Family and Community Services (FACS) is to establish a new Ageing and Disability Commissioner from 1 July, to protect adults with disability and older people from abuse, neglect and exploitation in home and community settings.
The main role of the Commissioner will be to:
* investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults with disability and older people in home and community settings;
* provide support to vulnerable adults and their families or carers after an investigation;
* report and make recommendations to Government on systemic issues related to abuse, neglect and exploitation;
* raise community awareness of abuse, neglect and exploitation, including how to prevent, identify and respond to matters; and
* administer the Official Community Visitors program, in relation to disability services and assisted boarding houses.
The Commissioner will be given strong powers to ensure it is able to properly investigate matters. These include:
* the power to initiate investigations on their own motion, or following a referral or complaint;
* the power to apply for and execute a search warrant, and seize evidence, as part of an investigation; and
* information gathering and sharing powers.
The Commissioner will be independent and not be subject to Ministerial direction and control in exercising his or her investigation functions and ability to report and make recommendations to Government.
A FACS factsheet on the new Commissioner’s functions and powers can be accessed at this PS News link.
