Call 1800 880 052 or TTY
(for hearing impaired) 1800 301 130
More information can be
found on the Australian National
Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline website.
Some
services for people with disabilities and their supporters include:
The Community Services
Commission aims to promote and protect the interests, needs and rights of
consumers of community services and ensure they know how to act on their rights.
The Commission offers many services including reviewing the situation of a
person with a disability in full-time, out-of-home care and also reviewing the
deaths of people with a disability in government and non-government disability
accommodation and respite services. In December 2002, the Commission was merged
with the NSW Ombudmsan. On the NSW Ombudsman
website you
can lodge an online complaints form or find out more information. You can call
the NSW Ombudsman office on (02) 9286 1000 or 1800 451 524 (toll free) or TTY
(02) 9264 8050. You can email nswombo@ombo.nsw.gov.au
The Guardianship
Tribunal
appoints guardians for people with disabilities aged 16 years and over who are
incapable of making their own decisions, and need a legally appointed substitute
decision maker because no appropriate or safe informal arrangements are in
place, or for some other reason. You can phone the Guardianship Tribunal on (02)
9555 8500 or 1800 463928 (toll free) or TTY (02) 9552 8534.
You can also phone the
Intellectual
Disability Rights Service (IDRS) on (02) 9318 0144. This is
a non-government organisation which specialises in assisting people with
intellectual disabilities make representations in court.
The Disability
Complaints Service is a non-government organisation
which provides a free service to help people with a disability who wish to make
a complaint about their rights being infringed. You can phone the Disability
Complaints Service on (02) 9319 6549 or 1800 424 007 (free call outside Sydney)
or TTY (02) 9318 2138.
Community Legal
Centres (CLCs)
are independent organisations who provide legal advice and advocacy for a wide
range of individuals and groups in the community, especially people on low
incomes or otherwise disadvantaged in their access to justice.
The Disability
Discrimination Legal Centre (NSW) provides free legal advice,
representation and assistance for problems involving discrimination against
people with disabilities and their associates. However, the Centre is not a
generalist legal service for people with disabilities and only assists in cases
of disability discrimination under either the federal Disability Discrimination
Act or the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act. To contact the Disability Discrimination
Legal Centre you can phone (02) 9310 7722; 1800 800708 (toll free in NSW); TTY
(02) 9310 4320; or email info@ddlcnsw.org.au
Mental Health
Advocacy Service is part of Legal Aid NSW providing
free legal advice and assistance about mental health law. You can call the
service on (02) 9745 4277.
Special Needs for Going to Court
It is important that you
discuss with the prosecutor, either the Police prosecutor or DPP Prosecutor in
your matter, and your support person, any particular needs you may have in the
courtroom and how your needs can be met.
These needs could relate
to:
- Communication
difficulties
- Cognitive or intellectual
disability
- Hearing difficulties or
deafness
- Vision impairment
- Emotional or
psychological difficulties
- Personal care
needs
Resources to Assist if You are Attending Court
The Attorney General's
Department of NSW has produced a 25 minute video and
resource kit, "So You have To Go to Court" for people with cognitive
disabilities and for the people who may support them through the court process.
Your Day in Court
: For
witnesses in New South Wales, information is available in a video called Your
Day in Court and a booklet
of the same name (Please note that the video is
also available with subtitles and the booklet is available on tape.)
Source: Lawlink
NSW:Victims of Crime People with
Disabilities
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