It is a responsibility of all Australians to take action if they see violence and abuse occurring towards people with disability.

There are a number of government funded bodies in Australia who are responsible for taking action to protect people with disability who are experiencing abuse, violence, neglect and exploitation and where concerns can be reported.

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).

The Hotline is free, independent and confidential and available to anyone, including people with disability, their family members, friends and service providers.

It will work with you to find ways of dealing with what you have reported through information, support and referrals to other organisations.
It’s open Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) and Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (AEDST), excluding Australian national public holidays.

The Hotline is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/news/67231

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)(link is external) 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)(link is external) by calling 13 14 50.

Send an email to: hotline@workfocus.com(link sends e-mail).

NDIS QUALITY AND SAFEGUARDS COMMISSION
The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission is an independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services.

The Commission is working with NDIS participants, service providers, workers and the community to introduce a new nationally consistent approach so participants can access services and supports that promote choice, control and dignity.

The NDIS Commission:

• Responds to concerns, complaints and reportable incidents, including abuse and neglect of NDIS participants
• Promotes the NDIS principles of choice and control, and works to empower participants to exercise their rights to access quality services as informed, protected consumers
• Requires NDIS providers to uphold participants’ rights to be free from harm – Registers and regulates NDIS providers and oversees the new NDIS Code of Conduct and NDIS Practice Standards
• Provides guidance and best practice information to NDIS providers on how to comply with their registration responsibilities
• Monitors compliance against the NDIS Code of Conduct and NDIS Practice Standards, including undertaking investigations and taking enforcement action
• Monitors the use of restrictive practices within the NDIS with the aim of reducing and eliminating such practices
• Is working in collaboration with states and territories to design and implement nationally consistent NDIS worker screening
• Focuses on education, capacity building and development for people with disability, NDIS providers and workers
• Facilitates information sharing with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), state and territory authorities and other Commonwealth regulatory bodies.

The NDIS Commission is independent of the NDIA
Both the NDIS Commission and the NDIA play a part in ensuring the delivery of the NDIS.

The NDIA’s focus is on:

• Providing individualised plans for people with disability
• Coordinating service bookings, payments and access to plans for providers
• The NDIA will also detect and investigate allegations of fraud.
• The NDIS Commission does not regulate the NDIA. Complaints about the NDIA or participant plans
  should be made directly to the NDIA.

https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/

VICTORIAN DISABILITY WORKER COMMISSION
The Victorian Disability Worker Commission can receive any enquiry, complaint or notification about any disability worker in Victoria, regardless of the way in which the service is funded. Anyone can make a complaint about a disability worker, including about:

• Their standard of work
• Their knowledge, skill or judgement
• Their capacity to provide services safely
• An alleged breach of the disability service safeguards act 2018 (vic) or the disability service safeguards code of conduct.

If you are a disability worker or employer you are legally required to make a notification of misconduct if it falls under one of the four categories:

• Intoxication while practicing
• Sexual misconduct
• Detrimental impairment or
• Significant departure from accepted professional standards

If you have a concern about a disability worker and are unsure whether this should be a complaint or notification, you can follow the complaint and notification flowchart for more information. If you are not sure whether your concern is something you can make a complaint or notification
about, you can contact the Commission to discuss.

If your concern is not something the Victorian Disability Worker Commission can take a complaint about, the Commission will assist you to find out who can help you with your complaint.

https://www.vdwc.vic.gov.au/complaints-and-notifications

FAMILY VIOLENCE – THE ORANGE DOOR
The Orange Door network aims to be accessible, safe and welcoming, providing quick and simple access
to support for:

• Adults, children and young people who are experiencing family violence
• Families who need support with the care and wellbeing of children and young people
• Perpetrators of family violence

Secondary consultation is available for professionals supporting children and young people’s wellbeing and/or who are people experiencing or using violence.

Any person in the community including parents, young people and people experiencing or using family violence can contact The Orange Door for information and support.

https://www.vic.gov.au/about-the-orange-door

The Orange Doors in the Eastern Melbourne Regions:

Inner Eastern Melbourne Area
Local Government Areas – Booroondara, Manningham, Monash, Whitehorse
30-32 Prospect St
Box Hill VIC 3128
Phone: 1800 354 322
Email: IEMA@orangedoor.vic.gov.au

Outer Eastern Melbourne Area
Local Government Areas – Knox, Maroondah, Yarra Ranges
4-16 Devon St
Croydon VIC 3136
Phone: 1800 271 150
Email OEMA@orangedoor.vic.gov.au