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 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.

Registrations for private sessions close on 30 June 2022. The final date for submissions is 31 December 2022.

This month the Disability Royal Commission has launched a national advertising campaign video. 

Organisations are encouraged to re-share the Change starts with your story video on Facebook and YouTube through social media pages, eNewsletters and embedding on website pages.

There are also other posts and videos on on the DRC Facebook page that you can share: 

Spreading the word on social media

To help spread the word about these deadlines, DANA has created some social media graphics. 

There is a rectangular image:

DISABILITY ROYAL COMMISSION IMPORTANT DATES - 2022 - 30 June - Registrations Private Sessions close - 31 December - Deadline for submissions to inform final report and recommendations - Image description: Torn white paper effect to highlight dates, with yellow piece of tape, against marbled purple background.

And a square format for instagram posts: 

DISABILITY ROYAL COMMISSION IMPORTANT DATES - 2022 - 30 June - Registrations Private Sessions close - 31 December - Deadline for submissions to inform final report and recommendations - Image description: Torn white paper effect to highlight dates, with yellow piece of tape, against marbled purple background.

ALT TEXT: DISABILITY ROYAL COMMISSION IMPORTANT DATES – 2022 – 30 June – Registrations Private Sessions close – 31 December – Deadline for submissions to inform final report and recommendations – Image description: Torn white paper effect to highlight dates, with yellow piece of tape, against marbled purple background.

Feel free to customise posts to your organisation’s online audience but here are some example posts: 

  • from DANA’s Facebook and Instagram:

Mark these important Disability Royal Commission dates in your calendar or diary:
30 June 2022 – registrations for Private Sessions close
31 December 2022 – deadline for submissions to inform final report or recommendations
Let’s make sure all Australians with disability, their family and supporters have the chance to tell their story this year.
For links, resources and info on supports available to help tell your story, visit www.dana.org.au and click on the Disability Royal Commission tab.

  • from DANA’s Twitter account: 

A reminder to spread the word to people with stories to share with the #DisabilityRC – 2022 is the last chance to contribute: 30 June – Registrations for Private Sessions close & 31 December – Deadline for submissions to inform final report

  • and for Facebook (including links to supports):

Do you have a story to tell the Disability Royal Commission?

They are accepting submissions up to the end of December 2022, but you need to register before the end of June 2022 for a Private Session. You can get help in telling your story to the Royal Commission from a disability advocacy organisation, Your Story Disability Legal Support, and by calling the National Counselling and Referral Service – Disability at Blue Knot Foundation.

Advocacy: https://www.dss.gov.au/disability-and-carers-disability-royal-commission-support-services/find-disability-royal-commission-support-services-in-your-area
Legal: https://yourstorydisabilitylegal.org.au
Counselling and Referral: https://blueknot.org.au/national-counselling-referral-service-disability/

Department of Social Services funded supports

It is important that we continue to promote the counselling and advocacy supports that are available for people with disability and their families, carers and support workers who are engaging with or impacted by the Disability Royal Commission. There is a communication toolkit, videos and other resources available to help get this message out: 

Find more information on our DRC Resource page.

Your Story Disability Legal Support

Among many other great resources on their website, they’ve recent published a new video series: Your story matters, in which Your Story Disability Legal Support staff answer frequently asked questions about the Disability Royal Commission and how to access free support to share your story or someone else’s.

Your Story Senior Solicitor Sifa Mtango was featured in this February story on ABC News: Disability Royal Commission to resume this month

Other resources

As you can find on our DRC Resource page, many organisations have created useful resources, including some great shareable videos to help promote the importance of telling your story. These include: 

Leadership Plus (VIC) –  Telling your story to the Disability Royal Commission – YouTube (3 minutes)

Grampians disAbility Advocacy (VIC) – Thomas “Marksey” Marks – This Is My Story (short trailer and full 17 minute video)

Aged and Disability Advocacy (QLD) – Cody Skinner, Disability Advocate talks about the Disability Royal Commission. – YouTube (90 seconds)

Youth Disability Advocacy Service (VIC) – Sharing Your Story With The Disability Royal Commission – YouTube (3 minutes)

National Ethnic Disability AllianceTelling Stories – YouTube (90 seconds)

Women With Disabilities Australia – Our Royal Commission videos -YouTube (3-5 minutes) in English, Auslan, Arabic, Assyrian, Burmese, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai, Vietnamese, Farsi, Warlpiri, Arrernte and Pitjantjatjarra

First Peoples Disability NetworkDisability Royal Commission ‘Respectful Listening’ Animation – YouTube (3 minutes)