RIAC, which provides support out of offices in Shepparton, Bendigo, Mildura and Geelong, has joined a group of 52 disability advocacy organisations who issued a joint call on governments to increase funding to sustain their services last week.
The organisations report a growing demand for support by people with disability, increased wait lists, loss of staff and services closing.
The statement said that insufficient funding had forced them to lay off staff and turn away people who sought assistance and that further cuts would be imminent without immediate government action.
RIAC chief executive officer Dr Sandy Ross said that despite the clear acknowledgement by the Disability Royal Commission (DRC) and the NDIS Review on the importance of advocacy services, RIAC was one of many in the disability advocacy sector struggling with a lack of resources and funding.
“RIAC has had to make two advocates redundant ahead of this new financial year, and our wait lists will get longer,” Dr Ross said.
The national peak body for disability advocacy services, Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA), has warned that the continued lack of additional investment by governments in the advocacy sector will have severe implications for people with disability around the country.
“Our member organisations play an essential role in ensuring that marginalised people with disability can get help when they are being hurt, neglected, discriminated against and excluded by services, supports and people in the community,” DANA chief executive officer Jeff Smith said.
Mr Smith said the need for trusted, independent advocacy would become even more critical when changes from the DRC and NDIS Review begin to take effect.
“The same organisations that people with disability rely on for navigating new reforms are experiencing a severe crisis themselves,” Mr Smith said.
“Both the DRC and NDIS Review highlighted the vital role of independent disability advocacy in their final reports, and the need to increase funding to meet demand.
“Yet our member organisations are struggling to keep their doors open.”
An urgent funding lifeline is needed now to sustain organisations during this period of transition up to July 2025.
The disability advocacy organisations are calling for:
- An additional $29 million for National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) organisations to meet existing advocacy demand until mid-2025.
- $13 million for a dedicated funding boost for advocacy providers operating in rural, remote, and very remote areas to meet the immediate need.
- $5.225 million for training in disaster management, First Nations cultural safety training, resources and pilots, and supported decision-making awareness.
- $17 million to be allocated to state and territory disability advocacy programs to sustain organisations outside of the federally-funded NDAP.
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