Funds to Enhance Disability Advocacy
Disability Advocacy Network, DANA, to be funded to help those with a disability and their families and carers to participate in the Productivity Commission Inquiry into long term care and support.
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Funds to Enhance Disability Advocacy
16 June 2010 at 4:25 pm
16 June 2010 at 4:25 pm
The newly established Disability Advocacy Network Australia, DANA, will receive $60,000 in Federal funding to help people with a disability, their families and carers participate in the Productivity Commission’s landmark inquiry into long-term care and support.
The funds will also help to continue DANA’s work as a peak body representing disability advocates.
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, made the announcement at DANA’s 3rd national conference in Canberra saying the Productivity Commission is undertaking a significant inquiry, which has the potential to reshape how disability is treated in this country and people with disability need to have their voices heard.
The funding is part of $640,000 which will be provided to disability organisations to involve people with disability, their families and carers in the Productivity Commission’s inquiry.
DANA is a peak body, established in 2009, which represents disability advocacy groups from across Australia.
Shorten told the conference that many people with a disability still have 2nd-class status in society, and advocacy is a way of improving the treatment they receive.
Advocacy agencies assisted around 20,000 people in 2009 with over 10,000 of those receiving one-on-one advocacy support.
At the Disability Ministers Conference in Adelaide on June 4th, Disability Ministers from all States and Territories endorsed a draft National Disability Advocacy Framework for consultation with the advocacy sector.
This Framework aims to provide greater consistency across government programs to get better results for the people with disability who need advocacy services.
The Federal Government says it will be seeking the views of the advocacy sector on key elements of the Framework.
