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Report online harm | eSafety Commissioner

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Make a report about cyberbullying, image-based abuse or illegal and harmful content.

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Rights Under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD)

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Rights Under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD)

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A short video where people with disability tell us what the rights are under the Convention.

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Rights Under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD)

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Disability Discrimination - Know your rights

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Disability Discrimination - Know your rights

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

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This paper is an EasyRead guide to the full agreement.

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Financial abuse - how to speak up if it happens to you

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Financial abuse - how to speak up if it happens to you

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An easy read guide

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Safe and Savvy - A guide to help older people avoid abuse, scams and fraud (elder financial abuse)

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Safe and Savvy - A guide to help older people avoid abuse, scams and fraud (elder financial abuse)

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This is a guide for elder people and their loved ones to assist them in being safe and savvy when managing their money.

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The Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW (MDAA) is the peak body for all people in NSW with disability and their families and carers, with a particular focus on those from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) / non English Speaking (NES) background with disability.

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Recognising punitive approaches - Power and Control

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Recognising punitive approaches - Power and Control

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A short video from National Disability Service to better help understand Power and Control

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7.0 Recognising punitive approaches - Power and control.mp4

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A short video by the National Disability Service (NDS)

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What are Human rights, English with English captions

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Disability Advocacy "stand beside people with disability to help them know their rights, sort out issues, and be fully included in the community".

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Thank you! Your submission has been received!

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Disability Royal Commission

Thanks to all that shared your stories (big or small) with the Disability Royal Commission.

The final report is available in September 2023.

How has the NDIS Changed: For better or worse?

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reflected a watershed moment in the Australian disability sector and community. It signified a commitment to the rights of people with disability (PWD) that saw significant reforms across the disability landscape.

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We stand beside people with disability to help them know their rights, sort out issues, and be fully included in the community.

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COTA is the leading no-for-profit organisation representing the rights and interests of people over 50 in NSW.

Their website contains information, resources and webinars on a variety of topics.

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COTA NSW Represents the Rights & Interests of People Over 50

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Welcome to COTA NSW. We are the leading not-for-profit organisation representing the rights and interests of people over 50 in NSW.

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Financial Wellbeing & Capability Activity - Communities and Vulnerable People

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Financial Wellbeing & Capability Activity - Communities and Vulnerable People

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Services provided include

Financial Crisis and Material Aid

Financial Counselling, Capability and Resilience

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The Australian Government, in partnership with community organisations, provides support to eligible individuals and families experiencing financial crises and help build financial wellbeing, financial capability, and resilience for vulnerable people and those most at risk of financial and social inclusion and disadvantage. People can acquire budgeting and financial literacy skills to help navigate through debt and learn strategies to better manage their money and become financially independent through the Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity.

Services include crisis support, broad financial capability building services, financial counselling and access to microfinance and microenterprise products. Services are free, voluntary and confidential and are delivered by community organisations.

Services provided under the Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity

Services include:

Financial Crisis and Material Aid; and

Financial Counselling, Capability and Resilience

Financial Crisis and Material Aid

Financial Crisis and Material Aid includes the provision of Emergency Relief and Food Relief.

Emergency Relief - provides immediate financial and/or material support to people in financial crisis.

Food Relief - increases emergency relief organisations' access to a cost-effective supply of food items which is provided to people in need across Australia.

Support Available Now

If you need food parcels, clothing, household items, vouchers, or assistance with part-payment of utility account/s, budgeting, and/or referrals to other services that help to address financial crisis then you can find your nearest Emergency Relief service provider which may be able to assist. Access to Emergency Relief is free and there are no citizenship or residency requirements to access this support.

Financial Counselling, Capability and Resilience

Financial Counselling, Capability and Resilience supports include financial counselling, financial literacy education, and access to financial services including microfinance products such as low or no interest loans.

Commonwealth Financial Counselling and Financial Capability services help eligible people to address their financial problems, make informed choices and build longer-term capability to budget and manage their money. Specialist services include:

Financial Resilience services provides financially vulnerable people with access to safe and affordable financial services and products (including no interest loans, matched savings and microenterprise products) to help low income earners build self-reliance and build their capability to budget and manage their money.

Support Available Now

If you need assistance with debt management, a financial counsellor can help you work through your financial issues, advocate on your behalf, provide options on any debts you may have or link you to other community services that may be able to help.

Talk with a financial counsellor or find a financial counsellor near you by phoning the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007* or visit ndh.org.au.

* Calls from public phones/mobile phones may be timed and charged at a higher rate.

You can also find a financial counselling service through ASIC's Money Smart Financial Counselling page.

Review of the coordination and funding of financial counselling services across Australia

The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry (Royal Commission) provided its final report to the Governor-General on 1 February 2019. The Treasurer, the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP released the Australian Government's response to the Royal Commission on 4 February 2019.

The Government is taking action on all 76 recommendations outlined in the Royal Commission's Final Report. In addition, the Government has committed to additional actions to improve the financial outcomes of Australians. This included undertaking an immediate review of the coordination and funding of financial counselling services that disadvantaged Australians rely on.

