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The NDIS Review engages with the Self-Advocacy Resource Unit and Victorian self-advocacy groups

The NDIS Review recognises the importance of understanding and learning from people with disability their families and carers, and representative organisations.

We value the opportunity to learn and engage with SARU and Victorian self-advocacy groups on how make the support system better for people with disability. Self-advocacy and peer support are critical to bringing people with disability together, sharing their experiences and building their skills to speak up on issues that most to them

– Kirsten Deane

On the 13th and 17th of July the NDIS Review and panel member Kirsten Deane engaged with Self-Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU) and Victorian self-advocacy groups.

Self-advocacy brings us together and gives us power and a sense that we’re not alone and can make change happen

– Power in Culture and Ethnicity

SARU supports Victorian self-advocacy groups that are run by and for people with an intellectual disability, people with an acquired brain injury and people with complex communication support needs.

It is important that we have a voice. I’m more confident in myself speaking up on issues that matter to me

– All Abilities Advocacy

The consultation session focused on the following areas:

  • Making mainstream services and communities more inclusive and accessible for people with disability
  • Understanding the importance of self-advocacy and peer support and how to make them stronger
  • Improving the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) program
  • Reducing gaps in supports outside the NDIS

We heard solutions for how to make the NDIS and support system better for people with disability:   

  • Making it simpler to find and access supports inside and outside the NDIS
  • Building the capability and understanding of mainstream services (such as health, education and transport) on how to be more inclusive and accessible
  • Making sure that Local Area Coordinators and other organisations have the skills and understanding to connect people with supports in their local communities
  • Making the sure that the ILC program is easy to understand and accessible for people with disability, including applying and reporting on projects
  • Prioritising self-advocacy and peer support under the ILC program and providing greater funding certainty