About us
The Community Visitors Annual Report 2014-2015 has been tabled in Victorian Parliament, exposing cases of violence, abuse and neglect of people with disability or mental illness.
Over 400 volunteer Community Visitors conducted 5367 unannounced visits to Victorian disability group homes, mental health facilities and Supported Residential Services in the last financial year.
Their findings are outlined in their annual report and in the press releases below.
Mental health homes unfit for purpose
Mental health services are regularly discharging chronically ill patients to government-regulated group homes which are grossly ill-equipped to care for them.
Violence undermining mental health system
Violence by patients in public mental health facilities increased for the third year in a row, harming victims, compromising recovery and threatening the security and health of staff.
Disability resident violence dismissed as 'incompatability'
Serious incidents of violence in disability group homes perpetrated by residents against other residents is often minimised by government as 'resident incompatibility'.
More about OPA
Victoria's Public Advocate
Colleen Pearce is Victoria’s current Public Advocate and was first appointed in 2007. She commenced her second term in 2014.
How OPA works
OPA’s protocols and practice guidelines assist staff and volunteers in their work with people with disability and other organisations.
Read more about OPA’s protocols
Read more about OPA’s practice guidelines
Making a difference
Learn more about how OPA assists people with disability to live dignified, safe and independent lives.
How we protect people with a disability from abuse and neglect - Easy English