On 3 October 2019, Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services, released The Countervailing Power: Review of the Coordination and Funding for Financial Counselling Services across Australia. The Government released its response to the review on 25 November 2020.

More information is available at Review of the coordination and funding of financial counselling services across Australia.

Review of Emergency and Food Relief Services

An independent review of Commonwealth Emergency Relief and Food Relief programs was completed in 2022. It included perspectives of funded providers and people accessing services.

The review considered how effectively the current system of Emergency Relief and Food Relief services and funding addressed the needs of clients, particularly in the context of challenges from the coronavirus pandemic and the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

The review focused on the interactions between Commonwealth-funded Emergency Relief and Food Relief providers, the on-the-ground delivery of services, and referral arrangements, including the role of referral pathways for clients with multiple needs, to access holistic supports they need to build their long-term financial resilience and wellbeing.

More information is available at Emergency Relief in Australia: A review of the Commonwealth Funded Emergency Relief program.

Indigenous Engagement and Partnerships

All Australian governments are working with First Nations people, their communities, organisations and businesses to implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap (National Agreement).

The National Agreement is underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved.

This is an unprecedented shift in the way governments have previously worked to close the gap and is built around four Priority Reforms that are directly informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Formal partnerships and shared decision-making

Building the community controlled sector

Transforming government organisations and;

Shared access to data and information at a regional level.

These reforms are central to the National Agreement and the department encourages providers to work towards embedding the Priority Reforms into the way services are designed and delivered to demonstrate an active role in contributing to the Closing the Gap targets. This includes considering how to engage in genuine partnerships with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and local First Nations communities. Service providers are required to ensure their services are culturally safe and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The Department of Social Services' contribution to this includes:

leading three socio-economic targets under the Closing the Gap policy

Outcome 9a - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people secure appropriate, affordable housing

Outcome 12 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are not

over-represented in the child protection system

Outcome 13 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and households are safe

working with Commonwealth agencies to include targeted actions in their response to Closing the Gap, to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, and

building capacity in Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) funded by the department.

The department is committed to supporting Indigenous-led organisations delivering services, and recognises the role these organisations play in improving financial wellbeing outcomes for First Nations Australians.

The department is working to embed the Closing the Gap Priority Reforms into the design and delivery of FWC programs, and will consider these reforms in the context of future grant rounds.

Many organisations funded under the FWC Activity have Reconciliation Action Plans in place. The department encourages organisations funded under the FWC Activity to provide a copy of their Reconciliation Action Plan (or equivalent) to their Funding Arrangement Manager.

These plans demonstrate organisations' commitment to Indigenous client service delivery and provide evidence to support the Closing the Gap commitments.

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Financial Wellbeing and Capability Activity | Department of Social Services, Australian Government

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The Australian Government, in partnership with community organisations, provides support to eligible individuals and families experiencing financial crises and help build financial wellbeing, financial capability, and resilience for vulnerable people and those most at risk of financial and social in…

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The Seniors Connected Program seeks to address loneliness and social isolation experienced by older Australian's living in the community.

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Seniors Connected Program | Department of Social Services, Australian Government

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The Seniors Connected Program (the program) seeks to address loneliness and social isolation experienced by older Australians aged over 55 living in the community (or Indigenous Australians aged 50 or over).

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Reporting Abuse of Vulnerable Persons
This page discusses

What is abuse of vulnerable persons?

Definitions of specific categories of abuse of vulnerable persons.

Information required to report abuse.

The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission.

Where to report abuse and neglect.

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Reporting abuse of a vulnerable person - Office of Safeguarding

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You are here: What is abuse of vulnerable persons? Unlike child abuse, where there is a presumptive right for the child to be protected and receive appropriate nurturing and care, adults are free to make poor, even self-destructive choices, if they so choose. Where there is an established incapacity or loss of capacity to make [...]

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1800 628 221 - Ageing & Disability Abuse Helpline
To report allegations of abuse or neglect of frail aged or adults with disabilities:
9am-4pm
Monday-Friday
E: nswadc@adc.nsw.gov.au

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The NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner works to better protect older people and adults with disability from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

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Healthy Relationships and Disability — It’s Time To Talk

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As for everyone, healthy relationships are important for people living with disability. Having a physical or intellectual disability doesn’t change your needs for a loving relationship with another person or your desire to express it.

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Relationships are the heart of life.
Quality relationships support us to lead full and meaningful lives – they are the foundation of strong partnerships, connected families, vibrant cultures, thriving organisations, and healthy societies.  They connect us to ourselves, each other, and the world we all shape and share together.

The Relationships Australia Knowledge Hub has a wide assortment of tools, articles and news to support your relationship wellbeing.

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Relationships Advice | Relationships Australia NSW Blog

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Get the latest relationship tips, advice, explainers, stories, and more from Relationships Australia NSW's expert team of relationship experts and counsellors.

