Information Services:
Disability Advocacy Pathways is the referral organisation and will tell you which organisation is funded to provide disability advocacy in any Queensland area.
Please phone the statewide centralised phone advice and referral service to support all people with disability.
Phone: 1800 130 582 Email: pathways@qai.org.au
Website: Disability Pathways
National Abuse and Neglect Hotline and the Complaints Resolution and Referral Service
Phone: 1800 880 052
Information on reporting or addressing the abuse and neglect of a person with a disability.
Queensland government
QLD government individual advocacy information
Disability Gateway – Commonwealth (National) government
Commonwealth government advocacy and rights information
Specialist Individual Advocacy Services:
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders people with disability
Hosted by ADA Australia. Phone: 1800 718 969; Email: info@atsidnq.com.au Website: https://atsidnq.com.au/
Amparo Advocacy Inc. – People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD)
AMPARO Advocacy is a non-profit community organisation which provides independent individual and systemic advocacy on behalf of vulnerable people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds with disability.
Ph: (07) 3354 4900; Email: info@amparo.org.au; Website: http://www.amparo.org.au/
Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion – Children and younger people with disability (0-18 years)
Phone: 1300 130 582 Website: Young People’s Program | qai
Queensland Individual Advocacy Services:
Speaking Up For You (SUFY): phone: (07) 3255 1244
SUFY is an independent, individual social advocacy organisation for people with a disability in Brisbane and Moreton Bay and Redlands. Currently assisting with NDIS appeals.
Ph: 07 3255 1244 Email: sufy@sufy.org.au Website: https://www.sufy.org.au/
People with Disability Australia (PWDA)
Ph.1800 422 015 or Website: www.pwd.org.au/
PWDA have advocacy services around Australia, including in Queensland: Logan, Sunshine Coast, Frazer Coast, Bundaberg, Mount Isa, and the Lower Gulf Communities. Call the above number for referrals. Currently assisting with NDIS appeals.
Australian Disability Advocacy (ADA) Australia:
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia) is a not-for-profit, independent, community-based advocacy service. Their advocacy services are free, confidential and client focused. They are funded to provide Individual Advocacy support in Redlands, Logan/Beenleigh, Gold Coast and Central Qld regions. They can also provide disability advocacy across Queensland for First Nations people.
Phone: Office:(07) 3637 6000; Information and Advice: Free Call: 1800 818 338 – Between 9am – 4 pm Monday to Friday.
Email: info@adaaustralia.com.au. Website: www.adaaustralia.com.au/
Sunshine Coast Citizen Advocacy
Citizen Advocacy is a movement which seeks to promote, protect and defend the rights and interests of people who have intellectual disability. It calls for the establishment and support of a one-to-one relationship between a person who has intellectual disability, who has unmet needs in one or more important life areas, and a resourceful and principled citizen, who is free from conflict of interest. They make a personal and voluntary commitment to the person to provide some of the emotional and/or practical support required to help meet the person’s needs. Citizen Advocates are recruited, matched, oriented and supported by staff of a Citizen Advocacy Program. Based in Maroochydore.
Ph: (07) 5442 2524 Email: sunshinecoast@citizenadvocacy.com Website: citizenadvocacy.com
The Advocacy and Support Centre (TASC)
Phone: (07) 4616 9700
Email: reception@tascnational.org.au
Website: www.tascnational.org.au
TASC National provides a range of services across Queensland to assist various community segments, including legal services, mental health, and disability advocacy In Toowoomba, Ipswich, Roma, Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Goondiwindi and greater south-west region. They offer legal advice and referrals in areas such as family law, domestic violence law, and consumer law. Their mental health and disability advocacy programs focus on helping individuals navigate system complexities and assert their rights effectively. Additionally, TASC extends support to seniors facing elder abuse and assists individuals seeking to engage with the National Redress Scheme.
