The NSW Government will establish an Ageing and Disability Commissioner from 1 July 2019, to better protect adults with disability and older people from abuse, neglect and exploitation in home and community settings.
The new role will have broad-ranging powers to conduct investigations into allegations of abuse and neglect.
What will the Commissioner do?
The main role of the Commissioner will be to:
- investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults with disability and older people in home and community settings
- provide support to vulnerable adults and their families or carers following an investigation
- report and make recommendations to government on systemic issues related to abuse, neglect and exploitation
- raise community awareness of abuse, neglect and exploitation, including how to prevent, identify and respond to matters
- administer the Official Community Visitors program, in relation to disability services and assisted boarding houses.
How will the Commissioner work with other agencies?
The Commissioner will be supported by new Specialist Elder Abuse Officers in each NSW Police Forcecommand. These officers will work closely with the Commissioner to investigate matters involving criminal behaviour, and to undertake crime prevention activities.The Commissioner’s focus will be on what happens to people in their homes or in the community. However, they will work closely with the agencies responsible for protecting people when they are receiving disability and aged care services (the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and Aged Care Complaints Commissioner).
Where can I report concerns about abuse, neglect and exploitation before 1 July 2019?
If you require assistance before the establishment of the Commissioner, you can seek help from one of the following bodies:
For elder abuse call:
Elder Abuse Helpline & Resource Unit
1800 628 221
For abuse of a person with disability call:
National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline
1800 880 052
For conduct of a disability service provider call:
NDIS Quality and Safeguard Commission
1800 035 544
For conduct of an aged care service provider call:
Aged Care Complaints Commissioner
1800 550 552
For a matter which requires urgent assistance call:
NSW Police
000
For more information please visit
www.facs.nsw.gov.au or call (02) 9377 6000
NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner Fact Sheet is here https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/download?file=640890
Have your say on the new NSW Ageing and Disability Commission Website
The Commission is currently being set up and the consulting group would like to hear from adults with disability, older people, service providers, peaks and advocacy groups here
