The Disability Royal Commission

The information below is about The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (the Royal Commission). Reading this information may be distressing to you. If at any time you would like to talk to a professional with experience in trauma counselling, please contact the free and confidential counselling services we have listed in our Counselling Services pages.

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The Royal Commission investigated violence against and abuse of people with disabilities

The Royal Commission investigated violence against and the abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability in the places where they lived, went to school, and worked. 

The Royal Commission gathered information through doing its own research, holding public hearings, meeting people with disability in private sessions, and reading stories told by people with disability and their carers. 

The Royal Commission used this information to understand why people with disability experience high levels of abuse. And why the numerous recommendations made by the many inquiries and reports over the years have not improved the lives of people with disability.    

The Royal Commission lasted four years and reported its findings in September 2023. In its final report it made 222 recommendations on how best to:  

  • prevent and protect people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation 
  • report, investigate and respond to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability 
  • promote a more inclusive society that supports people with disability to be independent and live free of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation. 

Disability Royal Commission websiteAuslan guide to the Disability Royal Commission website

The Royal Commission's public hearings

The Royal Commission started holding public hearings in November 2019 to gather evidence about violence, neglect, abuse, and exploitation of people with disability. You can read the transcripts or watch a webcast of past hearings on the Royal Commission’s website.

Royal Commission hearing transcripts and webcasts