What we do

The purpose of the NSW Ageing and Disability Commission is to:

• raise community awareness to reduce and prevent abuse, neglect and exploitation of older people and adults with disability
• receive and respond to reports or allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of an older person or adult with disability
• provide support and information to those at need
• run an investigation (if required)
• report and advise the government on related systemic issues.

Our role does not investigate the conduct of paid service providers for older people or adults with disability. Instead, we focus on the conduct of the person’s family and other informal supports, or members known to them from the community.

If you do have concerns about a paid service provider, this guide may help you better understand who to contact.

Strengthening our powers to improve safeguards

In 2022/23, an independent review of the Ageing and Disability Commissioner Act 2019 (the Act) was conducted by Alan Cameron AO to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act were still valid and whether the terms of the Act were appropriate to meet those objectives.

The review was informed by information received through a public consultation process, submissions, an online survey and focus groups. The final report with proposed changes to the Act was tabled in NSW Parliament in May 2023.

Following the independent review, amendments were made to the Act in April 2024. The changes to the Act will help to improve the operation of the Ageing and Disability Commission (ADC) and strengthen safeguards for adults with disability and older people in NSW. You can read about these changes in this fact sheet.  (PDF, 91.2 KB)

Our intention is always to improve the safety of the adult, and uphold their rights.