Final report of the Disability Royal Commission

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and the Exploitation of Disability (Disability Royal Commission for short) started in 2019 and finished in 2023.

It was a chance for people with disability to share their stories about

• Neglect
• Abuse
• Violence
• Exploitation. This is when people make you do things you do not want to do

People from around Australia talked about their experiences and the experiences of their loved ones.

The Disability Royal Commission held its Closing Ceremony on 15 September 2023. The hearings went for 4 years.

In the picture: CID staff members Alex, Ricky and Justine at the Disability Royal Commission.

CID campaigned for the establishment of the Disability Royal Commission for many years.

The CID advocacy group made a video asking for a Royal Commission that was very popular on social media. They also met with federal members of parliament including Hon Tanya Plibersek and Hon Bill Shorten and wrote letters to the then Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull. Many other disability organisations also campaigned for a Disability Royal Commission.

CID provided early advice on how to ensure the hearings were accessible to people with intellectual disability.

A number of our members and staff provided evidence to the Disability Royal Commission.

Media:

• Making the Disability Royal Commission accessible for witnesses

In the picture: CID staff and members at the hearing into health care.

In February 2020, The Disability Royal Commission held a hearing about health care for people with intellectual disability. The hearing was in Sydney.

People spoke about times when the health system did not treat people with intellectual disability well.

At the end of the hearing the Commissioners thanked people for telling their stories.

The Commissioners said people helped them understand better about health care problems and this will help them tell the Government how to make things better.

Read more: Royal Commission hears from people with intellectual disability

Media:

• Royal commission to hear ‘shock’ concerns from Australians with cognitive disabilities
• Mother at Disability Royal Commission recounts how Bathurst Hospital mistreated her son who had Down syndrome
• ‘I was told to abort my son. People need to see disability is OK’
• ‘Mum, I want to go home’: heartbreaking testimony of health system failing children with disabilities
• Mother tells disability royal commission that doctors didn’t give son with quadriplegia proper care before death
• Navigating life with an intellectual disability
• Disability health care labelled a disgrace
• Intellectually disabled people ‘unsafe’ in hospitals, disability royal commission hears

In the picture: CID member Anthony speaks at the Disability Royal Commission.

In August 2020 Anthony Mulholland told the Disability Royal Commission about his life during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Anthony told Commissioners he found social isolation very difficult. Isolation affected Anthony’s mental health.

Anthony talked about his experiences during the pandemic. This helped the Royal Commission make recommendations on how to keep people with intellectual disability safe during this and future pandemic and other major emergencies.

Read more: How has the Coronavirus Pandemic affected people with intellectual disability?

In the picture: CID staff member Justen speaks at the Disability Royal Commission.

In February 2021, staff members Justen Thomas and Jim Simpson gave evidence at the Brisbane Hearing addressing “The experiences of people with cognitive disability in the criminal justice system”.

Justen spoke about his lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Read more: Justen’s experience giving evidence to the Disability Royal Commission

Media:

• From jail to in-demand speaker: The disability royal commission hears Justen’s story
• Justice system’s failure to consider disability can lead to years of jail and homelessness, royal commission hears
• Disability Royal Commission: Former prisoners with disabilities seek to end the cycle

In the picture: CID staff member Ella with her counsel at the Disability Royal Commission.

CID members and staff also gave evidence at many of the hearings.

Raylene Griffiths gave evidence on psychotropic medication, behaviour support and behaviours of concern. Watch Raylene give evidence here.

Julia Wren and Kenn Clift gave evidence on First Nations people and their families and the child protection system.

Laura Naing gave evidence on the education of health staff. Watch Laura give evidence here.

Ella Darling spoke at the hearing on pathways and barriers to open employment. Read more: How to improve employment for people with intellectual disability

Justine O’Neill, Alex Elliott and Ricky Kremer spoke at the Guardianship and Decision Making hearing.

We thank everyone who has been involved with the Disability Royal Commission.