The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability was established on 4 April 2019. Visit the website
We will refer to it as the DRC (short for Disability Royal Commission) throughout this website.
Are you from an advocacy organisation working on DRC issues?
Make a submission
Submissions can be made using the form available on the DRC Submissions page. An Easy Read version of the form is also available.
If you need assistance in making a submission you can contact the DRC using the information below. The Australian Government is also funding a legal advisory service (Your Story Disability Legal Support) and advocacy support for people who want assistance to make a submission – scroll down for more information.
- by email at DRCenquiries@royalcommission.gov.au
- by telephone on 1800 517 199 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday AEDT excluding public holidays)
- by post at GPO Box 1422, Brisbane Qld 4001
Submissions do not only have to be written, people can make a submission in any format they wish, including creative submissions such as art, poetry or music. Anyone can participate in sharing their views for creating a more inclusive society. The closing date for submitting a story to the Commission is 31 December 2022.
Submissions to the Royal Commission will help to develop recommendations for the Final Report. The report is due to the Australian Government by 29 September 2023.
Submissions are accepted in language any If people need information in their own language about making a submission, they can call the Translating and Interpreting Service- external site on 131 450 and ask to be connected to 07 3734 1900.
Young people who are Deaf or hard of hearing or a First Nations person and would like to make a submission in their language, can contact the Disability Royal Commission on 1800 517 199 or by emailing DRCEnquiries@royalcommission.gov.au
If you or a person you support or advocate for have had any negative experiences telling your story to the DRC, you can give feedback or make complaints by phoning 1800 517 199 or emailing DRCenquiries@royalcommission.gov.au.
Support services
Advocacy support
The Government has extended its well-established National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) to support people with disability to engage with the Disability Royal Commission.
Advocacy support is for people with disability (or family members or carers acting on their behalf) who need assistance because they have difficulty in communicating or understanding how to engage with the Commission. An advocate will be able to help people with disability to understand how to tell their story to the Disability Royal Commission, how to work out problems or avoid discriminatory issues, find communication supports such as interpreters, and access other supports such as legal or financial services.
To find Disability Royal Commission support in your area, visit the DSS website or call the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468, 9am to 6pm weekdays or 9am to 5pm weekends AEDT.
Counselling
The National Counselling and Referral Service – Disability run by Blue Knot Foundation provides short-term and trauma-informed counselling services.
Counselling provides an opportunity for people to discuss how they are feeling, and receive support in order to make decisions about telling their story in a safe and confidential environment. Blue Knot Foundation are specialists in phone counselling and complex trauma, and currently provide counselling and referral services for people engaging with the National Redress Scheme. Their experienced practitioners will also connect people to other supports they might need such as advocacy, legal and financial services, long-term counselling services and crisis support.
You can call the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468, 9am to 6pm weekdays or 9am to 5pm weekends AEDT.
If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment, call the National Relay Service on 133 677 and give 02 6146 1468 as the number you want to call.
If you require support in another language you can:
- call Blue Knot Foundation’s national hotline and ask for an interpreter, or
- use the free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National), by calling 131 450 and asking to be connected to Blue Knot Foundation’s national hotline on 1800 421 468.
Culturally appropriate support is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability and their families. Indigenous-run support is available in some areas.
Legal Service
The Your Story Disability Legal Support is a free national legal service to give information and advice to people who want to tell their story to the DRC. National Legal Aid and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services have been funded through the Attorney-General’s Department to provide this service.
Your Story Disability Legal Support can provide free, independent legal advice to:
- people with disability
- their families, carers, supporters, and advocates.
- only give legal advice about individual matters (they can’t help organisations)
This legal service is independent of the Disability Royal Commission.
You can contact them on 1800 771 800, 9.15am–5.15pm AEDT, Monday to Friday to register for the service. For more information, visit their website.
For relevant resources from Your Story Disability Legal Support, see our DRC Resources page.
Are you from an advocacy organisation working on DRC issues?
DANA would like to connect up with advocates who are working on supporting people during the DRC processes.
Your organisation may be:
- providing individual advocacy support to people with disability during the DRC processes
- representing systemic issues through making submissions, or
- providing information and promoting awareness among community members about contributing their experiences.
Advocates can submit their contact details to DANA in this online form:
DRC Policy Officer, Siobhan Clair is interested to find out if there are ways we can assist advocates, organisations and the people with disability they support and represent during DRC processes. You can email Siobhan at policy@dana.org.au.