A new article by the Collaborative Centre's Dr Kay Wilson, published in the Federal Law Review by Cambridge University Press, provides the first comparative analysis of the final reports from the Victorian Mental Health Royal Commission and the Commonwealth Royal Commissions into Disability and Aged Care.

The article examines how the three inquiries identified similar systemic problems across Australia's care and support sectors and explores the different reform approaches proposed in each report. While mental health, disability and aged care tend to be siloed, the article argues that they should be conceptualised as falling within a common 'care and support' sector.

Dr Wilson identifies seven interconnected themes that recur across all three commissions: difficulties accessing services and supports, limited choice and control, discrimination and negative social attitudes, the overuse of restrictive practices, workforce challenges, problems with oversight and complaints processes, and chronic underfunding.

The paper also reviews government progress in implementing the recommendations and argues that lessons from each commission could inform reform across all three sectors.

Given the challenges facing Australia's care and support systems, the article highlights the urgency of addressing these longstanding issues.

Read the full article on the Federal Law Review website: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/federal-law-review/article/royal-commissions-into-mental-health-disability-and-aged-care-systemic-problems-and-law-reform-in-the-australian-care-and-support-sector/9CC7EFDF4F4198ED6DF20B53047DFD17