Advocacy and Self Advocacy through your NDIS Journey
Recorded 27 November 2023
At some point or another on our NDIS journey we may require the support of advocacy services but most definitely, we will find ourselves in situations where self-advocacy is absolutely necessary.
So what are the advocacy services that are available to us?
How do we best build that muscle of self-advocacy?
For access to more resources, as well as support, connection, and answers to your NDIS questions, become a Kinora member for free.
Some key take aways from the webinar:
There are 4 types of Advocacy services.
Building capacity for self-advocacy
Individual advocacy, where an advocate works with you.
NDIS Appeals and
Systematic Advocacy
Advocacy services all across Australia are funded by the government (federal and state level) but are almost always at capacity, taking wait-lists only. Don’t call when you are in an urgent situation, get ahead of it. Get wait-listed if you need to.
Two things you can do about your situation:
Start the complaints process for whatever your situation requires. By starting the process, it could offer you other avenues or perspectives on your situation.
Have people you trust whom you can talk to about your situation to act as a sounding board.
To build capacity around self advocacy, training would include:
Conflict resolution, negotiation skills to find win-win outcomes.
Communications. Learning to assert yourself or be clear about what you want.
Problem solving skills.
Learning to define boundaries.
When facing a tough decision, it is important to pause, stop, think and discuss with someone you trust about what you want.
Lastly with informed consent. You may have initially consented to a treatment or service, but at anytime, it is totally ok to retract consent.
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We are joined by Caroline Santangelo, Operations Manager at Self Advocacy Sydney. Caroline has twenty years experience in the disability sector. She is an empathetic and wise advocate for others, and is passionate about building all the right skills for self-advocacy. She shares her expansive knowledge in this webinar.
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Circle of Support | Kinora Worksheet
Informed Consent | Kinora Worksheet
Supported Decision Making | Kinora Worksheet
Decision Making Checklist | Kinora Worksheet
Service agreement template | Kinora Worksheet
Potential service provider evaluation | Kinora Worksheet
Service agreement template | Kinora Worksheet
National Disability Advocacy Program
Disability Advocacy finder - Ask Izzy
How an advocate can help you (NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission)
Disability Gateway advocacy finder.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Human Rights Explained fact sheets
National Standards for Disability Services
National Standards for Disability Services - Easy Read version download
Make a complaint about a provider with the NDIS.
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission Participant Information Pack
