The Royal Commission is now accepting submissions. A submission is the main way people and organisations can provide information to the Royal Commission about their experiences of violence, neglect, abuse or exploitation of people with disability. Anybody can make a submission.
The Australian Government is leading the development of a new National Disability Strategy to replace the current National Disability Strategy when it finishes at the end of 2020. The ‘Right to opportunity’ consultation report has been released and is available in a variety of accessible formats. The second stage of consultations with people with disability on a new National Disability Strategy for beyond 2020 were due to take place in the coming weeks. However, following the escalation of events surrounding the Australian response to COVID-19, the decision has been taken to defer the consultations.
This community law reform project will consider what changes to legislation and practices should be made to enhance access for people with hearing or vision impairments who wish to serve as jurors in Victoria. At present, the law does not specifically disqualify people with hearing or visual impairments. In practice, though, jury service is usually … Continued
Closing date: July 14, 2020
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability is seeking information about the experiences of people with disability during recent emergencies in Australia. ‘The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic our country is facing comes just months after the summer bushfire crisis. Both of these events have had a profound effect on the Australian population. ‘We already know that people with disability can be severely affected by emergencies and may be at a higher risk of experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation at these times.
Closing date: July 17, 2020
On 27 November 2019, the Senate resolved to establish a Select Committee on Autism to inquire into and report on the services, support and life outcomes for autistic people. The terms of reference require the committee to focus its attention on productive and meaningful ways to improve services and support for autistic people in the areas of education, healthcare, employment, housing, justice and rights. The committee is to present its final report on or before the first sitting day of October 2021.
The Rights and attitudes issues paper is designed to assist the Royal Commission in its investigation about people’s awareness and understanding of the rights of people with disability. It also seeks feedback about community attitudes towards people with disability and about how well advocacy is working for people with disability, to prevent or help respond to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Closing date: August 14, 2020
The Commission is looking at the experiences of people with disability in employment. Why are people with disability less likely to be employed and have lower incomes than people without disability? The issues paper is also seeking information about people’s experiences of discrimination at work and how well specific programs designed to increase the employment of people with disability are working.