Our History
The organisation is managed and staffed by parents and allies of people with disability, who recognise the issues that people with disability and families face and who can assist in strengthening the advocacy and capacity of families.
All of the advocacy work we undertake, including our events, workshops and resources are underpinned by a theory that provides a comprehensive framework for how to help people with disability achieve a good life. The theory is called Social Role Valorisation (SRV) and can be powerful for families to use to improve the life of their family member with disability.
We were founded by families of people with disability, and differ from carer organisations in that our family members are advocating for people with disability to have a good, ordinary life, through natural community based supports and socially valued community roles. We do not advocate for parents or siblings themselves, and believe first and foremost in the importance of authentic inclusion for all people with disability.
We are currently the only advocacy organisation of this kind in Australia. We receive funding for our work from the Federal government’s National Disability Advocacy Program. For more information on the model of advocacy undertaken by Family Advocacy please view this film developed by Department of Social Services, 6 models of advocacy. Family Advocacy undertakes a range of work with families:
- building their capacity to advocate for their family member with disability and be leaders on rights and inclusion for people with disability in their communities;
- making representations to governments regarding inclusive legislation, policy, funding, monitoring and practice;
- and providing advocacy and capacity building information, support and advice
Our Vision
“Our Vision is of families being agents of positive social change so the inherent value of people with developmental disability is recognised within a just and inclusive society.
Our Purpose
“Our purpose is to attain positive social roles for people with developmental disability. This is accomplished through the development and support of advocacy by families and by strengthening the knowledge, role and influence of families. Our focus is to encourage and support families to speak up and seek opportunities with and and at times on behalf of their family members so as to enjoy the same environments, lifestyles and living conditions afforded to most Australians.
Our Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan 2023 – 2025 Word Accessible Doc
Strategic Plan 2023 – 2025 Accessible PDF
Strategic Plan 2023 – 2025 visual booklet
Our Model of Advocacy
Our model of Advocacy works on supporting families to undertake advocacy with, or at times on behalf of, their family members with developmental disability. We recognise that families striving for an inclusive life for their family member enables a richer society. This potent approach builds self-efficacy with and around the person with disability as families continue to be a strong conduit to the protection and progression of their loved one’s rights and interests.
The Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at UNSW, Sydney undertook an independent research to explore the impact of the Family Advocacy model at the person, family and community/systems levels, and to identify mechanisms of social change within the model.
The research report can be downloaded here.
Why advocacy by families is important
Families can actively and powerfully shape society. Taking action to improve the lives of people with disability or sustain positive life experiences (e.g., inclusive education, living in one’s own home, etc.) creates a better community for all.
Advocacy by families often springs from a vision of what they want to see for their child’s future. This has the power to sustain activism efforts even amidst challenges.
We believe that families are most likely to take up the role of advocacy for their family member with disability and act in their interests and no one else’s.
Taking on the role of an advocate does not come easily to everybody. For some, exhibiting confidence when advocating about something they feel deeply about is not an easy task; however, the more experience you have as an advocate for your family member, the more self- assurance you are likely to gain.
Michael Kendrick describes in his article The Natural Authority of Families some of the strengths that give authority to families when they are acting in the interest of their family member. In the clips below, Dad Alex Purvis discusses how and why he advocates on behalf of his son Dan.
The Alberta Association for Community Living in Canada has put together a Pocket Guide to Advocacy to support and provide families advice on the role families have as advocates for the family member with disability.
Family Advocacy has made available an advocacy booklet: Advocacy – tools and tips. Joyce Mitchell also shares ideas around around assertive communication in her article Mobilise.
In this news article, An Interview with Linda Till, Linda is a parent who describes her experiences on advocating on behalf of her daughter, and provides invaluable advice for parents who are experiencing a similar situation.
✦ What is developmental disability? This is a disability that occurs in the developmental period of a person’s life (in the period from conception to adulthood) and includes intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism and any combination of physical, intellectual or sensory disability.
