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Disability Royal Commission investigates People with cognitive disability and the Criminal justice system and NDIS

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Rainbow coloured scales of justice

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? 

Due to COVID-19, the hearing will not be open to the public. The hearing will be live-streamed on the Disability Royal Commission’s website and include live captioning and Auslan-English interpreters.

What is it about?

In the opening of Public Hearing 11, Counsel Assisting stated that “some of the evidence in this hearing speaks of people’s experiences in trying to access services from States or through the NDIS, and the sense by some of the responsibility being shuffled between the two".

The Disability Royal Commission noted that the second part of this hearing, to be held at a later time, which would enable the States and the NDIA to be heard on these issues.”The scope and purpose of Public hearing 15 are to finalise Public hearing 11, and primarily to provide an opportunity for government parties to respond to the issues that were raised with respect to the NDIS in Public hearing 11. As such, the areas of focus for this short public hearing will be:

  1. The approach of, Commonwealth, State and Territory governments in respect of the division of responsibility for providing supports and services to people with cognitive disability involved in the criminal justice system;
  2. Barriers to people with cognitive disability involved in the criminal justice system in accessing the NDIS, including with respect to the transition from custodial environments; and
  3. NDIS guidelines and policies in so far as they relate to people with cognitive disability and the criminal justice system.   

The Royal Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing in Brisbane on Thursday 12 & Friday 13 August 2021 to explore issues relating to people with cognitive disability and the criminal justice system and the interface with the NDIS.

Auslan Video

Live stream

This live stream/recording has closed captions and Auslan translations. There is an audio-only stream option.

Witness List

Official Transcripts 

Transcript Day 1 - Public hearing 15, Brisbane

Transcript Day 2 - Public hearing 15, Brisbane

Support Services

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

The Disability Royal Commission has set up support services for people with disability 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 disability. 

More Information

Our coverage of Public Hearing 11 is here: Disability Royal Commission looks at the criminal justice system. 

All our coverage of the Disability Royal Commission is here: Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, otherwise please choose from the list of past hearings below. 

Past Hearings

Royal Commission looks at the Ann-Marie Smith case and continues investigating abuse in disability support services 
Disability Royal Commission looks at preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in disability services 
Public hearing to examine the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out for people with disability     
Disability Royal Commission explores education and training of health care professionals in relation to people with cognitive disability 
Disability Royal Commission explores pathways and barriers to open employment for people with disability 
Disability Royal Commission looks at First Nations People with a Disability
Disability Royal Commission explores barriers to education 
Disability Royal Commission hearing on the use of psychotropic medication 
Disability Royal Commission Hearing on Emergency Planning 

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. 

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