Disability Royal Commission

We’re working to ensure the Disability Royal Commission makes a difference.

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability started in April 2019 and will run until 29 September 2023.

People with disability, and our representative organisations, have fought for a Disability Royal Commission (DRC) for a chance to be heard, and to shine a light onto the systems which have failed to uphold our right to live free of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

A Royal Commission is an investigation, independent of government, into a matter of great importance. It has the power to hold public hearings, call witnesses under oath, and compel evidence. A Royal Commission makes recommendations about what should be changed in their final report to the government.

This is our Royal Commission, and right now we have a window of opportunity to tell our stories in a way that will make a difference.

Our DRC website

We’ve built a dedicated Disability Royal Commission website with information about:

• Disability rights in Australia
  The Australian Government is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
• Telling your story
  If you have experienced or witnessed violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation of people with disability, you have a right to be heard by the Disability Royal Commission.
• PWDA resources
  Our customised resources can be used to engage with the issues raised in the public hearings.
• Counselling
  Anyone impacted by the Royal Commission can access free counselling from the Blue Knott Foundation. Contact them at 1800 421 468 or at their website.

How we can help engage with the DRC

At PWDA, we have advocates who can support you with the Disability Royal Commission. Our advocacy services are free, independent and confidential.

An advocate can support you with:

• Information about the Disability Royal Commission
• Making a submission or applying for a private session
• Support to speak at a public hearing
• Telling your important story
• Organising communication support
• Accessing legal advice
• Linking you to counselling support services

How to get help

To understand how we can best support you, we need to get some information about you as well as the problem you’re experiencing or the issue you’re wanting to address. You can do this in two ways:

• Call us on 1800 843 929 (toll free) and speak to one of our intake officers
• Fill in our online Information request form

Once we have your information, we’ll then be able to provide the most appropriate assistance we can. One of our intake officers will be in contact with you via your preferred method of contact to provide you with information about progressing your case.

Ends | Contact us

Banner image credit: Disabled and Here