To report abuse or neglect of a person with disability anywhere in Australia, contact the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline (the Hotline) on 1800 880 052. The Hotline is a free, independent and private service.

Abuse covers behaviours that hurt someone or treat someone badly. This includes:

• physical abuse – such as punching, slapping, pushing and shaking
• sexual abuse – making someone take part in sexual activity they don’t want to do
• constraints and restrictive practices – stopping someone from moving freely other than when there is a medical or safety need
• forced treatments and interventions – such as making someone take medicine without their consent
• humiliation and harassment– including bullying and threatening and making someone feel ashamed or embarrassed
• financial abuse – using someone’s money without their consent or stopping them from using their own money
• significant breaches of privacy and dignity.

Neglect is not meeting someone’s basic needs or giving them necessary care. This includes:

• physical neglect – such as not giving someone enough food, shelter, clothing and medical care
• emotional neglect – stopping someone’s social, intellectual and emotional growth or wellbeing
• passive neglect –not giving proper care due to a lack of understanding or ability 
• wilful deprivation – deliberately not providing help to someone and leaving them open to physical, mental or emotional harm.

Both individuals and whole systems or organisations can abuse and neglect people.

Making a report

If you or someone you know is being abused or neglected, you can contact the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline.

To make a report you can:

• call 1800 880 052 Monday to Friday, 9am to 7pm AEST, except for national public holidays
• send an email

The Hotline is a free, independent and safe way to report abuse and neglect of people with disability, anywhere in Australia.

Anyone can use the Hotline, including family members, friends, service providers or a person with disability.

If you think a crime has been committed or is being committed, contact your local police.

The Hotline doesn’t deal with complaints or advocate for anyone. 

Help to make a report

If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment you can contact the National Relay Service (NRS) on 1800 555 677 then ask for 1800 880 052.

If you need to speak to someone in a language other than English you can use the free Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) by calling 13 14 50. 

If you need help to report abuse or neglect because of your disability, the Hotline staff can organise an advocacy service. These services can help support you to make a report. 

What happens when you contact the Hotline?

When you call or email the Hotline you’ll need to give some details, including:

• your name, address and age
• some information about the service or place where the abuse or neglect is happening, or has happened
• the name of the person or people responsible for the abuse or neglect
• the name, age and address of the person being abused or neglected
• your permission for the Hotline to share this information with organisations who can investigate your report.

The Hotline staff are people who:

• understand disability
• are sensitive to the needs of people with disability
• are aware of the issues in the disability sector.

They may be able to give you advice straight away if you contact them by phone.

Please note, the Hotline doesn’t record phone calls, but they do take notes to make sure they have accurate information.

What happens after you make a report?

The Hotline staff will work with you to find the best way to deal with the abuse or neglect you’re reporting. They will give you information and refer your report to the right organisation.

The Hotline won’t take sides in the issue and doesn’t advocate for anyone.

Abuse or neglect in a government-funded service

If your report is about abuse or neglect in a government-funded service, the Hotline will pass the report on to the government body that funds the service. The funding body will then investigate the report.

Government-funded services for people with disability can include:

• open or supported employment
• accommodation
• community services
• respite care services.

All other reports of abuse or neglect

If your report is about abuse or neglect that isn’t in a government funded service, the Hotline will pass the report on to an organisation that can investigate the report. This might include an ombudsman or complaints-handling body.

Help to write referrals

The Hotline can help to write referrals to report abuse and neglect to:  

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission – for abuse and neglect relating to NDIS supports or services
• NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner
• South Australian Adult Safeguarding Unit.

Complaints about the Hotline

Contact the Department of Social Services (DSS) Complaints – 1800 634 035 if you want to complain about the service you have received from the National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline.