July 2002

New programs aid advocacy

People with disabilities across Victoria will gain a better understanding of their rights through new programs funded by the State Government.

Community Services and Housing Minister Bronwyn Pike has announced $207,000 for Innovation in Advocacy grants to establish new disability advocacy programs across the State.

Mildura, Moe and Shepparton feature among rural recipients while others, including Statewide organisations, are based in Frankston, Footscray and Geelong.

Ms Pike said the grants reflected directions in the draft State Disability Plan, which focused on enabling people with a disability to lead individual lifestyles, building inclusive communities where they are welcomed locally and making public services more accessible.

‘These initiatives will help thousands of people with a disability gain a better understanding of their rights as Victorians,’ Ms Pike said.

The nine organisations to receive disability advocacy grants are:

• Inner West Migrant Resource Centre (Footscray)—$30,000 to work with Western Region Disability Network to empower three culturally and linguistically diverse local communities in advocacy for people with a disability;

• Regional Information and Advocacy Council (Shepparton) and Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative—$28,000 to ensure better advocacy for local Aboriginal people with a disability;

• Disability Discrimination Legal Service (Melbourne) and Villamanta Legal Service (Geelong-based Statewide)—$27,500 for a plain-English kit to enable people with a disability to represent themselves in disability discrimination matters and particularly to understand and use relevant legal precedents;

• AMIDA and Reinforce (Statewide)—$22,000 to help people with an intellectual disability in supported accommodation to better understand their rights and to develop advocacy networks;

• Gippsland Disability Resource Council (Moe)—$20,000 to support people with a disability to develop coordinated self-advocacy networks and leadership skills in the Gippsland region;

• Communication Aid Users Society (Statewide)—$20,000 for a Statewide peer support project to empower people with high support needs who traditionally lack a real voice in the disability advocacy sector or public policy development;

• Sunraysia Residential Services (Mildura)—$20,000 to enable people with a disability to use art and drama to develop a stronger understanding of, and interest in, advocacy.

• Bear in Mind (Statewide)—$20,000 to establish a speakers’ bureau and to facilitate the growth of self-advocacy for people with an acquired brain injury;

• People First Victoria (Frankston-based State-wide)—$19,600 to start a support network of self-advocacy organisations for people with an intellectual disability so the groups can work together and learn from one another.