Capricorn Citizen Advocacy Rockhampton
Capricorn Citizen Advocacy Rockhampton assist those with cognitive or communication disabilities who may rely heavily on others to support them every day, especially if they are segregated from the general community and become isolated. CCAR provides citizen advocate support, and Vantage Point advocacy support service. Vantage point offers support to people in Rockhampton, Longreach, Barcaldine, Banana, Barcoo, Central Highlands, Diamantina, Gladstone, Winton, Blackall, Livingstone and Woorabinda LGAs.
Ph: (07) 4922 0299 Email: office@capricornca.org.au Website: http://www.capca.org.au
Mackay Advocacy Inc. provides free and confidential information and individual advocacy to Mackay, Whitsunday and Hinterland areas. Opening hours – Monday – Friday 9-5pm
Independent Advocacy NQ – Townsville and Surrounding areas
Independent Advocacy in the Tropics Inc. is a community organisation formed in 1989 then incorporated in 1991, to provide advocacy support for people with disability.
Freecall: 1800 887 688 Phone: (07) 4725 2505
Email: reception@ianq.org.au Website: independentadvocacy.org.au
Rights in Action Inc. – Cairns, Far North QLD
- is a non-profit, community-based organisation that provides strong independent advocacy for people with disabilities who are in vulnerable situations.
- strongly supports people where we believe an individual has been taken advantage of or their rights have been infringed upon because of their disability.
- provides advocacy assistance to people with disabilities who live in Cairns, Yarrabah, Mareeba and Atherton.
- is an independent advocacy agency for people with a disability, and part of the National Disability Advocacy Program funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, and the State Government Department of Communities, Disability Services and Seniors and Queensland Health.
Open Monday to Friday – 9am to 5pm
Phone: (07) 40317377 Email: info@rightsinaction.org Website: rightsinaction.org
Queenslanders with Disabilities Network (QDN)
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) is a statewide organisation of, for, and with people with disability connecting for collective and affirmative action. It is a self-advocacy organisation.
Ph: (07) 3252 8566 or 1300 363 783 Email: qdn@qdn.org.au
Address: 338 Turbot St. Spring Hill Website: qdn.org.au
Systems Advocacy Services:
NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission – Ph: 1800 035 544.
Contact the NDIS Commission if you have a complaint about NDIS services in all States and Territories.
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI):
Phone (07) 3844 4200 or 1300 130 582; Website: www.qai.org.au.
QAI is an independent, community-based systems and legal advocacy organisation for people with disability in Queensland, Australia. They also have a Human Rights Telephone Legal Advice Service for people with an intellectual, cognitive or psychiatric disability. They are also providing support to NDIS appeals. Contact them for more information.
Australian Disability Advocacy (ADA) Australia:
Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia) is a not-for-profit, independent, community-based advocacy and education service with more than 25 years’ experience in supporting and improving the wellbeing of older people and people with disability. Their advocacy services are free, confidential and client focused. ADA Australia also offers a range of education and training options. ADA Australia is able to assist you with a range of specific services. If you:
- Are unhappy with your government residential care, in home care or community care services in Queensland
- Want to know more about the rights and responsibilities of clients
- Are having difficulty with your Enduring Power of Attorney, Guardianship, or administration arrangements
- Wish to lodge a complaint about the service you received from ADA Australia or another provider
- You are seeking education for staff in Advocacy, Older Persons Mental health or Guardianship matters.
Information and Advice: Free Call: 1800 818 338 – Between 9.30 – 4 pm Monday to Friday.
Email: info@adaaustralia.com.au. Website: www.adaaustralia.com.au/
Women with Disabilities Australia
WWDA have undertaken many important and informative research projects that focus on the needs of women with a disability.
Website: www.wwda.org.au/
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Website: www.afdo.org.au/.
National Council on Intellectual Disability
Website: www.ncid.org.au/
Australian Human Rights Commission
Website: www.hreoc.gov.au/disability_rights/
Other States
Intellectual Disability Right Service – NSW only
Has been at the forefront of justice issues for people with intellectual disability for over a decade in New South Wales and they have an extensive range of information for lawyers and the general public that you can access. They provide support to people in New South Wales who are going through the justice system. On their website you will find a range of information, resources and research project which inform their work.
Website: http://www.idrs.org.au/
