In June 2024, DANA launched the Future of Advocacy project to support the disability advocacy sector in leading the conversation on what comes next. 

In this blog post, we share an update on the project so far — including what we heard during national consultations, the emerging themes shaping our collective vision, and the next steps as we continue working alongside advocates to strengthen the future of disability advocacy in Australia.

Opportunities

The project identified several opportunities for the disability advocacy sector and its funding structures: 

• • to be data-driven 

• • to have streamlined and flexible funding 

• • to model innovation (adopting emerging models from related fields and technological advancements)  

• • to build workforce capacity and specialisation  

• • to strengthen organisations (including organisational systems, governance and intake and referral processes)   

• • to educate and raise awareness about independent disability advocacy and when it’s needed 

• • to focus on prevention and early intervention  

• • to harness and utilise disability expertise of advocates  

• • to communicate strategically with governments and other stakeholders  

• • to devise a cohesive stratified model for effective advocacy support   

A proposed framework   

There is broad sector agreement that an ideal national disability advocacy system must be based on the following three core principles: 

• • Human rights based – upholding the human rights of people with disability and meeting the obligations of the CRPD;  

• • Social model of disability – applying a social model of disability rather than a medical/condition-based model;  

• • People with disability at the centre – ensuring that people with disability are at the centre of any new program design and delivery and can exercise choice and control in relation to their supports.  

This summary report presents a proposed high-level framework for a future national disability advocacy program is outlined below. The model proposes an overarching commitment to the above disability centred core principles at all levels of program design and delivery and a recommended set of essential pillars for delivery of quality advocacy support that can form the basis for guiding funding decisions. A set of key foundational elements will be critical to ensuring effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of a disability advocacy sector in achieving outcomes and improving the lives of people with disability. 

Foundations  

1. 1. Funding: secure, long term (minimum 5 year) indexed funding, flexible funding agreements with amounts regularly adjusted to sufficiently address unmet need and demand for advocacy  

2. 2. Workforce: skilled professional workforce with accreditation process and support for ongoing professional development 

3. 3. Networked eco-system and specialist access: a supportive environment with mainstream service engagement and broad community awareness. Access to specialist advocate expertise and drawing on the lived experience of people with disability to provide guidance. 

4. 4. Streamlined data and reporting systems: outcomes tracking, monitoring need and demand, and capacity for streamlining systemic advocacy 

5. 5. Capacity building: resources to build capacity for people with disability in an approach that is empowering not paternalistic. Also building capacity of mainstream and advocacy services together with community awareness of disability rights and support needs.  

Essential pillars for the delivery of quality advocacy support:

The following elements constitute the essential pillars of what should be required for organisations seeking to deliver quality advocacy support for people with disability. These pillars will be underpinned by the foundations outlined above. 

1. 1. Effective and efficient: person centred models of advocacy support that are evidence based, and data driven and provided by a culturally safe and sensitive professional workforce.  

2. 2. Inclusive, accessible and equitable: multiple free access points with a low bar to supports that are responsive to individual preferences for contact (local/face to face, phone, virtual). Enhanced by active outreach to regional/remote areas and hard to reach people and those in closed settings where appropriate. 

3. 3. Fit for purpose: inclusive governance and leadership by people with disability, beyond compliance with national advocacy standards, and independent of conflicts. Up to date organisational systems and skilled workforce able to provide flexible service delivery supported by extensive local and national networks.  

4. 4. Tailored support: that reflects individual needs and draws on specialist advice as required from local and national networks of expertise. 

5. 5. Proactive and preventative: eco-system awareness, local and regional networks and connections that facilitate an early intervention focus and crisis prevention. Linkages with clear and agreed referral pathways and protocols between mainstream and advocacy support services. Awareness raising and capacity building for mainstream organisations and the community. Proactive support to facilitate self-advocacy for people with disability, their families and supports. 

6. 6. Innovative and collaborative: approaches that leverage IT/AI, harnessing other models and strengths to broaden access and effectiveness. Creative and targeted solutions that are iterative and adaptive.