A new initiative supported by digital agency Get Started is giving Australians the opportunity to ‘stream the Royal Commission hearings into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and the Royal Commission into Family Violence live from any device they choose.’

It will also now allow ‘media commentators, affected parties and impaired audiences to engage with the commissions in real time.’

A media release from digital agency Get Started explains these changes ‘are the result of a fundamental shift in the way government agencies are approaching the accessibility and sharing of information online.’

It turns out that, during many Royal Commissions, interested parties had to attend hearings on site, or follow events through a third party source, to stay informed - and that, for many people, this was unmanageable.

Get Started reports that, so far, ‘thousands of people have watched the recent sessions live on phone, tablet or desktop devices and several news outlets have even streamed the feed to their audiences.’

We’re also told that a feature ‘on the website of the Royal Commission into Family Violence has been equipped with unique features such as ‘quick escape’ buttons which allows the user to quickly change websites’ [being displayed on-screen], which increases user privacy.

Marty Drill, Get Started’s CEO, noted his passionate advocacy ‘for the new platforms which, he believes, will change the way audiences engage with future commissions,’ and said: ““The ability for us to provide live streaming platforms in a readily accessible and cost effective way is a massive advantage for both the commission and its participants.

“In this case we have seen how the correct application of digital media can truly empower people. Our team has been able to connect otherwise isolated parties and that’s very rewarding,” Drill concluded.