Are you a person living with disability? Have you experienced unfair treatment because of your disability, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the police, NDIS, child protection or accessing the right services?
You can share your story with the Disability Royal Commission.
The Disability Royal Commission, otherwise known by its full name, the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, wants to know about the experiences people with disability have to help promote a more inclusive, just society.
The Royal Commission was set up in response to widespread reports of violence against, and the neglect, abuse and exploitation of people with disability. People with disability and their supporters have campaigned for the Royal Commission for a long time, and it will deliver recommendations to the government to improve laws, policies, structures and practices to protect people with disability.
Sharing your story with the Royal Commission is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help inform these recommendations and can be done in a way that is safe and private.
So, what’s sharing your story like?
Sharing your story can be a daunting prospect, but free and confidential support is available. Lawyers, disability advocates and counsellors are all working together to support people when they are deciding when and how to share their story.
I’m one of the lawyers from Your Story Disability Legal Support ('Your Story'). I work closely with people with disability to safely share their story with the Royal Commission (which has been extended until September 2023). We are a national legal service and are independent of the Royal Commission. If you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, we can provide you with a community-controlled legal service.
What's it like to support people to share their story at the Disability Royal Commission?
As a lawyer, I’ve helped people to safely share their experiences of being mistreated at work because of their disability even though they’ve signed a document to say they wouldn’t talk about what happened. I’ve given advice to family members so they can safely share stories about mistreatment by accommodation providers despite concerns about ‘payback’. And I’ve helped someone who wants to share their experience of not being taken seriously by the police.
Everyone’s story, big or small, is valid. Getting your lived experience on the record can help to ‘draw a line in the sand’ for the ways people with disability have been mistreated. Often people say that they don’t want what happened to them to happen to anyone else, and that after they tell their story they feel like a weight has been lifted. If you choose to share your story, and your ideas and recommendations for change, you will be listened to and treated with respect.
Why should I get legal advice ahead of contacting the Disability Royal Commission?
If you’re thinking about sharing a story with the Disability Royal Commission, it can be a good idea to get legal advice. Some of the reasons you may need legal advice to safely share your story include:
- You worry about your safety, access to services or employment
- You want to keep your story private. We can explain what the new Disability Royal Commission privacy protections mean for you or the person you support.
- You want to name a person or organisation that hurt or mistreated you
- You signed a document that said you can’t talk about what happened
- You have ongoing legal proceedings.
People with disability and their families or supporters who want to share their stories can access free legal support from Your Story through our national Infoline 1800 771 800 (free call, Monday to Friday) or via the Your Story website.