Reports of abuse, neglect and assaults in Victoria's mental health, residential and disability services have taken a significant jump, according to a new report.
Community visitors from the Office of the Public Advocate reported 414 incidents across the three sectors during the 2016/17 financial year, up from 324 in the preceding 12 months.
"This abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional and it includes neglect arising from inadequate care," Public Advocate Colleen Pearce writes.
"As many of these cases would not come to light without community visitors, it is one of the most important human rights aspects of their role."
Community visitors support vulnerable Victorians in disability, mental health or residential care, reporting on breaches and incidents within the sector.
Reported assaults and violence in the mental health sector took the biggest leap, 101 incidents in 2016/17, up from 67 the year prior.
There was also a 51 per cent increase in safety-related issues in mental health facilities, including suicides, assaults, sexual assaults, self harm and property damage.
In supported residential services there were 158 reports of serious physical and sexual assaults on residents by other residents or staff.
And within disability services, there were 155 reports of abuse.
In one case study the Department of Health and Human Services took 11 months to respond to repeated concerns by visitors about allegations of abuse by a disability accommodation service supervisor against a frail resident who could not communicate verbally.
DHHS is meant to respond within 11 days.
The allegations could not be substantiated because staff were scared of disciplinary action, but the staff member was still stood down.
Visitors then encountered the same staff member at other homes, noting a pattern of abuse when the individual worked with non-verbal residents.
The issues were referred to the Disability Services Commissioner and is now under investigation.
