Public hearing 23 running 16-20th May

Content warning: mentions abuse and violence towards people with disability.

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Public hearing 23 continues today.

Public hearing 23 Preventing and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in disability services (a case study) will run from 16 – 20 May.

This hearing will feature evidence from case studies of people with disability who experienced abuse when being supported by Australian Foundation for Disability (Afford) in New South Wales.

Afford is a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme service provider that supports over 6,000 clients with disability and operates mainly in New South Wales. Following rapid expansion from 2015, Afford now also provides services in Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. Between 2015 and 2021, its annual revenue increased from $45.7 million per annum to $145.6 million per annum.

The hearing is examining whether Afford failed to prevent or respond appropriately to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability in its care. It is also examining systemic issues concerning the provision of day program services by Afford.

Yesterday the DRC heard evidence from the parents of three people with disability, Simon, Jason & Toby (*using pseudonyms to protect their identity). In 2019 Jason and Toby were abused by Daniel Nuumaalii, a support worker of a day program run by Afford.  Daniel was later charged and convicted.

It will be live-streamed on the Royal Commission website and include live captioning and Auslan-English interpreters. 

You can watch it live here: https://disability.royalcommission.gov.au/

More information on the Disability Royal Commission can be found on our website at: https://wwda.org.au/campaign/disability-royal-commission/