Advocacy

Disability Advocacy ensures that the human and legal rights of people with disabilities are promoted, protected, respected and realised so that people with disabilities can fully participate in the community.

Individual advocacy

Individual Advocacy is when a person with a disability is assisted by an advocate to take action or to provide them with information, to address a need that they identify.

We can provide advocacy support for you if:

Your aged between 16 and 65?
You live in one of the following Victorian Municipalities? Banyule, Bayside, Boroondara, Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Darebin, Frankston, Glen Eira, Greater Dandenong, Hobsons Bay, Hume, Kingston, Knox, Manningham, Maribyrnong, Maroondah, Melbourne, Monash, Mooney Valley, Moreland, Nillumbik, Port Phillip, Stonnington, Whitehorse, Whittlesea, Wyndam, Yarra
You have a physical disability that is permanent or likely to be permanent?
You require ongoing support services eg, personal care, community access etc
You have reduced capacity for: Writing, typing, hearing, vision or speaking or Learning or Mobility without assistance or frequent rests

If the answer is yes to all of the above questions then DJA is funded to provide Individual Advocacy support and the Executive Officer will allocate you an Advocate subject to your priority needs and the waiting list.

What will the advocate do?

Before starting advocacy with a person, we will meet with them to find out more about what they need and want.

We will talk with them about their options and work with them to prepare an advocacy plan. The plan will be based on what the person wants and needs, and how they decide things should be done.

Systemic advocacy

Systemic Advocacy is about social change. Where there is a gap or problem with the service system that leads to a number of people with disabilities experiencing the same or similar problems, DJA can get involved in lobbying for changes that address this.

If you would like us to do systemic advocacy on an issue that we are not currently working on, please contact us to raise your concerns. If we are unable to assist we will try to let you know which other services may be able to assist.

Current campaigns and networks that DJA is involved with

Young People in Nursing Homes (YPINH)

For a number of reasons, we believe that nursing homes are not the right places for people with disabilities who are not aged. We are working towards alternative places to live for younger people who need nursing home levels of care.
Through YPINH, we advocate for people to live in environments that encourage and support optimum participation and quality of life for each person according to their needs and interests.

Aids and Equipment Action Alliance

We recognise the significant unmet need in Victoria for aids and equipment. Through our participation in this Alliance, we campaign for more funding and better planning for Victoria’s current and future needs for Aids and Equipment.
On behalf of the A&EAA, DJA currently employs a project worker who is steering the Alliances’ campaign.

Attendant Support Action Group

DJA has participated in other campaigns and networks in the past, based on demand and our capacity at the time. These have included:

Community Living Alliance (CLA)
Safe Transport Action Group (STAG)

DJA encourages everyone to support campaigns that seek to improve the lives of people with disability. If you would like to participate in, receive news about, or make comments to any of the above campaigns or networks, please contact us and ask to speak to the person who is working on the issue you are interested in.