Public hearings

The Disability Royal Commission is holding a series of public hearings around the country to gather evidence about violence, neglect, abuse and exploitation of people with disability.

Public hearings are formal proceedings in which witnesses give evidence, under oath or affirmation, about events and issues that are relevant to the Disability Royal Commission’s terms of reference.

All public hearings of the Royal Commission are recorded and streamed live on the Royal Commission website. Every public hearing will have live captioning and Auslan-English interpreters.

Featured hearings pages

Our public hearings

Find out more about our public hearings into Health, Homes and living, Education and learning, and Our First Public Sitting.
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Witnesses

What does it mean to be a witness at a hearing and what do you have to do? Download the Public hearings brochure - a guide for witnesses.
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Attend the hearing

Find out how to get to a hearing, what do when you arrive, what level of accessibility and amenities are available at each hearing, and how to get support or make a submission while you are at a hearing.
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Legal services

Find out how you can get free legal service and how to apply for legal financial assistance.
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A5 brochure: Public hearings - A guide for witnesses at the Disability Royal Commission

Leave to Appear at a public hearing

Prior to each hearing, the Royal Commission will invite people and organisations who may have a direct and substantial interest in a particular hearing to make an application for leave to appear.

Leave to appear applications are typically made by people or organisations who are the subject of evidence before the Royal Commission. This may include individuals as well as service providers and government agencies.

Everyone who makes an application for leave to appear will be notified of the outcome of their application.

Apply for Leave to Appear

It is not necessary to apply for leave to appear to share your experience with the Royal Commission. That can be done, for example, in the form of a submission.