Firstly, we explored what people are up against, such as the negative life patterns and the devaluation that often occurs in society. We then focused on the importance of mindsets that encourage people to dream big and have high expectations and positive vision for their life. We learnt the importance of helping people to connect with ‘valued’ others in their community and strengthen positive roles such as partner, friend, worker, volunteer and to build skills in these roles. Emerging leaders participated and contributed fully. They brought different stories and perspectives from their culture regarding how people are both valued and devalued.

A follow up Zoom session helped participants consider and share learnings and insights from the training and identified strategies for how we can change the attitudes of people who have low expectations of what people with disability can do. This is important for emerging leaders to be able to represent the values of AMPARO at events and consultations as well as improve the expectations that communities and families have of people with disability.

Strategies included:

• Be a role model yourself of what people CAN do.
• Share your stories of what you have done, despite challenges and difficulties
• Respectfully challenge people who express negative views or beliefs
• Hold the vision of a good life for all people with disability
• Advocate and show people what is possible for people with disability

The increased attendance is due to the Organisational Capacity Building project.

Our newest Management Committee member, James Nono welcomed people with a heartfelt acknowledgement to country. Three members, Bic, Francoise and Cuc shared their story of receiving advocacy from AMPARO. Other emerging leaders shared aspects of their experiences. We also showcased AMPARO’s history and discussed the important difference advocacy makes to people’s lives. A lovely, heartwarming event.

“I talked and I am happy. I liked the welcome, – I liked how to talk to each other and the food we shared”.

 

“I feel so good. If you meet me 2 years ago, I couldn’t talk. Now I have confidence talking to people. The Morning Tea make me open mind more and listen to others story and others culture. I meet new people.”

Grete had been living in a domestic violence situation and had experienced physical, emotional, verbal and psychological abuse over many years. After her stroke, Grete’s partner left her and she became a single mother with a disability caring for two young children.

Grete was extremely socially isolated as she had no other family living in Australia and was having great difficulties managing her home, she struggled with undertaking basic tasks such as shopping, cleaning and cooking for her family, and accessing the community. Furthermore, Greta had limited proficiency in English, no understanding of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and experienced difficulty accessing mainstream services and was needing to find safe and suitable housing.

Despite the fact she had received support from a hospital rehabilitation team, to access the NDIS, her application to the NDIS was rejected twice.

Grete had also been supported by the same team to apply for Disability Support Pension (DSP), however this and the following appeal was also rejected.

As a result despite her disability, Grete remained on Newstart Allowance and was required to actively look for work, which was extremely stressful.

AMPARO became involved and was able to secure further medical evidence to support another Access Request to the NDIS and in the meantime advocacy supported Greta to access the Qld Community Support Scheme. However not long after this AMPARO was successful in securing access to the NDIS for Greta.

In the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, Grete’s partner returned to Australia to live in the same household with her and her children. Greta’s situation became more serious, but she did not feel she had the capacity or resources to find and pay for an alternative living situation and remained living in the same house with her children. Grete was hesitant for the advocate to assist her to apply for Department of Housing accommodation, as her financial situation was very unclear and she was in desperate need for legal assistance.

Over a 15 month period AMPARO’S advocacy was able to:

• Secure a specialist’s assessment and further relevant medical evidence to support a new NDIS Access Request, which was successful.
• Secure a good level of funding in Greta’s NDIS Plan to meet her needs, including adequate Support Coordination.
• Connect Greta with a culturally responsive and skilled service providers who could meet her specific language and cultural needs.
• Support Greta to obtain community legal assistance for advice and support.
• Make a successful application for Greta to receive the disability support pension.
• Applied for and accessed safe, affordable public housing and support for her to move to her new home.

The strong independent advocacy by AMPARO has brought positive and sustainable changes to Grete’s life and has given her new opportunities to care for her children, participate in the local community, build her informal support network, improve her physical strength and gain control over her own life.

Around 200 people with disability rallied in Brisbane and Rockhampton yesterday to raise their concerns about the future of funding for disability advocacy, as part of the Stand with Us! campaign.

Spokesperson for the Stand with us! campaign, Des Ryan, said that yesterday’s turnout shows just how much disability advocacy matters to people with disability.

“Advocacy helps people with disability right across Queensland, including in regional areas, when they’re most in need of help. Help that is not available through any other avenue,” Mr Ryan said.

CEO of ADA Australia and spokesperson for the QLD Disability Advocacy Alliance Geoff Rowe said that people with disability have been heard, but there is more work to do.

“Through the Stand with us! campaign Queensland Government has heard directly from people with disability that access to advocacy is very important in their lives, and they have listened.

“However, the need for advocacy support is ongoing and people with disability and their families need certainty that advocacy supports will be available to them in the future.”

Minister Crawford attended the rally and reaffirmed Queensland Government support for disability advocacy but acknowledged that the two-year funding commitment is a stop-gap measure while an ongoing funding model for advocacy is developed between the state and federal governments.

This work will be guided by a new National Disability Strategy and a Federal Government demand and gap analysis of independent disability advocacy and decision-making supports.

Geoff Rowe said that work towards an ongoing disability advocacy funding model is paramount, and that the NDIS is only one part of the picture.

“The two-year funding commitment is a great start, and the Alliance looks forward to working with government to help develop a sustainable and fair funding model that provides advocacy support for all Queenslanders with disability, not just those who are participants in the NDIS.”

In the meantime, the Alliance will work with Queensland Government on processes to allocate the $8.1 million and continue to provide disability advocacy support where it’s needed.
Stand with us! visit www.standwithus.com.au

Media contacts:

Geoff Rowe, ADA Australia E: geoff.rowe@adaaustralia.com.au P: 0474 774 273

Maureen Fordyce, AMPARO E: maureen@amparo.org.au P: 0401 600 245

About QLD Disability Advocacy Alliance

A number of independent disability advocacy organisations across the state have joined forces to form the QLD Disability Advocacy Alliance, who are collectively calling on the Queensland Government for continued funding support for individual, citizen and systemic disability advocacy.

The Alliance includes:

Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Disability Network of Queensland (ATSIDNQ)

AMPARO Advocacy

Capricorn Citizen Advocacy

Gold Coast Advocacy

Independent Advocacy NQ

IRASI – Ipswich Regional Advocacy Services Inc

Mackay Advocacy

Queenslanders with Disability Network

Rights in Action

SUFY – Speaking up for You

TASC – The Advocacy and Support Centre