Frequently Asked Questions
Need more help? Reach out to ShareYourStory today.
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A Royal Commission is the highest form of independent public inquiry in Australia. It is reserved for matters of national importance and has broad powers to gather evidence, hear from witnesses and make recommendations to government.
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The Commission has been asked to examine the nature and prevalence of antisemitism in Australia, the circumstances that led to the Bondi attack, and to make recommendations to strengthen social cohesion and improve the response of government, law enforcement, and other institutions. To do so, the Commissioner will need to review and assess submissions from members of the public and institutions.
Stories about all forms of antisemitism - whether personally experienced or observed - are key to building an honest picture of antisemitism in Australia.
If you are unsure about safety, anonymity or publication, you may wish to seek advice before lodging your submission. Please contact info@shareyourstory.org.au if you would like to discuss this.
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No - the Commission will accept submissions until at least the end of May 2026.
That said, we strongly encourage you to submit as soon as you can. People who have already lodged confidential submissions are being contacted and invited to provide further input, so getting your experiences in early may create additional opportunities to be heard.
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Once you submit your form, a reference number will appear on your screen. Please make a note of it – along with the date of submission – as you will not receive an email confirmation.
If you plan to make more than one submission, include the reference numbers from any previous submissions so the Commission can connect them.
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The Commission does not provide an email confirmation or copy of submission once you have completed the submission.
We recommend you save a copy of your submission on a separate Word document or PDF for your records.
General Info
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ShareYourStory is unable to make the submission on behalf of another individual or organisation. Submissions must be made using the form on the Royal Commission’s official website: https://ascengagement.royalcommission.gov.au/submissions
See our detailed submissions guide if you need more support.
In addition to making a direct submission to the Commission, ShareYourStory has asked members of the community (where comfortable) to share their submissions with us to help us get a better understanding of issues being raised by members of the community. If you choose to share your submission with us, you can request for it to remain anonymous or confidential.
Submissions shared with us may also be shared with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) to assist their production of an Annual Antisemitism Report. These reports record antisemitic incidents and discourse over a 12-month period ending 30 September each year. We will always ask for your permission to share your submission with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
By sharing your submission with ShareYourStory, we can ensure there is no lost incident / discourse data and maximise our community’s ability to identify trends, themes, and possible solutions.
For more information about the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s annual report, please visit their website.
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Yes. While we understand that a single submission with as much detail as possible is preferable and potentially more persuasive, it is completely acceptable – and may be helpful – to provide more than one.
For example, you might choose to write about a specific incident in one submission and your broader lived experience in another. Many people find it easier to focus on one experience at a time. A specific incident and a broader lived experience could be structured under different headings.
You can also submit further information later if something is missed, or if new experiences occur before submissions close. If you do make more than one submission, it helps the Commission to know they are from the same person – even if they relate to different settings – so they can understand the full context of your experience. If you have privacy concerns, consider making your submissions confidentially rather than anonymously.
For more guidance, please reach out to info@shareyourstory.org.au
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There is no minimum length. What matters most is that you share your lived experience or insight and describe how experiences or observations of antisemitism and social exclusion have affected you.
If you are writing or pasting text directly into the submission form, the maximum is 20,000 characters.
It is suggested that submissions be attached (e.g. in a Word document or PDF) to ensure a copy is retained. Submissions entered into the text box of the form will not be sent to those making the submission.
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The submission form only accepts PDF or DOC attachments. For materials in any other format, email them directly to the Commission at ASCRC.Submissions@royalcommission.gov.au with your submission’s reference number.
Alternatively, you can compile static materials (such as images or screenshots) into a PDF or Word document and attach it to your submission form. Any video or audio files must be sent via the Commission's email.
If you wish to remain anonymous when providing external attachments, please contact us at info@shareyourstory.org.au before proceeding.
Note: the maximum upload size for attachments is 1GB.
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Yes, you can make a submission if you’re not Jewish. The Commission is seeking to understand the full picture of antisemitism and social cohesion across Australia.
Understanding antisemitism in Australia depends on a wide range of experiences and perspectives. Contributions from across the community, not just Jewish Australians, help build a clearer picture of how it is recognised, understood and addressed, and what it means for social cohesion.
Making a Submission
Privacy & Anonymity
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ShareYourStory has asked members of the community (where comfortable) to share their submissions with us to help us get a better understanding of issues being raised by members of the community. If you choose to share your submission with us, you can request for it to remain anonymous or confidential.
Submissions shared with us may also be shared with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) to assist their production of an Annual Antisemitism Report. These reports record antisemitic incidents and discourse over a 12-month period ending 30 September each year. We will always ask for your permission to share your submission with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.
By sharing your submissions with ShareYourStory and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, we can ensure there is no lost incident / discourse data and maximise our community’s ability to identify trends, themes, and possible solutions.
For more information about the Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s annual report, please visit their website.
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No. Anonymous submissions are still received, recorded, and considered by the Commission and will be used, together with other information, to inform its findings and recommendations.
However, if you choose not to provide your name or contact details, the Commission will not be able to contact you to clarify aspects of your submission, seek further information, or invite you to participate in any further processes. This may affect the extent to which your individual experience can be explored or followed up in detail.
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The Royal Commission has indicated that it may publish some submissions, but only with consent of the individual or organisation, and subject to confidentiality and safety considerations. Further detail is available on the Commission’s website.
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Yes. You may refer to the experiences of people close to you if those experiences have had an impact on you personally. For example, you can describe what you have observed and how those observations have affected you or shaped your understanding of antisemitism.
Your submission should focus on your own perspective - what you have seen, how it made you feel. If others affected wish to share their own experiences, they are encouraged to do so directly through their own submission also.
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Your submission does not need to focus on a single event. For many people, experiences are not one moment, but a series of interactions, patterns, or everyday situations that have shaped how they move through the world.
These might include changes in behaviour, feeling the need to be more cautious, discomfort expressing identity or beliefs, or experiences in workplaces, schools, public spaces or online environments.
Experiences that may seem minor on their own can still be important. If something has made you pause, feel uncomfortable, or influenced how you act or make decisions, it is worth including.
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Yes, you can include experiences from both before and after October 7th, 2023. The Commission is seeking to understand the full picture of antisemitism over time, not just recent events. Incidents that occurred earlier may help show patterns, context, and how experiences or behaviours may have changed.
If you do include earlier experiences, it can be helpful to:
Clearly note when the incident occurred
Explain any ongoing impact or how things may have shifted over time, particularly since October 7th 2023
Recent experiences may feel more immediate, but historical experiences are equally valid and can strengthen the Commission’s overall understanding of your story.
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Yes, it may be helpful to write about times where you felt like your experience or report of antisemitism or social exclusion was taken seriously and dealt with appropriately. This will provide the Commission with examples of good conduct and outline community expectations.