Disability Royal Commission | Disability Advocacy Network Australia

Disability advocates call for deeper examination of issues as Disability Royal Commission submissions come to an end

As we approach the end of 2022, the public engagement phase of the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) is drawing to a close, with the final date for all submissions set for 31 December 2022. Significant progress has been made by the DRC in examining violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability. However, 8 Disability Representative Organisations including DANA have recently collaborated on a joint submission outlining gaps we perceive in the scope of work undertaken to date and issues that require further examination. It includes suggestions for a deeper look into critical areas.

CALD Communities and the Disability Royal Commission – support services available and helpful resources

NEDA recently held a webinar focused on the issues facing culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and how people can share their story. Useful information and links were circulated to attendees following the webinar, and you can find them shared here, along with some of the other useful DRC resources available in a range of community languages

Share your stories with the Disability Royal Commission

People with disability, their family, supporters and advocates can share experiences of violence, neglect, abuse or exploitation with the Royal Commission. This helps the DRC learn more about the problem and how to help prevent it in the future. But 2022 is the final year for people to share their stories with the Disability Royal Commission. The final date for submissions is 31 December 2022.

Here are some resources to help you promote awareness of this important deadline.

Free, independent and confidential counselling and advocacy support for the Disability Royal Commission

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) is happening now and will run until September 2023.

Free, independent and confidential counselling and advocacy support is available for people with disability who have been hurt, taken advantage of or treated badly. Support is also available for anyone who is engaging with or affected by the Disability Royal Commission.

Housing action long overdue for people with disability

Having a safe, secure and appropriate place to live is a foundational human right – one that too many people with disability are routinely denied.

DANA has released a joint statement with Inclusion Australia and People with Disability Australia outlining concerns and recommendations around housing for people with disability.

“We often hear from advocates about the difficulty of getting disability supports in place for a person without a home,” said DANA CEO Mary Mallett. “A Brisbane advocate told me last year that just about everything he was doing was related to housing because all of the issues that he was trying to help people with were flowing from the fact that they didn’t have a place, an appropriate place to live.”

Help spread the word – Change starts with your story

People with disability, their family, supporters and advocates can share experiences of violence, neglect, abuse or exploitation with the Disability Royal Commission. Here are some useful resources to remind your networks that 2022 is the final year for people to share their stories, and how many small submissions add up to one big story!