Parents of disabled people in group homes say they are concerned a culture of covering up serious incidents and avoiding police scrutiny pervades the sector.

Key points: Families want major parties to commit to reforms before the election

Families want major parties to commit to reforms before the election There are concerns changes to the sector will not roll over with the NDIS

There are concerns changes to the sector will not roll over with the NDIS Greens say the scale of abuse is much bigger than anticipated

Parents whose adult children are in group homes have spoken out concerned about Federal Government inaction ahead of the full rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Group homes are specially fitted out residential houses for mixed groups of people with high needs and are staffed with full time carers.

A Senate inquiry last year recommended sweeping reforms to the sector, including a royal commission.

Yet neither of the major parties has committed to implementing any of the reforms such as minimum qualifications for workers or a national registration system.

The parents want both sides of politics to commit to the reforms ahead of the election.

Among the parents is Laurice Hyam, whose son Michael choked to death on chocolate spread in a group home on the south coast of NSW in 2014.

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Ms Hyam took her son's case to the ombudsman's office and while his death resulted in changes to group homes in NSW, she is worried they will not transfer over when a national system rolls out under the NDIS.

"There have been many incidences where he was hurt and injured by staff or residents in the house," she said.

Ms Hyam said in one incident her son was allegedly dragged across the front yard by a worker but it was never reported to the police.

An internal investigation occurred and the worker disputed the version of events.

"A lot of stuff was pushed under the carpet, quite a lot," Ms Hyam said.

Jenny Bayliss's daughter was assaulted in a Port Macquarie group home. ( ABC News: Norman Hermant )

In Port Macquarie, parents at a group home called Karinya said it was dysfunctional from the day it opened in 2011 — but reforms have since been made.

Parent Jenny Bayliss said her epileptic daughter Sally needed five stitches after a resident pushed her head into a toilet door.

She went to the police, who were interested in investigating, but she said their interest waned after the state government got involved.

"After the police spoke to ADHC (NSW Department Ageing, Disability and Home Care) they just treated it like it was just a little incident in the playground where Sally skinned her knee," she said.

"I felt my daughter had no rights and the perpetrators had all the rights."

Parent Jenny Wooster with her son Daniel, 23, who has epilepsy. ( ABC News: Alison Branley )

Another parent told the ABC their child ended up in hospital after staff failed to notice she had not had a bowel movement in ten days.

Jenny Wooster said her son Daniel, 23, who has epilepsy, showed up with unexplained injuries including a chipped tooth and head injuries on two different occasions.

"As far as I'm concerned they don't look into it, they just write it down and put it to the side," she said.

"I hope to see maybe proper workers will come back. Some people will get justice — a rap over the knuckles for what they've done."

Gail Fenton's daughter lived at Karinya. During a visit home she discovered a burn mark on her daughter's leg.

Group home reports to NSW Ombudsman: Total: 437 incidents

Total: 437 incidents Employee to client: 55 per cent

Employee to client: 55 per cent Client to client: 34 per cent

Client to client: 34 per cent Unexplained circumstances: 10 per cent

Unexplained circumstances: 10 per cent Breach AVO: 1 per cent Between December 2014 to August 2015

"It wasn't communicated to us by anybody, I don't know that anyone knew actually," she said.

"I think there's a staff ratio problem. It's certainly been frustrating with the changes in staff."

Greens senator Rachel Siewert chaired last year's Senate inquiry into the abuse and neglect of people with disability.

Ms Siewert said the inquiry came up with many recommendations for reform, but the major parties have fallen silent.

She said the committee only scratched the surface of problems endemic to the sector and a royal commission was needed.

"The scale of the abuse, neglect, the violence is much bigger than I think people anticipated," she said.

"This is ongoing and it'll be happening every day, every day since we handed down our Senate report.

"It will keep going on until we put more protections in place."

Karinya group home in Port Macquarie. ( Supplied )

NSW Deputy Ombudsman Steven Kinmond, who is also Disability Services Commissioner, told the inquiry last year reports to his office were 50 per cent higher than even they anticipated when they were first established.

The NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) said it took all allegations of incidents such as assault, neglect, unexplained injuries or misconduct in group homes very seriously.

"FACS has clear processes in place for employees to report any incidents that occur and any potentially criminal behaviour will be referred to NSW Police," a spokeswoman said.

"We have been doing specific work with staff at Karinya group home to help them improve their practice."