fbpx

Accessibility Tools

  • You are here:  
  • Home /
  • Blogs /
  • Disability Royal Commission examines the experience of people with disability engaging with Disability Employment Services

Disability Royal Commission examines the experience of people with disability engaging with Disability Employment Services

Hits: 8685
Job application and résumé froms on a desk with reading glasses, folder, keyboard and coffee

The Royal Commission’s next public hearing will examine the experiences of people with disability engaging with the Disability Employment Services (DES) program (Public hearing 21).

Skip to: Live stream | Witnesses | Transcripts | Media coverage | Support services 

Content Warning 

Some of the stories and information below may contain details about abuse, neglect and mistreatment of people with disabilities. You can find help if you have any concerns because of this information.

How can I attend? 

Public hearing 21 will be held from 23-25 February 2022. Due to ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and impacts, the hearing will be conducted online. The hearing will not be open to the public but will be live streamed on the Royal Commission website.

The live stream will include Auslan, captions and audio-only options. 

What is it about?

In Public hearing 21, the Royal Commission will examine the DES program and consider whether current laws, policies, funding and oversight cause or contribute to, or operate to prevent, violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability who participate in the DES program. Relevantly, it is noted that the Australian Government is currently designing a new disability employment support model for commencement from mid-2023.

Public hearing 21 will focus on a case study about the conduct of a DES provider and the operation of a specific employment program. The Royal Commission will hear evidence from a DES participant, DES provider, advocacy organisation and an Australian Government representative among others.

In the context of the case study, the hearing will examine:

  • choice and control of DES participants over employment opportunities
  • provision of services and support to DES participants to find a job and post-placement support during employment
  • how funding models may impact the conduct of DES providers
  • outcomes and expenditure of the DES program
  • complaint handling by DES providers
  • regulation, oversight and safeguard mechanisms, including the role of the Department of Social Services
  • any related matters.

Anyone who believes they have a direct and substantial interest in the subject matter of this hearing, as outlined in Practice Guideline 6, is able to make an application for leave to appear by 5.00pm on Monday 7 February 2022.

Following Public hearing 21, Public hearing 22 scheduled for 11-13 April 2022, will examine the experiences of people with disability working in Australian Disability Enterprises.

Live stream

This live stream/recording has closed captions and Auslan translations. In addition, there is an audio-only stream option. Recordings can be accessed by clicking on Event Posts in the top right-hand corner of the video frame.

Witness List

Official Transcripts 

Wednesday 23 February 2022

Download

pdfOpening Address [PDF]
docxOpening Address [DOCX]
pdfTranscript Day 1 [PDF]
docxTranscript Day 1 [DOCX]

Thursday 24 February 2022

Download

pdfTranscript Day 2 [PDF]
docxTranscript Day 2 [DOCX]

Friday 25 February 2022

Download

pdfTranscript Day 3 [PDF]
docxTranscript Day 3 [DOCX]

Media coverage

Wednesday 23 February 2022

The Guardian

Disability services company pocketed nearly $1m for barista course lacking basic equipment, inquiry hears

Witness tells royal commission she arrived at new job as barista trainer to find only a home coffee machine and bottle of long life milk

Saturday 26 February 2022

ABC News

Disability employment services program left woman 'unfit for work', royal commission told

A program to train people with disability to work as coffee baristas left a woman with a "broken heart," a "broken mind" and "certified unfit for work", the disability royal commission has heard. 

Sunday 27 February 2022

The Guardian

New job led to ‘broken life’ under disability scheme spruiked as success story

Woman tells inquiry how her experiences at ‘coffee school’ in $1bn-a-year federal program damaged her health and left her heartbroken

Support Services

Your Story Disability Legal Support is a free, independent legal service supporting people with disabilities to share their stories with the Disability Royal Commission safely.

The Disability Royal Commission has set up support services for people with disabilities affected by or interacting with the Commission process. These supports include counselling, advocacy, financial and legal help. For more information and links, read our resource on Royal Commission Support Services.

The National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline is a free, independent and confidential service for reporting mistreatment of people with disabilities. 

Disability Royal Commission 

Phone: 1800 517 199
Web:    disability.royalcommission.gov.au 
Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

IDEAS does information so you can do life. 

