Disability Royal Commission Taskforce

In recognition of the significant scale of the reforms recommended by the Disability Royal Commission, the Australian Government has established a Commonwealth Disability Royal Commission Response Taskforce (the Taskforce).

The Taskforce is led by the Department of Social Services and is working with departments and agencies across the Commonwealth who are responsible for policies and programs that intersect with the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

Printable versions of this Taskforce information are also available.

Easy Read versions of this Taskforce information are also available. 

Taskforce purpose

The Taskforce’s overarching purpose is to support the Australian Government’s consideration of, and response to, the Disability Royal Commission’s final report.

The government has released a Progress Update on how it is considering the Disability Royal Commission’s final report.

There is also a summary of the Progress Update, which is available in Easy Read, Auslan, Braille and large print.

The Taskforce will:

  • Support coordinated consideration of the Disability Royal Commission’s final report across Commonwealth departments and agencies.
  • Engage and consult with people with disability, their families, carers, representative organisations, service providers, unions, employers and the broader community to inform Government decision making on reform and change.
  • Work with state and territory officials to consider recommendations of joint Commonwealth, state and territory responsibility.

Relevant Commonwealth Ministers and their departments are responsible for considering individual recommendations within their policy responsibility. The Taskforce will contribute to this by bringing agencies together to support an integrated approach to reform that supports a safer and more inclusive Australia for people with disability, their families and carers. The Australian Government Cabinet will determine the Australian Government’s overall response to the Disability Royal Commission.

Operating arrangements

The Taskforce reports to the Minister for Social Services, the Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, through normal Department of Social Services reporting structures.

The Taskforce is expected to operate until 30 June 2025, or as otherwise determined by the Australian Government. It will support the Government’s consideration of, and response to, the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendations, and the establishment of arrangements to monitor and report on implementation.

Taskforce composition

The Taskforce is a business unit of around 15 people within the Department of Social Services. It is led by Group Manager, Disability Reforms and Royal Commission.

The Taskforce comprises Department of Social Services staff, and seconded staff from the Attorney‑General’s Department, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Aged Care, the National Indigenous Australians Agency, and the National Disability Insurance Agency. This includes a combination of people with disability, carers of people with disability and people with relevant experience to meet the business requirements of the Taskforce. Taskforce members are required to complete disability awareness training.

Governance

Disability Royal Commission Commonwealth Working Group

The Taskforce works closely with all relevant Commonwealth departments and agencies through both informal day-to-day interactions and a formal Disability Royal Commission Commonwealth Working Group (Commonwealth Working Group).

The Commonwealth Working Group meets regularly, and includes core representatives from the following Commonwealth departments and agencies:

  • Department of Social Services (Chair)
  • Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
  • Department of Finance
  • Treasury
  • Attorney-General’s Department
  • National Disability Insurance Agency
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission
  • Department of Education
  • Department of Health and Aged Care
  • National Indigenous Australians Agency
  • Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
  • Department of Home Affairs
  • Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
  • Department of Industry and Science

Representatives from the following agencies participate as required:

  • Hearing Australia
  • Commonwealth Ombudsman
  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
  • Australian Public Service Commission
  • Fair Work Commission

In addition, given the strong focus of the Disability Royal Commission on human rights, the Taskforce has agreed ongoing consultation arrangements with the Australian Human Rights Commission to enable appropriate input.

Disability Royal Commission Inter-Jurisdictional Committee

The Taskforce also chairs a Disability Royal Commission Inter-Jurisdictional Committee to provide a forum for Commonwealth, state and territory officials to engage on recommendations of joint responsibility. The Committee includes representatives from the Commonwealth and all states and territories.

Approach to engagement and consultation

The Taskforce will ensure engagement and consultation around the development of the Commonwealth’s response to the Disability Royal Commission is inclusive and accessible, trauma-informed, and that it draws out different stakeholder perspectives and intersectional issues so these are understood. The consultation approach includes a combination of high-level roundtables, forums, workshops, individual meetings, and a survey and submission process (survey and submissions closed on 19 January 2024). Stakeholder engagement is occurring over a number of months to support participation. Individuals and organisations can find out more and register their interest at: www.engage.dss.gov.au/drcausgovresponse

Relationship to the NDIS Review

Some of the issues raised through the Disability Royal Commission relate to issues considered by the NDIS Review. The Taskforce will work closely with those areas of Government responsible for considering the NDIS Review to enable these intersections to be understood in the context of Government responses to the Disability Royal Commission and NDIS Review.

Counselling support

Further Support

National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline

If you have experienced or witnessed a person with disability being hurt, treated badly or neglected, you can report it to the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline (the Hotline).

Follow this link for more information about the Hotline.

To make a report, contact the Hotline on 1800 880 052 or visit the JobAccess website for more information.

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment contact the National Relay Service (NRS) by calling 13 36 77 then asking for 1800 880 052.

If you are from a non-English speaking background you can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) by calling 13 14 50.

Send an email to: hotline@workfocus.com.

1800RESPECT

1800RESPECT is available for free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to support people impacted by domestic, family or sexual violence. Call 1800 737 732, chat online via the 1800RESPECT website or text 0458 737 723.

Disability Advocacy Support Helpline

The Disability Advocacy Support Helpline (the Helpline) provides short term phone-based disability advocacy support no matter where you live in Australia.

To request disability advocacy support through the Helpline contact the Disability Gateway:

The Helpline may refer you to other supports in your local area based on your individual needs.

For more information about the Helpline in accessible Easy Read, Auslan and languages other than English, visit our resources page.

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