Become a Member

DANA is the collective voice for disability advocacy organisations, united by a shared vision of a nation that includes and values people with disabilities and respects human rights for all. 

Our purpose is to strengthen, support, and amplify the work of our members by: 

  • Promoting the role and impact of independent disability advocacy 
  • Uniting voices to influence policy and drive systemic change 
  • Facilitating communication and knowledge-sharing across the advocacy sector 
  • Supporting growth and development for staff, volunteers, and organisations 
  • Building evidence to demonstrate the value and necessity of advocacy 
  • Championing the rights, diversity, and contributions of people with disabilities 

Working with our members, we empower advocacy organisations to be more connected, more informed, and more influential – ensuring that the voices of people with disability are heard, respected, and acted upon.

Eligibility for Membership

DANA membership options include Full Membership and Associate Membership. 

Full Membership

Organisations are eligible for Membership of DANA if they:

  • are an independent advocacy organisation whose primary role is to advocate for, and with, people with disability.  
  • have objectives, purposes, and/or mission consistent with those of DANA.  
  • pay the membership fee relevant to their organisation within 30 days of any annual renewal notice. 

Associate Membership

Organisations are eligible for Associate Membership of DANA if they:

  • are supportive of the purposes of DANA, 
  • are not eligible for full membership,  
  • are not otherwise excluded from membership, and 
  • pay the relevant membership fee within 30 days of any annual renewal notice. 

Note: Associate Members are ineligible to participate in the management of DANA or to vote on any resolution. They have the right to receive notices of and to attend and be heard at any DANA General Meeting. 

Membership Process

It’s easy to become a member, just follow these steps: 

  1. Read our Constitution and our Vision and Purpose to ensure you are eligible and support DANA’s purpose 
  2. Complete the Membership Application form
  3. Submit any supporting documents requested by uploading onto the form or you can email members@dana.org.au  
  4. Your application will be presented to the DANA Board at the next Board meeting for their discussion and decision. 
  5. You will be notified of the decision in the week after the Board meeting and a tax invoice for the Membership fee will be provided to you if successful. 
  6. Your membership will start when the payment is received. 

Membership Fees

The membership fee is determined by the level of funding received by an organisation

  • Annual membership fees vary by membership type, individual/ organisation status, and whether you are for profit or not for profit. 
  • Associate membership fees are also determined by the reported annual revenue for the previous financial year. 
  • New members pay a pro-rata fee based on their approval month. 
  • Memberships are renewed on an annual basis with renewal forms to be completed in June/July and invoices to be paid within 30 days of receiving your invoice. 
  • DANA reserves the right to review the information provided on the application and/or renewal form to ensure the correct membership type and fee is being applied.

Membership fees for 2025/26 are:

Full Membership Annual Flat Fee

$100.00

Associate Member Annual Revenue per annum (p.a.)

Not for Profit Fee (p.a.)

For Profit Fee (p.a.)

Less than $500,000 and individual membership

$150.00

$300.00

$500,000 – $1,999,999

$250.00

$500.00

$2,000,000 – $4,999,999

$500.00

$1,000.00

$5,000,000 – $9,999,999

$750.00

$1,500.00

$10,000,000 and over

$1,250.00

$2,500.00

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of becoming a DANA member?

As a DANA member you and your organisation will:

  • receive regular newsletters and updates
  • be able to share news, stories and updates via our newsletter
  • contribute to and participate in the development of DANA policy positions and submissions (depending on the policy or issue some members may be specifically engaged based on DANA membership type, location or demographics);
  • receive notifications about sector learning and capacity building opportunities including training, conferences and research studies.
  • be listed, with your organisation’s logo and website link, on DANA’s website and be able to promote your DANA membership with our logo on your website
  • attend and be heard at any DANA general meeting

Full members:

  • can participate in all other forums and consultations that are specifically for independent advocacy organisations particularly those relating to NDIS legislative changes and appeals, the Independent Disability Advocacy Program and funding contracts and other programs that impact independent advocates
  • can collaborate on projects and submissions that are specifically targeting independent disability advocates
  • in accordance with DANA’s Constitution, are entitled to vote in relation to any resolution at any general meeting and are eligible to stand for election as office bearer or otherwise participate in the governance of the Company’s affairs

Associate Members:

  • have the right to receive notices of and to attend and be heard at any general meeting
  • undertaking academic research or other industry specific projects will have the opportunity to access and collaborate with DANA and its strong, active members
  • will be able to include DANA and its members as industry or research partners when applying for grants or funding (with approval from DANA prior to any submitting funding application)

Anyone can sign up via our website as a subscriber and will receive a monthly e-newsletter. A member, however, will receive regular updates, sector information, invites to online consultations, presentations and webinars. Members also have the opportunity to collaborate with other members and be part of submissions, advocacy campaigns and reports.

We are encouraging all our current members to complete the renewal form so that we have the most update contact information for your organisation. It means that you won’t miss out on any sector news, updates and opportunities.

The membership pricing changed in July 2025 to help DANA support advocates that are delivering – often with little funding – for the most marginalised people with disability in Australia.

As an associate member, you’ll stay informed about developments across the advocacy sector, while gaining opportunities to collaborate, share knowledge, and strengthen interagency efforts to improve outcomes for people with disability.

What type of evidence do you ask for to prove an organisation aligns with DANA values?

All new applicants or members renewing their membership will be asked to provide a brief description of their organisation including their advocacy work, values, location, size and target groups.

Individual applicants will be asked to provide some evidence of how they are actively advocating for/with people with disability in their community and why they are interested in being a DANA member.

Organisations will be asked to upload or attach the following documents that will demonstrate that their values align with those of DANA:

  • Their most recent Annual Report
  • The section of your Constitution that outlines your organisation’s mission, objectives and/or values

As a DANA member you will be expected to contribute to a strong, active membership community by:

  • Submitting renewals and documentation promptly
  • Paying fees within 30 days of invoice
  • Keeping their organisational and contact information up to date
  • Participating in engagement activities (e.g. forums, surveys, stories for newsletters)
  • Collaborating with DANA and fellow members on campaigns, submissions, and projects

Our members are independent Australian community-based organisations that advocate for and with people with disability. To ensure we continue to support our members and amplify their voice we do not have members whose primary role is to provide NDIS supports for people with disability.

Your application and any other information will go to the Board at their next meeting. The Board will then discuss the application and make a decision. Board meetings are held every two months so you may not hear from us for about 8 – 10 weeks. If successful, you will receive an invoice for the membership fee. When this is paid you will be sent a ‘Welcome’ email outlining the benefits of being a DANA member and how to get involved in DANA activities. If unsuccessful, you will be advised and are welcome to discuss this further with the Member Engagement Officer.

For a member to be removed or cease being a member it would need to be in accordance with Sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the DANA Constitution. This may happen if:

  • a member has not paid their membership fee within 3 months of the due date,
  • if they no longer meet the eligibility requirements,
  • if the organisation is wound up, deregistered or dissolved,
  • have demonstrated that their values and purpose no longer align with those of DANA or
  • they themselves have made the decision to not be a member.

Members can resign by providing notice to the Board. If it is the Board deciding to remove a member they must provide 21 days’ notice and an opportunity for the member to respond to the Board. The member who is removed or resigned will have any names and contact information relating to their organisation removed from the Membership database.

If you have questions or concerns about membership, please contact the Member Engagement Officer, Ainslie Whitburn, on (02) 90 442 876 or at members@dana.org.au.

Join or Renew DANA Membership

By completing this application, you believe you’re eligible for DANA membership in line with our Constitution and have read all of the content noted above on this webpage.

Constitution (Download PDF)