Available Resources

a careworker helping a young girl in a seated position in an accessible home bathroom Disability Royal Commission public hearing 32 is revisiting disability service providers
hands cuffed in a barred cell Disability Royal Commission investigates conditions in detention in the criminal justice system
interior of public transport i.e. a bus Public hearing on violence against and abuse of people with disability in public places
hindu floral motif Public hearing on the experience of violence against, abuse, neglect and expoitation of people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse communities
a pen and unsigned signature line on a document Public hearing on guardianship and supported decision-making for people with disabilities
hand drawn characters. one is a wheelchair user, one is a child, one is brown, one is white, some are wearing masks. words say inclusion Disability Royal Commission hearing focuses on a vision for an inclusive Australia
Indigenous dot painting in purple, blue, yellow, brown and green Public hearing on the operations of the NDIS for First Nations people with disability in remote communities
Young man with down syndrome wearing a hairnet, gloves and apron while peforming food handling tasks Disability Royal Commission examines the experience of people with disability working in Australian Disability Enteprises (ADE)
old fashioned brass balancing scales Disability Royal Commission looks at preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in disability services
girl with down syndrome looking down sadly Royal Commission looking at preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in disability services
In the background is a persons hand on a braille keyboard next to a keyboard. On an orange background are the words Royal Commission - Measures taken by employers and regulators to respond to the systemic barriers to open employment for people with disability
universal symbol for man and universal symbol for disability (a person in a wheelchair) on a balancing beam Royal Commission looks at the human rights of people with disability and making the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities a reality in Australian law, policies and practice
Files on a background with the words Royal Commission publishes Disability in Australia and Agents of Our Own Destiny reports
Woman typing on laptop with pen in hand Accessibility Improvements During COVID
A man in dark suit navigates stairs with a cane. IncludeAbility resource hub
woman in a wheelchair with purple flowing hair Royal Commission investigates experience of women and girls with disability
vaccine bottle and syringe with covid spore Draft Report finds COVID-19 vaccine strategy and roll-out for people with disability seriously deficient
young Indigenous boy looking sad Royal Commission looks at First Nations children with disability in out-of-home care
A young man with disability plays a guitar. He sits outside on a stone wall, next to him is the guitar case. NSW Createability Internship Program
Rainbow coloured scales of justice Disability Royal Commission investigates People with cognitive disability and the Criminal justice system and NDIS
Detail image of broken wicker or cane Royal Commission looks at the Ann-Marie Smith case and continues investigating abuse in disability support services
a gloved ahnd gholding a bottle labelled covid-19 vaccine and a syringe. Public hearing to examine the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out for people with disability
Your Story Disability Support Call 1800 77 1800 Your Story Disability Legal Support
tired woman with glasses sleeping with face on open book. IDEAS logo is in upper left corner. Fatigue at Work: When Coffee Won't Do The Job
Woman in wheelchair with back turned. A laptop with another woman on screen holding a book. Disability Royal Commission looks at preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in disability services
bronze sculpture. Blindfolded woman holding scales. Disability Royal Commission looks at the criminal justice system
sad woman in cage. IDEAS logo. IDEAS does information so you can do life. Disability Royal Commission seeks submissions with latest issues papers
Disability Royal Commission - Hearing Update Disability Royal Commission explores education and training of health care professionals in relation to people with congitive disability
Royal Commission - pathways and barriers to open employment. Disability Royal Commission explores pathways and barriers to open employment for people with disability
aerial view of driveway and burnt house and bush Are you Bushfire Ready?
‘Respectful Listening’ depicts the story of The Disability Royal Commission, translated into a traditional style of art and symbols used by many of Australia’s First peoples to share information and stories for thousands of years. This story is made up of seven people who are Elders and or respected members of their own communities. These seven people, the Commissioners, come from different community groups including Australia’s First People, people living with disability and the LGBTIQ+ community. Disability Royal Commission - First Nations People with a Disability
children, teacher and assistance dog sitting on the floor in a library reading a book as a group Disability Royal Commission explores barriers to education
Disability Royal Commission Hearing Upgrade - The use of psychotropic medication, behaviour support and behaviours of concern - man with Down Syndrome looking reflective in black and white Disability Royal Commission hearing on the use of psychotropic medication
Bold words say hearing update - disability royal commission emergency planning and response in the background is a montage of news paper articles in black and white on disability Disability Royal Commission Hearing on Emergency Planning
sad woman with hands over her eyes Disability service Integrity Care banned from providing NDIS services
Blonde woman laughing with a man, who is seated in a wheechair Righting the wrongs: building safer lives for people with disabillity
Indigenous dot painting called Respectful Listening by Wiradjuri Elder Paul Calcott First Nations people with disability matter
woman with purple hair bound by an orange rope. Royal Commission seeks comment for Issue Papers
Image of young girl with Down Syndrome looking sad Shocking cases of disability abuse and neglect come to light
Reporting Abuse - Woman sitting on a couch with her hand up to indicate stop. She has Down Syndrome.ffy dog tha is being held by a woman Reporting abuse of people with a disability
medical drip with patient in background Royal Commission looks into health for people with intellectual disability
hands holding a blue house made of paper Second hearing of Royal Commission investigates violence and abuse in group homes
Preteen school boy with down syndrome working a desk in a classroom with a pencil in hand First hearing of Royal Commission focuses on education
Image of rainbow watercolour silhouettes. Two people. One speaking. Royal Commission support services
Image of Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre exterior First public sitting of Disability Royal Commission
Image of businessman's hand writing on paper Royal Commission seeks submissions
Image of a microphone at a lectern in a formal inquiry chamber Pressure mounts for Disability Royal Commissioners to stand down
small boy with hearing aid Why schools desperately need a royal commission into the abuse of disabled people