A disability advocate is someone who helps people with disability speak up, understand their rights, and get the support they need. Advocates can speak on behalf of a person, support them to speak for themselves, or help fix problems they are facing.

Here’s how a disability advocate can help:

• Help with services: If someone is having trouble getting support from the NDIS, Centrelink, education, housing, or health services, an advocate can help fill out forms, write letters, or speak to the service providers.

• Stand up for rights: If a person is being treated unfairly or discriminated against, the advocate can help them make a complaint or take action to fix the situation.

• Attend meetings: Advocates can go with someone to important meetings (like with school staff, hospitals, or the NDIS) to make sure your voice is heard and their needs are understood.

• Provide information: They explain people’s rights in a simple way, like what to do if you’re unhappy with a service or how to access support programs.

• Support in emergencies: If someone is in crisis—for example, being kicked out of housing or not receiving medication—an advocate can help fix things quickly by referring you to the right services.

• Help with legal issues: While not lawyers, advocates can help find legal support or help understand what’s happening with a legal problem.

• Support families and carers: Advocates can also support family members or carers who are trying to help the person with disability.

• Make services better: Some advocates work on big-picture issues by talking to the government or community about how to improve services and stop unfair treatment.

Example situations:

• A person is rejected by the NDIS. An advocate helps them challenge the decision.

• A student with a disability is being bullied at school. The advocate works with the school to make it safe.

• A social housing provider is refusing to fix an accessible bathroom. The advocate contacts the housing service to sort it out.

• Someone is feeling overwhelmed and doesn’t know where to go for help. The advocate listens and connects them to the right supports.

A disability advocate is a helper and protector who stands by people with disability, makes sure their voice is heard, and works hard to fix unfair situations.

An NDIS appeals advocate helps people challenge decisions made by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) at the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART).

These appeals usually happen when someone is not happy with a decision about their NDIS access, how much funding they get, or the supports in their plan.

The advocate supports by explaining how the appeal works, helping collect medical and other important evidence, writing down the person’s story, and speaking for them in meetings, conciliation sessions, or hearings if needed.

Systemic advocacy is about making big, long-term changes to laws, rules, and services to make life better for people with disability. It’s different from individual advocacy, which helps with personal problems. This kind of advocacy looks at the bigger picture to stop unfair treatment, break down barriers, and include everyone.

It can mean speaking to governments, working with decision-makers, helping change unfair laws, and teaching the public about disability rights. Important areas include making the NDIS easier to access, protecting rights, making schools and workplaces more inclusive, and fixing unfair systems. By working to change society, this type of advocacy helps build a fairer and more inclusive community for all.

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme helps older people who feel lonely, especially those who have trouble moving, speaking, or getting out to socialise. It’s for people who don’t often see family or friends. The program focuses on people from diverse cultural and language backgrounds in Western Sydney, Southwest Sydney, and the Illawarra.

Volunteers visit older people who receive government-funded aged care, either at home or in aged care facilities. This includes people living in aged care without many visitors, people at home with a Home Care Package, and those waiting to get one. The service is free and helps older people feel more connected and enjoy a better quality of life.