Did you know...
- disabled people experience far higher rates of violence than the rest of the community;
- disabled children are three times more likely to experience abuse than other children
- in many cases, disabled people experience violence in places where they are meant to be receiving support;
- disabled people can’t always rely on the police for protection against violence;
- the life expectancy of an intellectually disabled person in Australia is only 54 years of age - 26 years younger than other Australians
- disabled people are often treated as ‘unreliable witnesses’, or aren't even permitted
by law to provide testimony at all.
We need Australia to know what is happening to us behind closed doors.
The Disability Clothesline and Bolshy Divas lobbied with other violence prevention
groups for a Senate Inquiry into violence, neglect and abuse against disabled people.
The report was handed down in 2015, detailing thousands of cases of horrific
abuse against disabled people.
You can read the report here.
Two years later, our government said that they would not take action.
We will not stop telling our stories until Australia ends the violence against disabled people.
groups for a Senate Inquiry into violence, neglect and abuse against disabled people.
The report was handed down in 2015, detailing thousands of cases of horrific
abuse against disabled people.
You can read the report here.
Two years later, our government said that they would not take action.
We will not stop telling our stories until Australia ends the violence against disabled people.
Hear our Stories
In 2015, the Bolshy Divas told the stories of our people at a Senate Inquiry.
You can read our submission, the Uncounted, here and read media about it here, here and here.
The Disability Clothesline submission is here or you can view the postcards at the Gallery.
You can watch the Four Corners videos about violence against disabled people below.
At the Senate hearing, the Divas laid down white roses as they read the names of the dead.
Every year since then, White Flower Memorials have been held across Australia.
We read the names of disabled people lost to violence and remember their lives.
Every year, the list gets longer.
Every year, we peg out the tee shirts and tell our stories.
Every year, the Clothesline gets longer.
You can read our submission, the Uncounted, here and read media about it here, here and here.
The Disability Clothesline submission is here or you can view the postcards at the Gallery.
You can watch the Four Corners videos about violence against disabled people below.
At the Senate hearing, the Divas laid down white roses as they read the names of the dead.
Every year since then, White Flower Memorials have been held across Australia.
We read the names of disabled people lost to violence and remember their lives.
Every year, the list gets longer.
Every year, we peg out the tee shirts and tell our stories.
Every year, the Clothesline gets longer.