About the Royal Commission video

About the Disability Royal Commission

The Disability Royal Commission has been established in response to widespread reports of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with disability.

Violence is when is someone is hurting you physically.

Abuse is when someone is treating you badly.

Neglect is when someone is not helping you the way they are supposed to

And exploitation is when someone is taking advantage of you.

We know that these things can happen in places like schools, workplaces, and places where people with disability live including group homes and the family home.

The Disability Royal Commission gathers information through research, public hearings and personal experiences that people share with us.

We will deliver a report to the Australian Government with our recommendations on how to make things safer for people with disability and ensure a fairer society for everyone.

Seven Commissioners are investigating violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.

We are holding public hearings in venues and hearing rooms like this one.

Here, witnesses give evidence about events and issues that are relevant to the Royal Commission’s investigations.

All public hearings are recorded and streamed live on the Royal Commission’s website.

We want individuals and organisations to share their personal experience with us.

There are two ways to do this – in a submission, or a private session.

We want to hear from:

• people with disability
• their families
• carers and support people

and wider community, such as educators, health care providers and others who provide services to people with disability.

Hearing people’s stories helps us understand what has happened, the impact, and how we can prevent it in the future.

You can share your experience with us online, in writing, by telephone, email or as a video or audio recording. This is called a submission. Your submission can be kept confidential or you can ask for your submission to be made public in our reports or on our website. It is your choice.

Another way to share your experience with us is through a private session. Private sessions provide people with disability, family and supporters a chance to share their story with a Commissioner in a confidential setting.

These sessions can be in person, via video conferencing or on the telephone.

Anything you tell us in a private session will be kept confidential. Even after The Royal Commission ends.

Your Story Disability Legal Support is a free national service that can give you information and legal advice about sharing your story safely with us. The service is separate from the Royal Commission. You can call them on 1800 771 800 or visit yourstorydisabilitylegal.org.au.

Telling us your story can be hard. The Royal Commission has a counselling team who attend all community forums, public hearings and private sessions to provide support to anyone at these events.

To find out more about the Royal Commission, and the services available to help you, call us on 1800 517 199 or visit our website at disability.royalcommission.gov.au. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. A more inclusive, just society.