Our Purpose

Advocacy

Advocacy is about your voice being your heard. People with a disability have the same rights (and responsibilities) as people who do not have a disability. Advocates are there to ensure that people with a disability realise these rights in practice by advocating with and for them.

An advocate can help you:

• when you want to change things in your life
• when you need help to talk to someone about your service
• when you are not being listened to

Advocates can assist by:

• providing information to people with a disability about their human rights and identifying instances of discrimination
• assisting people with a disability to uphold their rights by speaking with and writing to people and organisations to raise awareness of problems and seek solutions
• helping people with disability negotiate complaints processes or legal action to enforce their human rights
• writing submissions and lobbying government to make changes that promote and protect the rights of people with disability
• campaigning for social change by speaking to the media to raise awarness and highlight situations where people with a disability are treated unfairly

Our local advocate is: Regional Disability Advocacy Service (RDAS)

RDAS is a local not-for-profit organisation that provide free and independent advocacy and information. They can assist you by finding services that meet your needs and link you into services of your choice.

You can ask for help:

• by calling them on 02 6056 2420
• emailing them admin@rdas.org.au
• visiting them at 132 Melbourne Road, Wodonga, 3690, VIC
• sending them a letter P.O Box 982, Wodonga, 2690, VIC

More information can be found on the RDAS website.