Disability Royal Commission

The DRC (or Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability) will be conducted over the next three years and will look at all groups that provide services to people with disability, including government, institutions (service providers, schools, workplaces, businesses, etc.) and the community.

PQSA welcomes the announcement of the DRC and the significant financial investment (over $500M) that will ensure people with disability are better protected and that reporting and investigation procedures across the sector are of the highest standard and improve the safety and quality of services. We strongly support these expected outcomes and will actively collaborate with the DRC in any way we can.

At this stage, we don't know what, if anything, the DRC will ask of us, but we have nothing to hide and are well positioned to contribute to the process and we would be a valuable resource in informing the DRC as to how systems (like the NDIS for instance) can be improved.

Continuous quality improvement is an existing part of our systems and commitment to ensuring our clients and members receive the best possible support. We will be closely watching the outcomes of the DRC to ensure we are able to initiate any highlighted improvements that would make a positive impact.

It is fair to say that the experiences of the Aged Care Royal Commission have shown us that there can be examples of poor practice highlighted in the media; this can be confronting, so (as is the case at any time), if you need any support whilst the DRC is being conducted, please don't hesitate to speak to your Supervisor to get the assistance you need.

We encourage all of you to stay informed about what is happening as the DRC conducts its duties, particularly via its website:

www.disability.royalcommission.gov.au