Your Story Disability Legal Support update — Issue 6 August 2021

Issue 6 August 2021

In this edition, cover what the extension of the Disability Royal Commission means for people with disability, the power of collaboration, upcoming events, new resources and more!

Message from our Director

I hope you and your loved ones are keeping safe and well. With many states going in and out of lockdown, these are difficult times for us all, but particularly for people with disability, who may be clinically vulnerable and more adversely affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

It is the ongoing uncertainty and challenges created by the pandemic that led to the recent extension of the Disability Royal Commission. In this podcast, our Senior Solicitor Sifa Mtango explains what the extension means for people with disability and their supporters:

“(The Royal Commission) provides an opportunity for those people with disability to become advocates for both themselves and the community and it’s a chance for them to be acknowledged and respected.

“It was originally scheduled to end next year but last month the government granted an extension until September 2023, so there’s more time for people with disability to share their stories with them.”

In these uncertain times, we want to stay in touch with you more regularly, to share information and resources, promote events that you or the people you support may wish to attend, and keep you up-to-date with news from Your Story and the Royal Commission. That’s why we’re going to be sending our e-newsletter on a monthly basis starting from August.

Let us know what you think about this new format and please help us spread the word about the extension and free supports that are available by forwarding this email to your networks. Together we can create a safer, more inclusive society by ensuring everyone has the chance to share their story with the Disability Royal Commission.

In solidarity,
Susannah O'Reilly, Director

Your Story news: The power of collaboration

Sharing a story with the Disability Royal Commission can be unsettling and sometimes highlight other issues for our clients. In recognition of that, Your Story has always taken a ‘no wrong door’ approach to service delivery. If someone contacts us and they’d like support our legal service can’t provide, we always try to connect them to a service that can.

Providing a holistic support service and working in collaboration with other services is the cornerstone of our no wrong door policy. Wherever possible, we like to share community engagement events with local advocacy and counselling services.

Sharing an event gives us the chance to build our knowledge of other services and swap ideas on promoting and raising awareness about the Disability Royal Commission. Most importantly, anyone considering sharing their story can find out about all of the supports available to them as part of our 'one-stop shop' approach.

Above are a few photos of our staff and partners at community events in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria this year. If you're interested in collaborating with us, we'd love to hear from you! Get in touch with our Stakeholder Relations Manager Fiona McLean today.

Upcoming events

11 August - Your Story to present at online workshop for carers and parents of people with disability

Parents and carers of people with disability will learn how Your Story can support them and their loved ones at this free online workshop, which is part of Relationships Australia NSW’s online group program, 24/7 Love. For more information, visit our website.

26 August - Your Story exhibiting at Darwin’s All Abilities Expo

Darwin residents can meet Your Story’s NT team and learn more about the service and the Disability Royal Commission at the All Abilities Expo in August. For more information, visit our website.

4 September - Your Story to celebrate Territorians’ resilience, strength and unity at seniors expo

Your Story’s NT team will be at COTA NT’s Seniors Expo 2021 to provide information and resources on the Disability Royal Commission and free supports that are available to people with disability, including seniors, and their supporters. For more information, visit our website.

New and updated resources

Videos available in Auslan and five other languages

Our two videos introducing Your Story and the Disability Royal Commission are now available in Auslan and five other languages: Arabic, Hindi, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese), Tagalog and Vietnamese.

You can watch the videos, Sharing your story with the Disability Royal Commission? and Worried about sharing a story with the Disability Royal Commission?, on our website.

We have a wide range of free resources for people with disability, carers and organisations. You can view and download them on our website or request printed copies.

Your Story brochure

Your Story now has a brochure that outlines who we are, what we do and how we can help people share their story with the Disability Royal Commission. The brochure is available in English and five other languages and is free to download and share.

Women with Disabilities Victoria Q&A

Can people under guardianship orders participate in the Disability Royal Commission without the consent of their guardian? Find out the answer to this question and others raised during a webinar on the Royal Commission hosted by Women with Disabilities Victoria and featuring our lawyer in Victoria, Dayle Partridge. Read the event Q&A.

Disability Royal Commission news

Royal Commission to examine NDIS and criminal justice system at public hearing in Brisbane

Next week, the Disability Royal Commission is scheduled to hold a public hearing in Brisbane to look at the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the criminal justice system. Public hearing 15 will take place from 12 to 13 August and follows on from public hearing 11. It will not be open for the public to attend, but will be live streamed on the Royal Commission's website. Find out more about public hearing 15.

Melbourne public hearing further postponed to November 2021

The Disability Royal Commission this week announced public hearing 16, scheduled to take place in Melbourne from 23-27 August, will be further postponed until November 2021 due to COVID-19. The rescheduled public hearing will be the second part of the Royal Commission’s examination of open employment. Read the full press release.

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