Family Advocacy

Family Advocacy performs four main advocacy functions:

Builds the leadership and advocacy skills of families;
Works to change the system – Systems Advocacy;
Provides advice and information;
Has a library of resources to support the three functions mentioned above.

Click here to view our Annual report.

Family Advocacy conducts the majority of its advocacy work within six Key Focus Areas identified as part of the organisation’s new Strategic Plan.

Personalised support: Having control over the what, when, where and by whom of support increases the opportunities for people with disability to lead full and meaningful lives included in their communities. Personalised support describes an approach that places the individual at the centre of decision making and treats family members as partners. It is built on planning that is directed by the person and their family/ support network, uses resources that are allocated to the individual and uses paid support to compliment rather than replace informal support.

Family Advocacy seeks to exert influence to enable all people with disability to receive personalised supports.

Solid foundations for children 0-6: Getting off to a good start in life is vitally important for all children, particularly children with developmental disability. A good start means a start on a path that keeps the child embedded in their family and community. It is too easy to follow the ‘special and separate’ path which can leave families isolated, vulnerable and disconnected from the typical and ordinary environments other children and families enjoy.

Family Advocacy seeks to exert influence so that all children are supported in age appropriate ways to be active members of their families and communities.

Welcoming, inclusive communities: Communities are places of great possibility. Much can be gained by supporting families to look to their own neighborhoods and communities for the natural supports and opportunities they can provide people with developmental disability.

Family Advocacy seeks to support families to build and contribute to welcoming, inclusive communities.

Meaningful adult lives: Too many people with developmental disability are living lives of little meaning. A schedule full of ‘programs’ and ‘activities’ keep people busy, but can serve little purpose.

Family Advocacy seeks to exert influence so that all adults with developmental disability have lives that are rich with valued adult roles, opportunities for personal growth and development, life long learning and employment and relationship building.

Advocacy for people with developmental disability: People with developmental disability are subject to oppression, exploitation, discrimination, segregation and rejection.

Family Advocacy is proactive and reactive in relation to unfolding issues which may lead to these negative impacts on the lives of people with disability.

Family Advocacy as a prudent and sustainable organisation: Family Advocacy strives to enhance the capacity and operation of the organisation to ensure its renewal, viability and effectiveness.