$16m Funding Extension for Disability Advocates

The Commonwealth Government has extended existing grants worth $16.7 million to disability advocacy agencies.

Assistant Minister for Disability Services Jane Prentice MP said 58 agencies are currently funded through the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) to provide people with disability access to advocacy that promotes, protects and ensures their full and equal enjoyment of all human rights.

“We have approved a 12-month extension to these grant agreements, making $16.7 million of funding available to these agencies until 30 June 2017,” Mrs Prentice said.

“The National Disability Advocacy Program, which has operated largely unchanged since it began in the 1980s, is being reviewed.

“The 12-month extension will enable the Department of Social Services to work closely with people with disability, advocacy agencies, the National Disability Insurance Agency, state and territory governments and other key stakeholders to continue this review through 2016.

“The review will provide direction for these advocacy services as they begin operating in a new environment that includes the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).”

Service providers and other interested parties are encouraged to contribute to the review. Further information will be available on the DSS website in coming weeks.

For more information on the NDAP, including details of service providers, go to https://www.dss.gov.au/ndap