We have represented key organisations in major Royal Commissions. These include various clients in the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Metropolitan Ambulance Service Royal Commission; Goulburn Valley Water and the Victorian Building Commission (now the Victorian Building Authority), in the Bushfires Royal Commission; Wesley Mission Victoria and other organisations in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
We have represented individuals from the organisation we are retained by, who are the subject of the Inquiry. For example, we were retained by a Commonwealth Department to represent one of its employees in the Royal Commission into the Home Insulation Program. We represented the CEO of the Peter McCallum Cancer Institute in the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.
We have acted for a home care organisation in a Commission for Children and Young People’s inquiry into the death of a child under child protection and have acted for many aged care approved providers in coronial investigations and inquests into the deaths of residents in aged care. Our coronial practice also acts for State Government as well as a range of clients in other areas of industry.
Our work in the coronial setting demonstrates how we can service those operating a Royal Commission in preparing evidentiary materials, maintaining an on-line accessible repository of documents and coordinating the distribution of documents between interested parties, or those who have the right to be heard. We have the expertise, organisational capacity and resources to conduct major investigations.
For more information on current Royal Commissions see below.
Russell Kennedy is a leader in the provision of legal services to the aged care sector, this combined with our extensive experience representing clients in Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries places us in a unique position to provide expert advice and representation to aged care providers in relation to the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
This unique combination of expertise will enable us to advise you on the impact the Royal Commission may have on your organisation and what you should do next. We seek to assist you to protect your organisation, its reputation and to improve the quality of the outcomes from the Royal Commission. Download our summary capability statement here.
Download Checklist
The Checklist guides you to:
- Design a team to assist you in preparing your organisation for the Royal Commission
- Decide on the level of stakeholder engagement
- Consider what documents your organisation should begin compiling and analysing
- Review your organisation’s risk profile in light of the possible issues the Royal Commission and media will be focusing on
- Identify the continuous improvement strategies needed to reduce your organisation’s risk
Download the Three Year Review
The Three Year Review:
- Sets out the most recent reviews and inquiries into aged care to assist you with compiling your past responses and submissions
- Is designed to support any submissions your organisation makes to the Royal Commission
Inquiries specific to Royal Commission into Aged Care
Russell Kennedy have a dedicated email address designed for those enquiries relating to quick questions about the Royal Commission and its impact on your aged care organisation. Feel free to email your query to rkagedcare@rk.com.au and we will reply to your query within 48 hours.
Should you require a further outline of our offering for the Aged Care, Quality and Safety Royal Commission, please contact Victor Harcourt.
Russell Kennedy has a strong health sector practice, with particular expertise in the mental health sector. Our team helps clients to navigate this complex sector and provides clients with practical legal advice.
Should you require any assistance on the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, please contact Emma Turner or Sarah Manly.
Useful resources
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System website
Terms of reference
Consultation summary
Russell Kennedy is a key advisor to disability service providers. We have a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by our clients as they navigate the changing landscape of this sector in the transition to full scheme operation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Our team has extensive Royal Commission and litigation experience. These factors combined, position our team to provide expert guidance, advice and representation to our disability clients in the Disability Royal Commission .
Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference have now been finalised and cover what governments, institutions and the community should do to prevent, report, investigate and respond to disability violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
The Terms of Reference also cover what should be done to promote a more inclusive society that supports the independence of people with disability and their right to live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
As there is scope to investigate any other matters the Commissioners consider reasonably incidental to these matters, they have a broad mandate to investigate financial, emotional, psychological abuse as well as sexual and physical acts of violence.
The adoption of a human rights-based approach means the Disability Royal Commission must also investigate discrimination against people with disability, including overt and systemic forms and their equality before the law, particularly in regards to victims of violence and abuse experiences with the criminal justice system.
Our team will provide Alert updates as soon as they become available. To receive these, make sure you are on our disability mailing list. You can sign-up here.
Useful Resources
The Interim Report was published on 30 October 2020
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability website
Terms of Reference
Download our checklist - Prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability
Russell Kennedy Disability Alert, 12 April 2019 - Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
Checklist - How to Prepare: The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability
Inquiries specific to Royal Commission
We have a dedicated team ready to assist with your enquiries about the Royal Commission and how it is likely to impact your organisation. Please feel free to contact Principal, Emma Turner at eturner@rk.com.au with any quick questions about the Disability Royal Commission or to discuss how we can assist you further.