Samantha Jenkinson, who is now the executive director of People with Disabilities WA, said the issues had been going on for more than a decade.
The centre was in the spotlight last week after it was revealed the hot water system had been broken for several days.
Ms Jenkinson said the nature and environment of the facility was very “institutionalised”.
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READ NOW“We have had complaints about people’s privacy and choice being restricted due to the nature of the building,” she said.
“We believe there are a number of issues, some with the physical building itself and the fact that it is getting very run down… we are concerned that there are immediate issues that need to be addressed to ensure the safety of the people living at the quadriplegic centre.”
Last week’s 2016-17 State Budget allocated $500,000 towards a plan for the centre’s redevelopment.
Opposition Leader Mark McGowan said the State Government needed to do more.
“Setting up another committee to look at the issue is just not good enough,” he said.
A current resident who did not want to be named said the Government was willing to allocate $18 million to the Scarborough foreshore in the Budget but not fix the problems at the centre.
He said the loss of hot water was an ongoing issue, as well as power outages throughout summer.
“Any decent person would think human beings should take priority over an area that is already beautiful,” he said.
“They are always promising the problem will be fixed tomorrow, but we are having the issues today.
“We are seen as a problem, as non-human to the Health Department, rather than human beings.”
Shenton Park Quadriplegic Centre chief executive Shane Yensch said he had concerns about the building and hoped the committee would come up with a plan to fix the problems. Health Minister John Day said he expected an update from the committee by the end of the year, with recommendations that would help drive the establishment of a new centre.
Ms Jenkinson said another issue was that people with spinal cord injuries were being sent to nursing homes, rather than getting the support to live in their own homes.
She said the facility was not a contemporary model of disability support and was isolating residents from their family and friends.