Great Southern people urged to speak up and share story for royal commission into disability abuse

Great Southern people with disability are being called on to speak out about their experiences to shape the future of Australia’s disability services.

Legal Aid WA and Aboriginal Legal Service WA are encouraging people in the region to take part in the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

Both organisations operate Your Disability Legal Support Service or Your Story, which helps provide advice and support to enable the public to share their story with the commission.

But since hearings began in September 2019, just 120 calls have been received from WA out of a total of 2836 from around the country.

Legal Aid WA is set to hold two information sessions in Albany next week to help locals take part.

Your Story legal co-ordinator Megan McCormack said more than 400 people with disability in the Great Southern have used Legal Aid WA’s services this year but few had contributed to the commission.

“It is important for people with disability who have experienced difficulties in care or other parts of their life, to speak up about their experiences,” she said.

“The Disability Royal Commission represents a real opportunity to reform disability services in Australia and for people who have experienced difficulties to be part of that process.”

“Our goal is to help people who have needed Legal Aid’s assistance feel comfortable engaging with the Commission and to ensure their voices are heard.”

Information sessions will be held at 10.30am and 2pm at Albany Public Library on March 23.

To register, call Legal Aid WA on 1300 650 579.