NDP Community

Independent advocacy is about speaking up for and standing alongside people with disabilities and not being influenced by the views of others.

Advocacy for people with disability can be defined as speaking, acting or writing with minimal conflict of interest on behalf of a disadvantaged person or group, in order to promote, protect and defend the welfare of and justice for either the person or group by:
• Acting in a partisan manner (being on their side and no-one else’s)
• Being primarily concerned with their fundamental needs;
• Remaining steadfast and accountable to them in a way which is empathetic and vigorous (while respecting the rights of others); and
• always ensuring a duty of care.

National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) services have to be accredited under the National Standards of Disability Services; are free and independent from all other agencies, services, providers and work autonomously but collaboratively within community.  Independent advocacy is available to all people with disability who meet the eligibility criteria (as outlined in the DSA '86, Section8) and DSS (NDAP, NDIS External Appeals) program/s funding guidelines. 

National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) providers embed the UN Convention of the Rights of People with Disability (CRPD), the Disability Discrimination Act, [State/Territory] Human Rights Act, the Disability Services Act '86 & other relevant legislative frameworks, which aligns to all eight (8) Guiding Principles contained within the Australian Disability Strategy 2021-2031.