The Royal Commission wants to understand the experiences of people with cognitive disability in accessing or receiving health care. Access to and treatment of people with cognitive disability in the health system will be the subject of our first hearing in 2020.
Health is a key issue for the Royal Commission because people with disability may experience violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation in health settings. The denial of the right to health care may also be a form of neglect.
There are a range of issues and barriers that people with cognitive disability may experience with the health system. Research suggests that people with cognitive disability are more likely to suffer an avoidable death that could have been prevented through appropriate health care. Research also suggests that non-Indigenous Australians with disability receive services that First Nations people with disability do not.
The Royal Commission issues paper on health care for people with cognitive disability (external link, opens in new window/tab) outlines our preliminary understanding of the key issues experienced by people with cognitive disability when accessing health care. The paper includes 10 questions to help people and organisations to provide responses.
The Royal Commission encourages responses from individuals and organisations to the issues paper by 20 March 2020, although submissions will also be accepted after that date.
The issues paper on health care for people with cognitive disability (external link, opens in new window/tab) is available in PDF, Word and easy read formats on our website.
Responses to the issues paper can be provided, either:
- electronically by email
- in writing to GPO Box 1422, Brisbane, Queensland 4001
- by phone on 1800 517 199 or +61 7 3734 1900, we can make a time with you to take your response over the phone (between 9:00am to 6:00pm AEDT Monday to Friday)
- by audio recording
- by video recording.
Responses can be in any language. The Royal Commission will translate the response to English.