Disability Royal Commission Advocacy Service at MDAA
The Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association(MDAA) has been funded to provide free and independent advocacy support for people taking part in the Disability Royal Commission. Advocacy support is for people with disability (or family members or carers acting on their behalf) who require supportin understanding how to engage with the Commission, and speaking up about what happened to them.
How MDAA can Help?
An MDAA advocate will be able to help people with disability to tell their story to the Disability Royal Commission, find communication supports such as interpreters, and link to other supports such as legal, counselling or financial services. Please call MDAA to schedule a meeting with an advocate to discuss your situation.
What is a Royal Commission?
The Disability Royal Commission was established in April 2019 in response to community concerns about well known reports of violence neglect, abuse and exploitation of people with disability. Such abusive incidents may have happened recently or a long time ago. A Royal Commission is an investigation, free from government involvement into any matters of great importance affecting the community. Royal Commissions have power to hold public hearings, call witnesses under oath and demand evidence.
Royal Commissions make recommendations to government about what should change. Each Royal Commission has terms of reference which explain the issues it will look into.
You can choose to tell your story individually or in a group.
What is the scope of the Royal Commission?
The Commissioners have been directed to investigate violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability. It applies to all locations, backgrounds and situations. This means community, institutions and residential settings, including, but not limited to: institutions, group homes, workplaces, respite care, day programs, mental health facilities, prisons, schools, out-of-home care, transport, hospitals, aged care facilities, family homes, mainstream services and community settings.
The Royal Commission’s Terms of Reference cover what should be done to:
prevent, and better protect, people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
achieve best practice in reporting and investigating of, and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
promote a more inclusive society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
For more information contact MDAA on 02 9891 6400 or 1800 629 072