What is advocacy? Our contact details Disability advocacy is about your human rights. 132 Rd, Wodonga Advocacy makes sure all your rights are PO Box 982 Wodonga VIC 3689 protected, by giving you a voice, so you can Phone: (02) 6056 2420 live your life fully. Fax: (02) 6024 6809 [email protected] Who can be an advocate? Advocacy • You can be your own advocate for people with disability • You can have someone such as a family 1st Floor member or support worker be your Suite 104-105 Wollundry Chambers advocate 63 Johnston Street • You can have an independent advocate , who will be on your side and speak on PO Box 912 Wagga Wagga 2650 your behalf. This is what RDAS can do. Phone: (02) 6921 9225 [email protected]

Self advocacy: This is when you advocate for 1800 250 292 | www.rdas.org.au yourself. help you do this, including: • Knowing about your rights • • Finding a suitable support service.

Individual advocacy: This is when you are ABN: 99 618 606 563 Independent on your behalf, ensuring your interests are protected. Local Your issue can be about anything to do with Free your rights. Disability Systemic advocacy: This is when an advocate RDAS is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, Department of Health, the Victorian Government Department of Health Services acts on behalf of a group of people to change a and Human Services, and the NSW Government Department of Family and law or policy. Community Services. NSDS About our advocacy services RDAS services the following cities, Who can receive advocacy from RDAS? towns and surrounds: People with any type of disability Victoria: • Beechworth including acquired brain injury, physical, West Wyalong intellectual, sensory or mental illness. • Benalla • Bright RDAS can also advocate with your family or • Indigo Griffith Young carer to help you achieve what you want. • Temora • Myrtleford Leeton How can an advocate support you? • Rutherglen RDAS advocates can support you to: Coleambally • • Make a complaint if you are not happy with • a service you are receiving • Wodonga Wagga Wagga • Provide support at a tribunal hearing • NSW: payments and subsidies • • Address a range of issues where you may • Berrigan

have been discriminated against. • Holbrook What an advocate cannot do • Coleambally Advocates cannot: • Coolamon Rutherglen • • Cootamundra Albury • Chiltern Wodonga Tallangatta Corryong • Be your case manager Main Office • Wangaratta • Advocate for you when there is a more Yackandandah suitable service to deal with your issue • Beechworth Benalla • • Myrtleford • Hay Bright • Henty Mount • Holbrook Beauty Mansfield RDAS can educate the community to raise • disability awareness and promote change in • Junee • Leeton • • Lockhart • • Narrandera • Speak at schools • Temora • Conduct training sessions for workers • Tumut • • Wagga Wagga • West Wyalong Outreach service