This submission was made in December 2025.
About the consultation
The Australian Government consulted on the development of a Disability Support Quality and Safeguarding Framework and a Disability Support Ecosystem Safeguarding Strategy.
The framework and the strategy both respond to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (the Disability Royal Commission). They aim to create one national approach to safeguards so people with disability receive the same protections no matter where they live. They also aim to clarify who is responsible for maintaining safety and quality.
About our submission
Our submission focused on systemic concerns the Disability Commissioner sees in the reports we receive.
We emphasised the need for practical, enforceable and accessible reforms. We also recognised Tasmania/Lutruwita’s high level digital disadvantage and an ongoing need for cultural change about how people with disability are valued and included alongside legal reform.
What we said
- Defining safeguards and quality: Safeguards must uphold human rights and supported decision-making; quality means more than compliance;
- Access and inclusion: Information must be available in multiple formats and through physical access points. Inclusion is about belonging and access is multifaceted and different for each person with disability;
- Supported decision-making: Supported decision-making needs to be resourced and include practical tools and continuity planning; and
- Accountability and coordination: Accountability is about planning and being proactive, it is also about how organisations across Australia share information about safety.