Advocacy is acting, speaking or writing to promote, protect and defend the rights of a person or group of people. Advocates can advocate for themselves, another person, or a group of people with disability. Advocates may be paid or volunteer their time for free.
Individual advocacy is when a professional advocate, relative, friend or volunteer advocates for a single person, to stop or fix instances of unfair treatment or abuse.
Advocacy for Inclusion represents Canberra’s most marginalised and isolated people with disabilities, including those persons with cognitive disabilities and/or significant communication barriers.
They support the voice of people with disabilities and are committed to growing that voice in all forums.
Australian Centre for Disability Law promotes and protect the human and legal rights of people with disability and their supporters through legal advocacy.
Learn more by visiting the Australian Centre for Disability Law website.
BCA is the united voice of Australians who are blind or vision impaired. BCA provides information, peer support, individual and systemic advocacy, and consultancy services. Whether you are blind, have a vision impairment, a family member or friend of a person who is blind or vision impaired, BCA is there to assist you.
The Disability Advocacy and Complaints Service of SA (DACSSA) provides support, information and advocacy for all people with disability, their families, friends and carers. This is a free Service. Access to DACSSA services will be fair, equal and transparent ensuring that people are supported and their individual needs are met.
DANA supports and strengthens independent disability advocacy organisations in their work of advocating for and with people with disability so that they are valued and included members of the community, their fundamental needs are met, and their human rights respected. DANA is a network of organisations throughout Australia that undertakes or provides individual advocacy, systemic advocacy, self-advocacy, citizen advocacy, legal advocacy or family advocacy.
Disability Justice Australia provides advocacy support to people who have ongoing support needs as a result of disability. DJA is also funded to provide NDIS appeal support to people with disabilities who live in one of the 5 Local Government areas in Victoria – Banyule, Whittlesea, Yarra, Nillumbik, and Darebin. DJA’s focus is about working with the person with a disability and supporting their needs, rights and interests to address and resolve issues they identify. It is independent of all other services and free of conflicts of interest. There is no charge to use the service.
The Disability Resources Centre (DRC) is a membership-driven organisation managed and staffed by people with disabilities. It provides individual advocacy for adults with disability, and also work on systemic issues and support campaigns which aim to provide long-term benefits for many people.
Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) is a free service for people with cognitive impairment across NSW. They provide help with legal problems, support persons at police stations and courts, advocacy, support to appeal decisions of the National Disability Insurance Agency, rights education for people with cognitive impairment, peer support and assistance for parents with intellectual disability at risk of losing care of their children
Learn more by visiting the Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) website.
People with Disabilities WA (PWdWA) was established in 1981, and provide non-legal advocacy to people with disabilities. Its advocacy services are available to any person with a disability. You do not have to be a member to access advocacy. All of the advocacy work that PWdWA follows the principals of the National Disability Strategy.
The Regional Disability Advocacy Service (RDAS) is a not-for-profit organisation that assists people with a disability living in the Oven Murray district of North East Victoria and the Murrumbidgee district of Southern NSW.
They provide free and independent advocacy and information to anyone with a disability, of any age to ensure equality of rights and increased integration into the community.
Learn more by visiting the Regional Disability Advocacy Service (RDAS) website.
