SPEAK UP! For Independent Advocacy

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Right now, only 1 in 2 people with disability have access to independent disability advocacy support. The Australian government must significantly increase funding for independent disability advocacy organisations to support people with disability.

Disability advocates are a crucial part of the disability ecosystem in Australia. The disability advocacy sector is chronically underfunded and faces massive challenges from the lack of funding to service demand. Every second person with disability that knocks on our doors must be turned away, as organisations are stretched to their limits:

Advocacy waiting lists are huge
Organisations and advocates are at breaking point
Many organisations are ...

Right now, only 1 in 2 people with disability have access to independent disability advocacy support. The Australian government must significantly increase funding for independent disability advocacy organisations to support people with disability.

Disability advocates are a crucial part of the disability ecosystem in Australia. The disability advocacy sector is chronically underfunded and faces massive challenges from the lack of funding to service demand. Every second person with disability that knocks on our doors must be turned away, as organisations are stretched to their limits:

Advocacy waiting lists are huge
Organisations and advocates are at breaking point
Many organisations are at risk of closure
Rural and remote areas don’t get enough resources

Investing in advocacy will strengthen the rights of people with disability. Independent disability advocates are an essential partner in solving problem, addressing crisis, ensuring that changes are understood, information is disseminated, and service and systems work for people with disability. Having someone independent to turn to can be the only support for a person with disability as they face complex systems and higher risks of abuse. Without a significant increase in funding for our sector, disability advocacy organisations cannot do the vital work they do.

The Australian government must triple the funding of independent disability advocacy, giving support to everyone who asks for help. Together, we need to tell the Federal Government why an investment of at least $91 million into disability advocacy is crucial to strengthen and sustain our future.

When disability advocacy organisations are funded:

Everyone can get help when they need it
More advocacy benefits all other systems
Advocates can proactively reach out to people not getting support
Facilitating culturally safe advocacy

Learn more about the SPEAK UP! For Independent Advocacy campaign at: https://speakupadvocacy.com.au/

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Email your local MP now to SPEAK UP for Independent Advocacy

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While the sector remains chronically underfunded, only 1 in 2 people with disability will have access to independent advocacy support. Together, we need to tell the Federal Government why an investment of at least $91 million into disability advocacy is crucial to strengthen and sustain our future.

NOW is the time for government to act! But we can only convince them with YOUR help and YOUR actions.

Join with us in urging the Australian government to triple their funding of independent advocacy, giving support to everyone who asks for help. It is critical as that we keep the pressure up on local MPs to influence the Australian Government to act now and invest in advocacy that is needed to strengthen the rights of people with disability.

We have set up this easy-to-use letter that we encourage you to add your own stories to and tell your local MP why it's important that there is urgent action.

It takes just a few minutes but can make a big difference if you add your name to a letter today.

SPEAK UP! For Independent Advocacy

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Subject:

I am asking you to write to the Treasurer, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP, today to urge him to take action to significantly increase funding for independent advocacy organisations that support people with disability.

1 in 2 people with disability who seek help from an advocate are turned away and many more would benefit from advocacy but can’t navigate the capacity constraints to get there.

I am supporting the call to action by the SPEAK UP! For Independent Advocacy campaign to triple the funding of independent advocacy, giving support to everyone who asks for help.

In November 2023, DANA submitted a Pre-budget submission: A strong, sustainable future: addressing capacity shortfalls for a strengthened disability advocacy sector.

Learn about the campaign and submission: https://speakupadvocacy.com.au/

Disability advocates are a crucial part of the disability ecosystem in Australia, and provide services that help people with disability speak out and protect their human rights. The benefits of independent advocacy feature heavily in the final report of the Disability Royal Commission and increased support for Advocacy is a key recommendation of the recent NDIS Review. Advocates are ready and willing to play a role in implementing the crucial recommendations of this reform, but are currently at breaking point.

I join with advocacy organisations to urge the Federal Government to immediately invest in the independent disability advocacy sector with a top-up of at least $91.225 million to ensure people with disability can get the support they need, and to navigate the coming changes across the disability sector.

Please write a letter of support today to Treasurer, the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers MP.

Act now to triple the funding of independent advocacy, giving support to everyone who asks for help!

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