GEELONGADVERTISER.COM.AU SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7 2015 NEWS 13

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Key is toprotectdisabledVICTORIAN OmbudsmanDeborah Glass hopes learningfrom her inquiry into thehandling of abuse allegationsin the disability sector will helpbuild safeguards into the Nat-ional Disability InsuranceScheme.

Ms Glass told people withdisability, family members andcarers during Geelong’s Hav-ing A Say disability conferencethat shaping the right and astrong framework for over-sight of abuse reporting wouldbe critical for the ground-breaking scheme.

Many Australian states, infuture to be covered by the onescheme, now have differentoversight arrangements.

Speaking after the confer-ence, Ms Glass said many con-cerns remained over theeffectiveness of existing ar-rangements, even in Victoriawhich has a disability servicescommissioner, Department ofHuman Services and the Off-ice of the Public Advocate.

“It does lead to some bigquestions about what will hap-pen when the arrangementsmove away from the states andare entirely federal. What willthe safeguards then be?” MsGlass said.

The Ombudsman launchedan inquiry in December intothe handling of reporting andinvestigation of allegations ofabuse of people with disability.

“Part of what I am lookingat in this investigation is over-sight arrangements because ifthere are gaps in oversight wedon’t want that replicated inthe national system,” Ms Glass

said yesterday. “What I want todo with this is not only comeup with the pattern of this ishow oversight works in disabil-ity abuse reporting but also tosay this is what’s effective andhere are some aspects thataren’t which need to be fixed.

“The purpose of this wouldbe to inform the NDIS.”

A Department of SocialServices spokesperson saidyesterday considerablethought and effort had goneinto planning for a nationalapproach to safety and qualityassurance for when the NDISrolled out nationally.

“This work is being pro-gressed by government off-icials, led at thecommonwealth level and re-porting to the COAG Disabil-ity Reform Council,” thespokesperson said.

“There will be a consul-tation process and opportunityfor interested parties to pro-vide comment and the Nation-al Disability Insurance Agencywill be working to ensure peo-ple are aware of these oppor-tunities and can have theirsay.”

Ms Glass outlined her in-vestigation process for HavingA Say conference delegatesand emphasised she would betaking submissions until Feb-ruary 15.

She said people who had re-ported abuses should feel safespeaking up about their exper-iences and people with disabil-ity, family members or carerscould call the National Disabil-ity Abuse and Neglect hotlineon 1800 880 052.Read more on the Having A Say conference in Weekend Extra, P33, 38-39

Ombudsman’s priority

DANNY LANNEN

GEELONG born gymnast Cassy Geffke, pictured, will mark her 25th year in the sport with her fourth Special Olympics World Games berth.

The Corio 33-year-old, coached by Kerry Woods at Aerosport All Stars, in Grovedale, is one of only three gymnasts chosen to represent Australia at the games, in Los Angeles in July.

Cassy, who has Down syndrome, started gymnastics at age seven and entered her first Special Olympics at 8. She has competed in all regional, state and national games since.

Her achievements includefive gold medals and overall first at the 1999 Special Olympics World Games in North Carolina, second placing at the 2007 World Games in China and second at the 2011 event in Greece.

Despite all her success, Cassy says the most important thing has always been having fun.

“I love my gymnastics,” shesaid. “I'm so excited and happy and thrilled to be going to America and I’m really proud of myself.”

Cassy trains twice a weekand is constantly busy. She works at Woolworths twice a week, volunteers in the canteen at Belmont High School, works at the Geelong Botanic Gardens teahouse and plays table tennis.

Mum Diane confessed sheand Cassy’s dad often got “a bitteary” watching their daughter compete on the world stage.

“We’re very proud and weget quite emotional at big events seeing her do so well,” she said.

“We thought perhaps shewouldn’t do a lot in her life and it gives us immense pleasure to see her happy, doing the things she loves and contributing to the community.”

Games call has Cassy beaming

COURTNEY CRANE

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