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Statistics collected from the NSW Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit

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Statistics collected from the NSW Elder Abuse Helpline and Resource Unit

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This service provides independent legal advice and assistance to clients with disability and their carers accessing Disability Advocacy NSW for advocacy support throughout most of NSW. The service works with people with all types of disability including mental illness.

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Ageing & Disability Commission - Tools and Resources

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Ageing & Disability Commission - Tools and Resources

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Access free tools and resources to increase your awareness of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people and adults with disability.

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A range of free tools and resources are available to increase awareness of abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people and adults with disability, and how to respond when matters arise.

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Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) - Resources - Violence & Abuse

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Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) - Resources - Violence & Abuse

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This is a collection of resources that promote safety from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation through teaching people about rights, responsibilities, relationships and where people can seek help.

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This is a collection of resources that promote safety from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation through teaching people about rights, responsibilities, relationships and where people can seek help. Resources created by disability advocacy organisations: Action on Disability within Ethnic Commun…

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Resources, tools and products for the disability sector

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Resources, tools and products for the disability sector

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Includes resources to:

Prevent, intervene early and respond to abuse and neglect of people with disability

Support service providers to meet requirements of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Framework - including Risk, Incidents and Complaints Management

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National Disability Services (NDS) is Australia's peak industry body for non-government disability service organisations. Collectively, our 1000 NDS members operate several thousand services for Australians with all types of disability. Members range in size from small support groups to large multi-service organisations.

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Seniors Rights Service - Is your aged care fair?

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Seniors Rights Service - Is your aged care fair?

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For further information and links to:
* Legal Services
* Aged Care Advocacy
* Rights-based Information

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Seniors Rights Service exists to advocate for older people, assisting them and their carers to claim their rights and supporting them in the exercise of those rights, so they enjoy...

Help the Council on the Ageing (COTA) Australia and Seniors Rights Service as a member of the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN) inform the Australian Government of your views on...

The second stage of our 'Someone You Can Call' campaign has launched, focussing on how our advocates help to make Aged Care fair and putting a friendly face to our...

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Protecting the rights of older people - Seniors Rights Service

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A community organisation dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of older people in New South Wales.

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Including quizzes in relation to your relationship "Is your relationship healthy?" and "Am I a good partner"

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Healthy relationships for young adults can be confusing. Love is more than just the way you feel, and we’re here to help.

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Link to make a report to eSafety Commissioner

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Link to make a report to eSafety Commissioner

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Report online harm | eSafety Commissioner

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Make a report about cyberbullying, image-based abuse or illegal and harmful content.

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QLife provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.

QLife services are free and include both telephone and webchat support, delivered by trained LGBTI community members across the country.

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Consent explained, what legislation states and what supports can we provide.
"Check consent, every time." How to empower children and young persons through education and knowledge

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Sexual consent is free and voluntary

Sexual consent is when people freely and voluntarily agree to engage in sexual activity, including kissing, touching and oral sex.

It's about making sure everyone is comfortable with what's happening and freely choosing to say yes.

This means there are situations where people can't consent (even if they say yes), because they can't freely choose.

This includes if they're:

heavily affected by drugs or alcohol

unconscious or asleep

manipulated or threatened into consenting.

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Sexual consent is when people freely and voluntarily agree to engage in sexual activity, including kissing, touching and oral sex. It's about making sure everyone is comfortable with what's happening and freely choosing to say yes. This means there are situations where people can't consent (even if they say yes), because they can't freely choose.

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Coercive Control - know the signs of abuse

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Coercive Control - know the signs of abuse

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What is coercive control?

Coercive control is when someone repeatedly hurts, scares or isolates another person to control them.

It's domestic abuse and it can cause serious harm, so it's important to know the signs.

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Coercive control is when someone repeatedly hurts, scares or isolates another person to control them. It's domestic abuse and it can cause serious harm, so it's important to know the signs.

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Beyond Now - suicide safety planning app

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Beyond Now - suicide safety planning app

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The Beyond Now suicide safety planning app helps you stay safe if you're experiencing suicidal thoughts, feelings, distress or crisis.

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Beyond Now suicide safety planning app

You can use the app to create your own easy-to-follow plan to help you in those moments when you can't think straight.

Your plan is personal to you and includes steps to help you:

know your warning signs, so you can act early

make your environment safe by removing harmful items

distract yourself with activities you can do or people you can be with

remember things that make you feel strong.

You can create your plan by yourself, or you can ask someone for help. Some of these steps might be tough to fill out, and that's okay. It can be helpful to share your safety plan with a trusted friend, family member, Elder or mental health professional.

Even if you feel like you're alone, help is available. The red telephone icon in the app connects you straight to your emergency contacts.

Read the Beyond Now app's Terms of Use and Privacy Collection Statement.

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Sometimes life can be overwhelming, and suicide may seem like the only way to relieve the pain. Beyond Now is an app created by Beyond Blue to support people through these feelings.