The Disability Royal Commission
The Royal Commission Into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is aim to help inform Australian governments, institutions and the wider community on how to prevent, and better protect, people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in the future.Last modified on Wednesday, 14 October 2020
The Australian Autism Alliance has contributed a submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and its hearings on education and employment outcomes for people with disability.
The Alliance’s submission was based on its earlier work through the Senate Select Committee on Autism and included a selection of autism community voices on people’s experiences in these settings.
We are grateful for our community’s contributions and are proud that their voices have been recorded and heard by the Royal Commission.
Submissions to the Disability Royal Commission
The submission document below presents an outline of the Alliance’s views on how autistic people fare in the education system and in employment.
Selected summary of key themes and comments from autistic people and their families on their experience within the education and employment systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Australian Autism Alliance voice our support for the establishment of the Commission and encourage the autistic and autism communities, and the general public to read about the Royal Commission and how they can make a submission.
The Disability Royal Commission will be considering the lived experiences in any setting involving:
- Incidents of violence, neglect, abuse, exploitation of people with disability
- Complaints processes and outcomes; and
- Lack of access to support or services
It will also examine the quality of disability support services and examples of best practice and innovation.
The Australian Government has established a website https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx which provides information, including Easy Read information and Auslan videos, about the Disability Commission, including information on the Terms of Reference, Submissions, News and Fact Sheets.
What is the Disability Royal Commission?
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) was established on 5 April 2019 by the Federal Government of Australia.
It will look at what should be done to stop people with a disability experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
An interim report will be provided to the Australian Government in October 2020, and a final report in April 2022.
What is a submission
A submission is any information provided to the Disability Royal Commission. It may be about:
- Incidents of violence, neglect, abuse or exploitation of people with disability
- Complaints processes and outcomes
- Lack of access to support or services
- Quality of disability support services
- Examples of best practice and innovation
Information on how to make a submission, including what support is available can be found on the submissions page of Disability Royal Commission website. This website is being updated regularly with new information.
Who can make a submission?
Anybody can make a submission.
The Disability Royal Commission wants to hear from all Australians about their experiences of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability.
This might be something you have experienced personally as a disabled person or something you have witnessed. The Disability Royal Commission wants to hear stories about experiences from any place or service, not just what has happened with a disability service provider.
Information on how to make a submission, including what support is available can be found on the submissions page of Disability Royal Commission website. This website is being updated regularly with new information.
When do submissions open?
Public submissions to the Disability Royal Commission opened in August 2019, but you can engage with the Disability Royal Commission through Community Forums, Public Hearings and the option to tell your story in a private session. Information about how you can engage with the Disability Royal Commission is available on the Engagement page of the Disability Royal Commission.
There is no closing date for submissions at this stage.
How to make my submission
You can make a submission for yourself, on behalf of someone else or organisation.
What information needs to be in a submission?
- Incidents of violence, neglect, abuse or exploitation of people with disability
- Complaints processes and outcomes
- Lack of access to support or services
- Quality of disability support services
- Examples of best practice and innovation
More information on how to make a submission, including what support is available can be found on the submissions page of Disability Royal Commission website. This website is being updated regularly with new information.
Can I make an anonymous submission?
Yes.
The submission may be made anonymously.
What supports are available from the Disability Royal Commission?
The Disability Royal Commission wants everyone to be able to engage with the Commission and share their stories and is offering advocacy support and counselling. Information about what services and supports are available can be found on the Disability Royal Commission website.
What other support options are there?
If you or someone you know, is experiencing any form of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation; or you are concerned for your safety, contact your local police station or dial 000 in an emergency.
Other contacts that are available include:
- Lifeline 13 11 14
- Mens Line 1300 789 978
- Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
- 1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732
- National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline 1800 880 052
- Aboriginal Family Domestic Violence Hotline 1800 019 123
- Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
- Relationships Australia 1300 364 277