policies likely to be able to obtain year 12 or and programs. post-school qualifications and more likely to live in a jobless household than non-disabled youth.

Ross Bennett, Lost in Space, layering in oil pastels OUR CENTRE OUR The Centre for Disability MISSION The Convention aims to “promote, protect their participation in the civil, political, Research and Policy will and ensure the full and equal enjoyment economic, social and cultural spheres The Centre for Disability of all human rights and fundamental with equal opportunities. bring together leading Research and Policy is freedoms by all persons with disabilities, In addition to its research and policy academics in disability and to promote respect for their inherent focus, the centre has a teaching function inspired by the United dignity”. to explore new frontiers and a strong commitment to nations Convention on We will work to achieve the goals of the communicating its knowledge to benefit of knowledge and the Rights of Persons with Convention, which include redressing the people with disabilities and the effect change. profound social disadvantage of people wider community. Disabilities, ratified by the with disabilities and promoting Australian government in 2008.

We will focus on research, policy A FOCUS ON with people with disabilities, and their organisations. development and teaching across COLLABORATION five streams: We will work closely with other bodies within the University of Sydney, – disability and disadvantage including the Sydney Medical School, – disability services Sydney Law School, the Faculty of Arts – disability inclusive development and Social Sciences, the Menzies – disability and mental health Centre for Health Policy Research, and – the national Disability the Centre for Disability Studies, to Insurance Scheme. address the real-world problems faced The streams are all led by professors by people with disabilities. from the University of Sydney’s Faculty To deepen Australia’s understanding of Health Sciences. and knowledge about disability, we will also partner with academic institutions both in Australia and overseas and form linkages with disabled people’s organisations, service providers, governments, non-government organisations and international agencies. We will work closely Riad Moujalli, Ab stract colours, watercolour Alison Hall, Cricket Time, black paper collage on watercolour paper MONITORING AND OUTCOMES How can we better record and report on disadvantage and discrimination? DISADVANTAGE Australia lacks a national system THE MENTAL What is the nature of the of measuring outcomes. what REGION: HEALTH- disadvantage and discrimination that would one look like? people with disabilities in our What are the outcomes ASIA RELATED region face? for people who use PACIFIC DISABILITY What are the personal, social and disability services? How do we prevent and respond to what are the determinants of the disabling consequences mental health-related disability? economic costs? How can mainstream interventions of diseases such as diabetes and NATIONAL QUESTIONS be adapted to meet the needs of how do we measure mental Are certain groups, such as heart disease, road accidents, specific groups? DISABILITY health-related disability? WE WANT aboriginal and torres strait natural disasters, diet and substance INSURANC islander peoples, women and What are the barriers to policy abuse? how will the national disability older people, at more risk of implementation, and to the take- up E SCHEME insurance scheme help people TO ANSWER What models can we develop to disability and disadvantage? of successful practices? Under the national disability with this disability? support and empower people with insurance scheme, how should A number of key questions How well is disadvantage and How can we improve the disabilities in both community and what are the mental health issues for resources best be allocated to discrimination being combated? access of aboriginal and torres specialist services? people with other disabilities? will inform our work. individuals? strait islander peoples to What helps some people with How can we make these models disability services? How should the scheme link with disabilities be more resilient in accessible to policymakers in those other support systems, such as the face of disadvantage and countries? discrimination? health, housing, compensation, What is the experience of people income security and workforce with disabilities of institutional and development? community-based rehabilitation? How can access to services – what are the respective benefits? including mainstream services – be improved? What is the best way to develop data about the scheme and link that to other disability data? What impact will the scheme have on disadvantaged groups? OUR RESEARCHERS The core of our research Our researchers’ expertise is enhanced Our other lead researchers are: and broadened by strong collaboration OUR – Professor Stewart Einfeld, Professor of team is the University with other faculties of the University, as Mental Health well as other academic institutions. TEACHING of Sydney’s Faculty of – Professor Eric Emerson, Professor of Health Sciences. The centre’s director, Professor Disability Population Health One of the aims of the We will strive to attract the most Gwynnyth Llewellyn, Professor of promising students, including people – Professor Richard Madden, Professor Family and Disability Studies, guides centre is to disseminate with disabilities. The centre will offer of Health Statistics the centre’s strategic thinking and key its research findings, community engagement meetings and – Ms Ros Madden, Director, Australian partnerships and outputs. Her research is which means that teaching forums with government and business committed to finding health and social ICF Disability and Rehabilitation groups, service providers, aid agencies policy and practice solutions to enable Research Program across disciplines is and disabled people’s organisations people with disabilities and their – Professor Luis Salvador-Carulla, fundamentally important. to ignite debate, share ideas and families to fully participate in society. Professor of Disability and encourage new thinking. Mental Health – Professor Roger Stancliffe, Professor of Intellectual Disability

Left to right: Professor Eric Emerson, Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn, Professor Roger Stancliffe, Professor Luis Salvador- Carulla, Ms Ros Madden, Professor Stewart Einfeld, Professor Richard Madden GENERAL ENQUIRIES T +61 2 9351 9721 The Centre for Disability Research and Policy has joined E d i s ab ili t y p o l i c y . ce ntr e@ s y d n e y . e d u . a u the campaign for a modern, person-centred support system, helping hundreds of thousands of Australians with disabilities, and their families, to have the opportunity MORE INFORMATION to participate actively in their communities by providing Professor Gwynnyth Llewellyn targeted support aligned to need. Director, Centre for Disability visit everyaustraliancounts.com.au Research and Policy T +61 2 9351 9985 E g w y n n y t h. l l ew e l ly n@ s y d n e y . e d u . a u sydney.edu.au/health-sciences/cdrp

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