Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People With Disability

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability was established on 4 April 2019 by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd). The Commissioners are required to provide an interim report no later than 30 October 2020, and a final report by no later than 29 April 2022. Submissions to the Commission are now open.

Painaustralia has heard from many consumers who have had difficulty in accessing both the Disability Support Pension and the NDIS as their chronic pain conditions have not been specifically listed as a disability. Our CEO Carol Bennett recently provided comments highlighting the challenges of getting a diagnosis of chronic pain conditions to the Guardian news article on a woman living with chronic pain who was denied the disability pension.

Painaustralia will be providing a submission the inform the inquiry. We want to hear from consumers about how chronic pain and related disability impacts you.  Conditions like low back pain are the leading cause of disability in Australia and musculoskeletal conditions are responsible for close to 10% of the total burden of disease.

To share your experience of chronic pain and related disability, please email us at admin@painaustralia.org.au.