Championing Inclusion: The Vital Role of Disability Advocates

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Written By Avenues Australia

In Australia, disability advocates play a crucial role in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families. Advocates work to promote the rights and needs of people with disabilities and ensure that they are able to access the support and services they require to live fulfilling lives.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) makes it against the law to mistreat someone because of their disability. The person with a disability, their family and carers are all covered if there has been a disability in the past, if they develop a disability in the future or if people think they have a disability. Disability advocates provide support and guidance to individuals with disabilities and their families when they are being mistreated because of their disability. Many people with disability (with the help of their families) can advocate for themselves; however, many are not able to or need support to do so. Advocates can assist with navigating the often-complex systems and processes involved in accessing disability services and funding. One of the critical reasons why disability advocates are so important is that people with disabilities often face significant barriers and challenges in accessing services and support equitably and inclusively. These barriers can include, but not limited to the following :

  • Getting a job, terms and conditions of a job, training, promotion, and being dismissed because of your disability.

  • Enrolling or studying in a course at a private or public school, college or university. You may also experience discrimination in accessing the information and resources you need in an accessible way so you can complete your education.

  • This includes things such as banking and insurance services, services provided by government departments, transport or telecommunication services, professional services like those provided by lawyers, doctors or tradespeople, services provided by restaurants, shops or entertainment venues. It may also include , a lack of accessible transport, inadequate funding or poor access to basic healthcare.

  • Access to places such as parks, government offices, restaurants, hotels or shopping centres.

  • Renting or buying a house or unit.

Disability advocates in Australia may work in a variety of different roles and settings. Some advocates work for advocacy organisations or disability service providers, while others may be independent consultants. They may also work in a variety of different areas, such as mental health, physical disabilities, or intellectual disabilities.

“To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”
— Nelson Mandela

Overall, disability advocates in Australia are separate from NDIS funded services and are not funded by the NDIS to deliver advocacy services. Instead, most of them are funded mainly by state and territory governments or the Department of Social Services. They work to promote greater inclusion and equity for people with disabilities and ensure that they are able to access the support and services they require to live fulfilling lives. If you or someone you know is living with a disability and facing a barrier to access and inclusion, or would like support in understanding your rights, consider reaching out to an advocate for support and guidance. Below is a list of some of the most common disability advocates near you:

To find more disability advocates near you, visit the ASK Izzy website:  https://askizzy.org.au/disability-advocacy-finder

In addition to individual support, disability advocates also work to raise awareness of broad disability issues and advocate for change at a systemic level. They may lobby government bodies or other organisations to improve access to services, funding, and resources for people with disabilities. Systemic advocates may also work to promote greater social inclusion and accessibility, ensuring that people with disabilities are able to participate fully in society. Below are some of the most common systemic advocates in Australia.

  • • Australian Federation of Disability Organizations (AFDO)

    • National Disability Services (NDS)

    • Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)

    • People with Disability Australia (PWDA)

    • Disability Rights Advocacy Service (DRAS)

    • Council for Intellectual Disability (CID)

    • First Peoples Disability Network (FPDN)

    • Deaf Australia

    • Blind Citizens Australia

    • Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA)

    • Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)

    • Autism Advocacy Australia (AAA)

    • Physical Disability Australia (PDA)

    • Brain Injury Australia

    • Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA)

    • Mind Australia

    • Sane Australia

    • Mental Health Australia

You can also call the Australian Government Disability Gateway on 1800 643 787 and ask to be connected with an advocacy organisation. Alternatively, if you are receiving services from Avenues Australia, you can contact us on 1300 208 594 and if you require support to connect with an advocate.

Complaints under the Disability Discrimination Act 

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (the DDA) makes it against the law to treat you unfairly because of your disability. You are also covered if you had a disability in the past, may develop a disability in the future or if people think you have a disability. 

If you believe that you have been discriminated against on the basis of your disability, you can make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission. You can also have someone such as a solicitor, advocate or trade union make a complaint on your behalf.  Not all types of discrimination can be reported to Australian Human Rights Commission, and not all types of unfairness is discrimination. If you have been discriminated against and would like to submit a complaint or are unsure, you can contact the Australian Human Rights Commission on the details below:

Info line: 1300 656 419 (local call)
TTY: 1800 620 241 (toll free)
Email: complaintsinfo@humanrights.gov.au
Website: www.humanrights.gov.au/complaints/lodge-complaint

If you would like to speak to our friendly team about Support Coordination, Psychosocial Recovery Coaching or Plan Management, call us on 1300 208 594, or email hello@avenuesaustralia.com. Alternatively you can submit a Request for Service form and we will get back to you shortly.

Avenues Australia http://www.avenuesaustralia.com
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