IDAS
Indigenous Disability Advocacy Service
The role of IDAS is to work together with Indigenous people living with a disability and/or their carers and families, to ensure they achieve and maintain their rights. IDAS aims to prevent abuse, discrimination or negligent treatment of Indigenous people with disability, promote the human rights of Indigenous people with disability and support them to make informed choices.
Through this program Sydney Region Aboriginal Corporation are funded by Department of Social Services to provide Individual, non-legal support to our Indigenous community those who have serious and urgent issues with in Greater Western Sydney and throughout Regional NSW when required.
Royal Commission Disability Advocacy
The Disability Royal Commission was established in April 2019 in response to community concern about widespread reports of violence against, and the neglect, abuse and exploitation of, people with disability. These incidents might have happened recently or a long time ago.
The Disability Royal Commission will investigate:
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preventing and better protecting people with disability from experiencing violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation
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achieving best practice in reporting, investigating and responding to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of people with disability
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promoting a more inclusive society that supports people with disability to be independent and live free from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation.
SRAC was chosen by the Department of Social Services to be funded to deliver this program as a part of our Individual Advocacy Support. Advocates provide timely Disability Royal Commission Individual Advocacy Support to people affected across the broader Sydney area. Advocates will support people in a range of ways, and could do one or more of the following:
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Inform people of the Royal Commission including through outreach
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help people understand the purpose of the royal commission
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provide advice on issues/risks that may arise while engaging with the Royal Commission (noting legal issues/risks will be referred to appropriate legal advisory services)
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help people work out whether they want to participate in the Royal Commission, and explain the difference between public hearings, private sessions (if such sessions are to occur) and written submissions
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help people who want to participate in the Royal Commission plan the best way to tell their story
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help people communicate with the Royal Commission about required communication supports (e.g. interpreters, accessible interview techniques, recordings)
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refer people to other agencies for ongoing counselling and/or psychological support as needed, and deal with other related issues faced by people engaging with the Royal Commission e.g. accessing services, finding housing, stopping discrimination or making complaints