Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and a Self-Advocacy Resource Unit - Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and a Self-Advocacy Resource Unit - July NewsletterDisability Services Division, Department of Human Services Progress So Far In May the project team f

Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and a Self-Advocacy Resource Unit - July Newsletter
Disability Services Division, Department of Human Services

Progress So Far

In May the project team finalised work plans with Disability Services Division, Department of Human Services. There are several information sources which will contribute to the final recommendations about the Resource Units:

A profile of advocacy and self advocacy organisations In Victoria

A review of research literature about the best ways to resource advocacy and self advocacy, including practical examples from Australia and overseas.

Consultations with a range of individuals and organisations interested in advocacy and self advocacy for people with disabilities.

Julian Gardner (Office of the Public Advocate), Jenni Coady (Equal Opportunity Commission ) and Rhonda Galbally (Disability Advisory Council of Victoria) will provide advice throughout the project.

In June the project started by looking at how advocacy is organised, managed and undertaken in Victoria by finding out how current disability advocacy and self-advocacy organisations work. The project team looked at how disability advocacy and self advocacy organisations are funded, managed, staffed, what sort of work is done, what resources they have, who they work with, what training advocates and self- advocates have and how the organisations and their Boards/ Committees manage their work.

Next the project team looked at the literature on advocacy and self-advocacy to find out what research has found out about making disability advocacy and self-advocacy work better. The team looked at other organisations in Australia and overseas. Many of the issues are common to Victoria/ Australia and other like countries and have persisted over many years. These issues are summarised in the consultation papers for comment and feedback.

In July the consultations phase of the project has been planned to occur over late July and all of August. Consultation papers have been prepared explaining the issues so far for the development of the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and Self-Advocacy Resource Unit. These papers are being widely circulated. Meetings are planned with the project team and peak organisations, groups and networks. There are individual meetings with the self advocacy organisations.

Tell us what you think by 31 August 2004!
We want your ideas! The key questions are:

Who is the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit for?
Who is the Self Advocacy Resource Unit for?
What should each Unit do?
How should each Unit be organised?

If you want extra information or to give us your thoughts, you can contact us by:

Phone: Between 16th and the 27th August:
Ring free call: 1800 035 299

email: mcfyffe@ozemail.com.au

fax: 54 393534

letter: Chris Fyffe & Jeffrey McCubbery, Fadersons Lane,
Mandurang 3551

Next Steps

In September the results of the consultations and literature review will be analysed and a second newsletter will be circulated. The main ideas and directions will be checked back with key interest groups.

In October final recommendations for the Disability Advocacy Resource Unit and Self-Advocacy Resource Unit will be completed and submitted to Dean Dadson and Christine Mathieson at Disability Services Division, DHS.

DHS Contact: Dean Dadson, 9616 6986, dean.dadson@dhs.vic.gov.au