National Counselling and Referral Service (Disability)

Supporting

• People affected by the Disability Royal Commission.
  
  
• People who have experienced or witnessed abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation.

You do not need to make a submission or have any prior involvement with the Disability Royal Commission to use this service.


Who can call?

• People with disability and:
  
  - have experiences of abuse, neglect, violence or exploitation. These can be past or current experiences
  
  - are distressed or anxious about coronavirus
  
  - are affected by the Disability Royal Commission

• If you are a family member of or caring for a person with a disability:
  
  - need support to assist you in your support or caring role
  
  - need information about trauma and its impacts
  
  - need a referral or supported transfer for the person you are supporting or caring for:
  
  

• for ongoing counselling, advocacy or legal services for you or your clients
• for Disability Royal Commission

- need a referral or supported transfer for the person you are supporting or caring for

• If you are a support worker, advocate or provide a legal or financial service:
  
  - are seeking short-term phone counselling support related to your work
  
  - need a referral/s or supported transfer:
  
  

• for ongoing counselling, advocacy or legal services for you or your clients
• to the Disability Royal Commission

- are seeking information about trauma, vicarious trauma and their impacts

- are wanting support around your own well-being

N.B. This support does not replace workplace supervision

The service provides:

- short-term trauma-informed phone counselling and support 

- education around trauma and distress

- a gateway to frontline services

- supported transfers with the Disability Royal Commission

- supported transfers to advocacy and legal services

- information and referrals to other services

What happens when you call?

- Our counsellors are here to listen and support you

- Everyone’s experience of trauma is different, and everyone has different needs

- Counsellors will provide support in your call based on your needs

Ways you can contact us


Telephone:  You can call 1800 421 468 or 02 6146 1468 to speak with a counsellor


Video Conference: You can use video conference if you can not or find it hard to use the phone. Please first email us at ncrscounsellors@blueknot.org.au or call 1800 421 468 with a support person.


Webchat: Webchat is available for people who require support, information or referrals.  It is found at the bottom of this page.  It is not a counselling  service. Please refer to the Webchat Terms and Conditions for further information should you choose to use this service.


SMS:  We use SMS for people we have already connected with by phone or webchat. We use it to  provide information or referrals.  It is not a  counselling service. 

If in crisis, in need of immediate support or concerned for your safety:

Call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

If you are currently experiencing any form of violence or abuse, or are concerned for your safety, call 000.

Accessibility 

If you find it difficult to hear or speak you can contact us through the National Relay Service (NRS). Please phone 133 677.

If you require support in another language you can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) for free by:

• Calling the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468 and asking for an interpreter OR
  
  
• Calling TIS on 131 450 and asking to be connected to National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468

The Disability Royal Commission

The Disability Royal Commission was established on 4 April 2019 and will run for three years. It will look at ways to protect people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse neglect and exploitation. To find out more about the Commission visit the Disability Royal Commission's website.

Further Resources

• 18 August 2020 Media Release - Blue Knot Foundation and DANA - People with disability have the right to be safe

• National Counselling and Referral Service Information Flyer

• National Counselling and Referral Service Information Flyer - Plain English

• Disability Royal Commission Support Services website 

• Disability Royal Commission Support Services fact sheet 

• Disability Royal Commission Support Services fact sheet - Easy Read version 

• Disability Royal Commission Support Services fact sheet - Translated versions

• Disability Royal Commission Support Services fact sheet - Auslan version