WHAT IS DISABILITY ADVOCACY?

Advocacy involves ensuring that people are able to speak out, express their views and have their rights upheld. Disability advocacy may be individual – on behalf of individuals, or providing support for families, carers or members of the community who want to act with, or for, a person with a disability. Advocacy may also be systemic, and work to produce change in areas such as the attitudes and understanding of the general community in relation to people with disabilities, government legislation, policies, services or practices and private sector policies, practices and services.

NEUROMUSCULAR WA

Neuromuscular WA aims to advocate, protect and advance the legal, human and service rights of people with muscular dystrophy and neuromuscular conditions. The organisation provides support to help individuals self-advocate, or has facilities for staff to advocate on behalf of the person.

For more information see: https://www.neuromuscularwa.org.au/advocacy

MIDLAND INFORMATION DEBT AND LEGAL ADVOCACY SERVICE (MIDLAS)

A not-for-profit community agency based in Midland & Ellenbrook that provides individual advocacy guidance and supports people with a disability, their carers and their families living in the Northern regions of Perth. It provides advocacy for people requesting reviews of decisions made as part the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

For more information see: http://www.midlas.org.au/services/disability-advocacy/

UNITING WA

Your Say is a free, confidential advocacy service available for people with a disability living in the Perth metro area delivered by Uniting WA. This organisation can speak on your behalf, or work with you to build your capacity to advocate for yourself in a range of areas, including surrounding the NDIS.

To learn more see: unitingwa.org.au/services/advocacy/

ADVOCARE

Advocare is the WA member body of the Older People’s Advocacy Network (OPAN) that works to protect the rights of older people and empower informed choice. Advocare provide assistance in accessing aged care services and advocate for you to help navigate the complexities of the aged care system and My Aged Care funding.

To find out more information visit: www.advocare.org.au/

PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES WA

A non-legal advocacy agency that works alongside individuals when they think they have been treated unfairly or are seeking a solution to a specific problem, by providing them with access to current information, services and agencies that may provide assistance.

For more information see: www.pwdwa.org

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY WA

A not-for-profit organisation that aims to advance advocacy, policy and community, for and with people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, their families, and the people who support them.

For more information see: www.ddwa.org.au

HEALTH CONSUMERS COUNCIL WA

A free service provider to anyone in WA who needs help understanding and accessing their healthcare rights. The HCC team train, support and link you with healthcare services, as well as providing workshops and information sessions to consumers and service providers to improve healthcare services overall.

For more information see: www.hconc.org.au/resources/health-matters/

RARE VOICES AUSTRALIA (RVA)

A non-profit, national peak organisation advocating for all who live with rare disease. RVA provides a strong common voice to advocate for health policy and a healthcare system that works for those with rare diseases. Patient-centred, RVA works with all stakeholders including patients, key peak bodies, governments, researchers, clinicians and industry to promote rare disease research, diagnosis, treatment and services.

RVA aims to provide the following services:

• Providing leadership and advocacy on national rare disease issues for the benefit of those who live with a rare disease.

• Raise awareness of issues faced by the rare disease community to promote understanding, motivation and empowerment.

• Educating physicians and other healthcare professionals about rare diseases to promote early diagnosis and optimal treatment.

• Collaborate and connect with all Australians sharing the experience of living with a rare disease.

For more information see: www.rarevoices.org.au

SUSSEX STREET COMMUNITY LAW SERVICE INC

Provides NSDS accredited advocacy services to people with a disability, their families and carers. This service is available in the Perth metropolitan, Mid West, Goldfields/Esperance and the Great Southern regions.

Also partnering with UnitingCare West advocacy is also provided to people living in Vincent, Cambridge, Joondalup, Wanneroo and Stirling.

The service provides:

• Information on your rights, your options and on available services and resources

• Referral to an agency or service in your area

• One-to-one support to work with you to deal with your problems

• Training to show you how to deal with issues for yourself

• For more information see: https://www.sscls.asn.au/individual-disability-advocacy-service

ADVOCACY WA

This independent service offers free advocacy to people with a disability in the South West region of WA. Based out of Bunbury, with outreach offices in Collie, Manjimup, Margaret River and Busselton, Advocacy WA advocates to ensure individual’s rights are negotiated in practice.

To self refer or read more, visit: advocacywa.org.au/

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE (OPA)

The Public Adovocate is the independent statutory officer promoting and protecting the rights of adult Western Australian’s with decision-making disabilities to reduce their risk of neglect, exploitation, and abuse.

The OPA provide access to advocacy, guardianship and community education services regarding the guardianship system. This includes access to:

• Enduring Power of Attorney for financial decisions,

• Enduring Power of Guardianship for personal and lifestyle decisions, and

• Advanced Health Directives for medical treatment decisions.

For more information visit: www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-justive/office-of-the-public-advocate

KIN - DISABILITY ADVOCACY FOR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES

Kin advocate for people with layered disadvantages; those with disability, cultural and language barriers, to have equal opportunity for a better life.

Kin offer individual advocacy that can be in another language, systemic advocacy services to influence long-term changes in legislation and government policies, and support individuals in learning to self-advocate.

To learn more about Kin’s services, see: www.kinadvocacy.org.au

DISABILITY LEGAL WA

This division of Legal Aid WA provides help to people living with disability to have the same access to justice as anyone else in the community. Disability Legal WA provide legal advise and can assign a social worker to assist you in understanding what issues you are handling and figure out what barriers you face.

Through Disability Legal WA, you can access all of the services provided by Legal Aid including civil law, criminal law and family law matters.

To learn more about how Disability Legal WA can assist you, see legalaid.wa.gov.au/about-us/dlwa

DISABILITY ADVOCACY SUPPORT HELPLINE

Delivered by Advocacy Law Alliance, the helpline offers access to advocacy suppor tover the phone and refer callers to in-person support through the National Disability Advocacy Program to a provider if required.

This individual advocacy service can be accessed free of charge by people living with a disability.

To learn more, read about the helpline at advocacylaw.org.au/#helpline