A sense of choice and control is important to us all. Everyone has the right to live free from unnecessary restrictions, make choices about their life and have those choices respected. People are happy with life choices when they are engaged and listened to.

Most often people with disabilities feel supported by their families, friends and support providers to set goals and plan their life.

Sometimes people with disabilities find that their voice is not being heard or they are not being given the chance to make decisions. This can happen when their carers mean well but may over-protect the person with a disability.

Advocacy agencies can help to empower people to find their voice, to be independent, to choose what they want and take steps to achieve their goals. 

Below are some agencies that can help with advocacy and legal support. For a more extensive list, please visit:

Online: https://disabilityadvocacyfinder.dss.gov.au/disability/ndap/

Ability Centre – social work team provides advocacy support using a person centred perspective to support people to have more choice, control and independence.
Online: www.abilitycentre.com.au
Phone: 1300 106 106

Advocare – advocacy for older people or people with disabilities.
Online: www.advocare.org.au

Citizen Advocacy Perth West – long term advocacy.
Phone: (08) 9322 5999

Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS) – services for people who experience domestic abuse e.g. physical, sexual, emotional or financial.
Phone: (08) 92275852

Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre (EDAC) – services for people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CaLD) backgrounds or English as a second language (ESL).
Phone: (08) 9388 7455

Headwest – Advocacy services for people with Acquired Brain Injury.
Online: http://www.headwest.asn.au
Phone: (08) 9330 6370

Kalparrin – supporting children and families, based at Perth Children’s Hospital
Online: http://kalparrin.org.au/

People with Disabilities WA INC – issue based and short term advocacy for complex, short-term issues.
Online: http://www.pwd.org.au/
Phone: (08) 9485 8900

MIDLAS – advocacy and support for debt and legal matters.
Online: http://www.midlas.org.au/

Children with Disabilities – advocacy for people aged 0-25 years.
Online: http://www.cda.org.au/home
Phone: 1800 222 660

Developmental Disability WA – advocacy for people developmental delay.
Online: http://ddc.org.au/
Phone: (08) 9420 7203

Welfare Rights and Advocacy Service – advice, information and ongoing representation re: work, tenancy, financial and overall welfare matters – legal matters only i.e. not landlord / tenant disputes.
Online: http://www.wraswa.org.au/
Phone: (08) 9328 1751

Citizen Advice Bureau – advice on the law, your rights and entitlements
Online: http://www.cabwa.com.au/
Phone: (08) 9221 5711

Community Legal Centres Association – representing 28 Community Legal Centres (CLCs) operating in Western Australia which provide free or low cost legal help to the community
Online: https://www.communitylaw.net/
Phone: (08) 9221 9322

Disability Discrimination Unit – unit only deals with discrimination issues based on a person’s disability under either the Federal Disability Discrimination Act (1992) or the Western Australia Equal Opportunity Act (1984).
Online: http://www.nican.com.au/service/disability-discrimination-unit-community-law-service-inc

Equal Opportunities Commission – provides information on legal discrimination, education to agencies and a means of redress for individuals who have experienced discrimination under the Equal Opportunities Act 1985.
Online: http://www.eoc.wa.gov.au/

Sussex Street Community Law Servcies – low cost legal services specialising in disability law and compensation claims.
Online: http://www.sscls.asn.au/
Phone: (08) 6253 9500

Legal Aid – general legal aid agency, providing low-cost legal services.
Online: https://www.legalaid.wa.gov.au/Pages/Default.aspx
Phone: 1300 650 579

Office of the Public Advocate – deals with applications for Guardianship and Administration orders.
Online: http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/
Phone: (08) 9278 7300

Public Trustee – managers matters related to financial and power of attorney if a person is found to be unable to manage their estate.
Online: http://www.publictrustee.wa.gov.au/
Phone: 1300 746 116

Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Guardianship

If you require support long term with property, finances, personal, lifestyle and treatment matters, you may like or need to consider Enduring Power of Attorney and / or Enduring Power of Guardianship. These enable an adult with full legal capacity to appoint another person to make decisions on their behalf. For more information on these, view the Public Advocate website.

Online: http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au

Advance Health Directive (AHD)

If you wish to make decisions now about treatments you do and do not want to receive if you ever become sick or injured and are unable to communicate your wishes, an Advance Health Directive can effectively become “your voice”. Speak to your general practitioner (GP) about this.

For more information:

Online: http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au
Online: http://www.publicadvocate.wa.gov.au/A/advance_health_directives.aspx
Online: http://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Advance-care-planning