Your central hub for information, support tools, and practical advice.

We have a wealth of knowledge to share with you about living with a spinal cord injury (SCI), and have pulled this together in this section to help you access the information you need, when you need it.

Wheelchair Skills – Pushing Up A Ramp

Jason from SCIA's Peer and Family Support Team is here to teach you how to navigate your way up a...

Strength in Resilience

For Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week 2024 #SCIAW we discussed strength and what it means. One of those is Strength...

Wheelchair Skills – Wheeling Across Grass

Jason from our Peer and Family Support team is here to teach you how to wheel across grass with your...

Celebrating Strength in Community: Recognising the community of carers, friends and families after an SCI

Two-thirds of people with spinal cord injury agree that ‘the role of family in terms of emotional, physical and financial...

Pets in Crisis – Services and Supports

Service animals are of huge importance to our community and keeping your animal safe during an emergency is paramount. Here...

I’m a person with disability and experiencing domestic violence

NSW Department of Communities and Justice has put together information for people with physical, intellectual, psychiatric and sensory who are...

Watch our 10-part series on the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation for People with Disability distributed on Spinal Cord Injuries Australia’s Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channel.

All reels in this series have been researched, written and edited by Sathsara Radaliyagoda and read by as well as executive produced by Susan Wood.

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part One

Why should you care about the Disability Royal
Commission?

One of the biggest things to come out of 2023 was the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation for People with Disability.

For over four years public hearings, private sessions and community talks investigated the extent of the claims and root causes to make significant change.

Statistical Information Source: Disability Royal Commission told of hundreds of preventable deaths – News GP, 20 Feb 2020

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Two

We take you on a journey on the abuse and neglect experienced by people with different disabilities and their stories.

In Part Two, Susan lets us know why you should care about the commission and why it was an important investigation for every Australian.

Statistical Information Source*: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

*Percentages have been updated since date of filming and editing. They’re higher now.

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Three

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

In Part Three, Susan tells us the story of Lyanna and Dalton, siblings who describe the harsh realities of abusive service providers.

Read their story in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Final Report – Voices of people with Disability, Page 30

Statistical Information Source: Watchdog reveals thousands of reports of sexual misconduct, injury, abuse and neglect in disability group homes – ABC News January 16, 2023

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Four

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

In Part Four, Susan tells us the story of Valery and Nikolas, a mother and son duo who endured immense trauma from their service providers. Fortunately, they do have a happy ending when so many sadly don’t.

Read their story in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Final Report – Voices of people with Disability, Page 34

Statistical Information Source: Young people with disabilities are trapped in nursing homes – Sydney Morning Herald, September 8 2019

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Five

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

In Part Five, Susan tells us about the lives of Sonia and Romeo, another mother and son whose story shines a light on the realities of abuses of power. When schools are supposed to be a safe space, Romeo’s story shows us the disturbing reality many kids with disability endure.

Read their story in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Final Report – Voices of people with Disability, Page 17

Statistical Information Source: Children with disabilities suffer ‘severe neglect and abuse’ in Australian schools – The Guardian, 28 October 2019

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Six

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

In Part Six, Susan tells us about the lives of Rey and Mara, where Rey’s neglect in an aged care facility prompted Mara’s mission to bring her husband home. The horrible mistreatment of Rey raises questions on the systemic neglect of people with disabilities.

Read their story in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Final Report – Voices of people with Disability, Page 28

Statistical Information Source: Almost 40 per cent of residents in aged care facilities have been abused, data released by royal commission shows – ABC News 22 December, 2020

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Seven

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

In Part Seven, Susan tells us about Emmanuelle and Wilma, best friends who were separated due abuse and neglect. Emmanuelle’s life was filled with mistreatment showing us the abuse found in aged care.

Read their story in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Final Report – Voices of people with Disability, Page 581

Statistical Information Source: A Brief Summary of Research and Commentary about the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People in Care (Elder Abuse) – Hayden Brown, Updated January 2022

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Eight

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

In Part Eight, Susan tells us the story of Lilianna and Alessandra, another friend duo. Lilianna, who endured abuse and neglect in multiple group homes, resulting in a tragic end shows the urgent need for justice and systemic reform.

Read their story in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Final Report – Voices of people with Disability, Page 32

Statistical Information Source*: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Nine

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

In Part Nine, Susan shares the heartbreaking story of
Valeria, recounted by her son Wesson, whose murder by
her husband reveals systemic failures in guardianship and
intervention despite years of attempts.

Read their story in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability: Final Report – Voices of people with Disability, Page 475

Statistical Information Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Ten

Please note: the names of all the victims have been changed by the Royal Commission for anonymity

Over the last 10 weeks, Susan has shown you the ways different service providers, people of authority and care facilities have been complicit in the abuse, neglect and violence against people with disabilities.

At SCIA, our Policy and Advocacy teams are there to help fight for you and your rights, learn about our Policy and Advocacy team on our website https://scia.org.au/what-is-advocacy/

Statistical Information Source: Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability Research Report, Centre of Research Excellent in Disability and Health (CRE-DH)

Your central hub for information, support tools, and practical advice.

Discover our resources

Wheelchair Skills – Pushing Up A Ramp

Strength in Resilience

Wheelchair Skills – Wheeling Across Grass

Celebrating Strength in Community: Recognising the community of carers, friends and families after an SCI

Pets in Crisis – Services and Supports

I’m a person with disability and experiencing domestic violence

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part One

Why should you care about the Disability RoyalCommission?

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Two

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Three

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Four

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Five

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Six

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Seven

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Eight

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Nine

SCIA on the Disability Royal Commission – Part Ten

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Why should you care about the Disability Royal
Commission?