The Victorian Government helps to promote the participation of people with a disability by funding disability advocacy and self advocacy organisations.
The following organisations are funded through the Victorian Disability Advocacy Program (VDAP):
- Action On Disability Within Ethnic Communities
- ACD – Advocating for children with disability
- Blind Citizens Australia
- Brain Injury Matters
- Collective of Self Help Groups
- CF Together
- Deaf Victoria
- Disability Rights and Culture
- Gippsland Disability Advocacy
- Grampians Disability Advocacy Association
- Migrant Resource Centre, North West Region
- Regional Disability Advocacy Service
- Reinforce
- Rights Information and Advocacy Centre.
- Southwest Advocacy Association
- STAR Victoria
- VALID-The Victorian Advocacy League For Individuals With Disability
- Women with Disabilities Victoria
- Youth Disability Advocacy Service.
In addition, the National Disability Advocacy Program also funds disability advocacy organisations in Victoria. For more information, see the National Disability Advocacy Program.
As well as disability advocacy organisations, some organisations provide specialised advocacy services. These include:
- Aboriginal advocacy organisations
- Children, families, carers and care leavers organisations
- Organisations that provide services to culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- Human rights advocacy organisations
- Legal help organisations
- Housing advocacy organisations
- LGBTIQA+ advocacy organisations
- Mental Health advocacy organisations
- Seniors advocacy organisations
- Regional/local advocacy organisations
- Women’s advocacy organisations
- Youth and young people advocacy organisations.
For more information about these organisations, see Using an advocate on the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website.
The Victorian Government also funds the following resource units:
Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU)
The Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) supports a community of practice that aims to build the Victorian disability advocacy sector's capacity. This includes providing resources and undertaking projects. The DARU does not provide a direct advocacy service.
Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU)
The Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU) supports Victorian self advocacy groups of people who have an intellectual disability, acquired brain injury or complex communication support needs. The SARU does not provide a direct advocacy service.
To make a complaint
The Disability Services Commissioner (DSC) works to resolve complaints about disability advocacy services funded in Victoria by the department. These are the organisation listed above.
Telephone: 1800 677 342
Email: complaints@odsc.vic.gov.au
Website: www.odsc.vic.gov.au