How to make a submission to the Royal Commission

Do you have information about an aged care home or a story about your aged care experience that you would like to share with the Royal Commission?

Here at HelloCare, we hear so many stories about people’s experiences of the aged care system. While some of those stories reveal genuine care and positive experiences, others have revealed a quality of care that is below the standard we would expect in a country like Australia.

The Royal Commission is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your story to be heard. It’s an opportunity to speak frankly about the system’s failings, and the extent of any below-standard care, and also an opportunity to talk about the changes required to put the system on a sure footing for the future.

It’s an opportunity to rectify any problems identified in the general public’s disappointing experiences of aged care, in the hope that future users of our age care system do not have to experience the same shortcomings.

Accepting submissions at least until 30 June 2019

The Royal Commission will accept submissions until 30 June 2019, and possibly beyond.

The topics the Royal Commission will cover include:

• the quality of aged care services provided in Australia,
• the extent of any sub-standard care,
• how to ensure aged care services are high quality and safe,
• how to deliver aged care services to people with disabilities, and
• how to care for the growing number of Australians living with dementia.

The complete list of the Terms of Reference is available here.

How to make a submission

There are a number of ways you can make a submission.

There is an online form that will include questions such as your name, what your submission is about, details of any substandard care you experienced, and other questions that will help the Royal Commission identify issues and trends in aged care.

The Royal Commission website notes that you must complete the online form in one sitting, and press ‘submit’ at the end in order to save the form. They recommend writing your submission in a Word document beforehand, and then copying and pasting the text into the form.

There other other options available to you if you are not able to complete the online form, or if you’re not comfortable using that method.

You can write to:

The Royal Commission
GPO Box 1151
Adelaide SA 5001

You can email ACRCenquiries@royalcommission.gov.au.

Or you can call 1800 960 711 between 8.00am and 8.00pm AEDT Monday-Friday, except on public holidays.

Concerned about confidentiality?

Submissions can be made anonymously, or without providing any contact details. But keep in mind that if you don’t provide contact details, the Royal Commission won’t be able to contact you.

Your submission may be made public unless you ask that it not be, or if the Royal Commission considers it shouldn’t be made public.

You can request that, if your submission is made public, it is made public anonymously.

“Your assistance is very much appreciated,” the Aged Care Royal Commission website says.

We will be following the Royal Commission closely, and keeping you up-to-date with all the latest news.

Please note: The image used to illustrate this article does not represent actual people or events.
Image: iStock.