People with disabilities in north given chance to have their say

Have a story to tell the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability? Now is your chance.

Commissioners Barbara Bennett, chair Ronald Sackville QC, Roslyn Atkinson and Professor Rhonda Galbally during the hearing into health care for people with cognitive disability at the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability in Sydney.

PEOPLE in Tasmania’s north will have a chance to tell the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability their stories at two community forums later this month.

The Commission will hold community forums and information sessions in Burnie and Launceston on March 17 and 18 respectively.

Royal Commission Chair Ronald Sackville AO QC emphasised the importance of visiting areas outside the major capital cities to give people an opportunity to learn more about the Royal Commission and to share their stories.

“We choose the areas we visit carefully,” Chair Sackville said.

“Usually they are areas with a relatively high proportion of people with disability. We know that from the statistical information that is available that both Burnie and Launceston fall into this category.”

The Royal Commission began last year and data from Disabled Peoples Organisations Australia shows people with an intellectual disability are 10 times more likely to be exposed to violence than those with a disability and three times more likely to be robbed or sexually assaulted.

The community forums are not open to organisations including service providers and government agencies but they can attend the information sessions.

Details about the submissions process and private sessions can be found on the Royal Commission website.

The Royal Commission strongly recommends people register for community forums and information sessions in advance.

The community forums will be held at the Burnie Arts and Function Centre on March 17 from 10am-12pm and at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Launceston at the same time the next day.

Information sessions (for organisations and the general public) will be held in Burnie on March 17 from 2pm–3:30pm and Launceston during the same timeslot on March 18.