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PWDA Advocacy and Grand Western Lodge
PWDA’s advocacy work around Grand Western Lodge contributed significant action bringing these people to place of safety and the public release of the NSW Ombudsman’s special report - More than board and lodging: the need for boarding house reform.
16 October 2011
Taskforce's house of horror fear Linda Silmalis, The Sunday Telegraph
18 August 2011
Damning report into boarding houses ABC Radio National with Dr Gabrielle Drake
Dr Drake completed a PhD study in 2010 (PDF 904kb) on the deinstitutionalisation of boarding houses for people with mental illness and disability.
From August, PWDA’s Individual Advocates travel to and from Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo to support the 43 residents recently removed from Grand Western Lodge, where they had allegedly been subject to significant experiences of abuse and violence.
17 August 2011
NSW Ombudsman Bruce Barbour says boarders are dying with no dignity Vikki Campion, The Daily Telegraph
Shocking abuse and neglect revealed in boarding houses across NSW Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald
Archaic boarding houses should be abolished, says UWS expert University of Western Sydney, Press Release
More than board and lodging: the need for boarding house reform NSW Ombudsman's special report to Parliament - Click here to learn more about this report and its findings and recommendations.
16 August 2011
Grand Western Lodge left with one resident Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald
As reported in this article, it is PWDA’s understanding that the final group of 25 residents were relocated to alternative supported accommodation late last week following emergency hearings of the Guardianship Tribunal where the use of Section 11 of the Guardianship Act and coercive legal powers to remove residents forcibly (if required) were granted.
Ombudsman’s Report a Damning Indictment of Licensed Boarding House Monitoring and Reform People with Disability Australia, Press Release
Improving conditions in boarding houses NSW Ombudsman’s Media Release
PWDA understands that an active Police investigation of allegations of violence and abuse is in progress.
30 July 2011
Lambasted boarding house has 18 residents removed Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald
23 July 2011
Victim's sister relives pain of boarding house case Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald
Sad truth behind closed doors Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald
22 July 2011
Breaking the silence; boarding houses and abuse Sonya Price-Kelly, ABC Ramp Up
18 July 2011
$15m bid for damages in boarding house case Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald
17 July 2011
Licensed residential centres - confined to the back room The Tenant’s Union of NSW
16 July 2011
Disturbing tales from behind closed doors Adele Horin, Sydney Morning Herald
PWDA’s Background Briefing Paper on Grand Western Lodge 87kb Word
June 2010
PWDA began to alert ADHC and NSW Police to allegations of serious risk of harm to residents of Grand Western Lodge. It takes ADHC over a year to begin effective action in response to these allegations.
PWDA Publications
The E-Bulletin is a source of PWDA's internal news and developments in the disability sector at the state, national and international levels. It goes out to members and interested others regularly by email.
PWD E-bulletin #62, June 2010
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Last updated 11 February 2013