The Rights Information and Advocacy Centre is calling on all federal election candidates to commit to protecting and strengthening independent disability advocacy as a vital safeguard for people with disability, particularly in regional communities where risks of abuse, neglect and exploitation are compounded by isolation and limited oversight.
Advocacy is one of the most effective tools we have to prevent harm.
Our advocates support people with disability when things go wrong, when they feel unsafe, when a provider is failing to deliver, or when someone is being exploited or ignored.
We work across 22 local government areas in regional Victoria and southern NSW and have seen a significant increase in demand from people feeling unsupported, excluded or harmed in systems that can be confusing, impersonal and hard to access.
The Disability Royal Commission found that people with disability in regional areas face longer wait times, fewer services and poor transport, limiting independence and community participation (Final Report 2023).
NDIS participants in very remote areas use just 35 per cent of their funding compared to 62 per cent in cities, because services aren’t available (NDIS Quarterly Report, Dec 2023).
One in five people in regional Victoria live with disability, but services are often fragmented or missing, with very few options for access.
This can make it very hard to speak up when there is a service, but it does not work respectfully with clients, or charges too much, as there may not be anywhere else to go.
Advocates help people be heard, navigate systems and prevent crises.
Independent advocacy is also one of the strongest defences against fraud and exploitation.
We raise the alarm when something isn’t right.
We alert bodies like the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to help stop unethical and harmful practices and where participants are being targeted by scams, aggressive marketing and unethical providers.
Our advocates help people understand their rights, avoid being ripped off and make informed decisions. That protects not just individuals, but the integrity of the system itself.
Without strong advocacy, people with disability — particularly in regional areas — are at greater risk of falling through the cracks, having no-one to turn to when things go wrong, and being left vulnerable as major disability reforms roll out.
People with disability are about to experience some of the biggest changes in a generation. We need to be there, walking alongside them, making sure no-one is left behind.
We’re calling on all candidates to back strong, community-based independent advocacy as a key safeguard for fairness, safety and accountability.
We encourage members of the public and local organisations to support the campaign for stronger advocacy.
More information is available at speakupadvocacy.com.au
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