Advocacy for you
What is advocacy?
Policy and Advocacy has been the core element of the work SCIA since the beginning.
SCIA was established in 1967 by four men with quadriplegia, located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, who recognised that there wasn’t any accommodation services to support people with acquired spinal cord injuries after their hospital stay and successfully advocated for greater accessible accommodation.
Advocacy can be defined as speaking, acting or writing on behalf of the interest of marginalised individuals or groups.
SCIA offers a range of advocacy services. We seek to build a community of strong voices, and we offer individual advocacy to people of all disabilities.
How advocacy can support you?
What is Individual Advocacy & NDIS Appeals?
Our team of advocates support people with disabilities and their families to get a suitable outcome on issues where they have not been heard or treated fairly.
Individual Advocacy is a free service that provides short to medium-term, non-legal support for people who may have experienced discrimination, abuse or financial exploitation or issues relating to the NDIS, Housing and government services.
NDIS Appeals helps people with disability, and their families, navigate the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART), who reviews decisions made by government agencies, including the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)
Family Advocacy helps families navigate systems like NDIS, Centrelink and other government services by providing free, non-legal support, resources and information.
Self Advocacy training empowers people with disabilities, families and carers advocate for themselves now and into the future.
What is Systemic & Representative Advocacy
Systemic Advocacy speaks up and out about important systemic issues such as the Disability Royal Commission, the NDIS Review, Inequity between my Aged Care and the NDIS and many other matters. We work in partnership with likeminded disability organisations, contribute to advisory groups and in government inquiries and we respond to calls for submissions.
Representative Advocacy works together in an active advocacy community, sharing relevant information with our community and speaking up about issues raised by you. We have a committed advisory group regular online forums and local face-to-face gatherings across NSW.
When you get involved in representative advocacy, you are also learning about self-advocacy. Learning how to speak up with others about things that matter to you. And even better, you are doing it in a community.
How to Get Involved & Our Campaign Work
Our Systemic & Representative Advocacy team works in collaboration with our Advocacy Advisory Group to help shed light on advocacy issues that affect our members.
Read about our community events and latest campaigns. Find out how you can be involved in our campaign work or join one of our online forums and workshops and local Advocacy Community Networks.
About our Advocacy Advisory Group
Meet Our Advocacy Advisory Group
Alison Cook
David Ham
David Larbalestier
Jayne Boardman
Jordan Kramp
Raja Relf
Sarah-Jane Staszak
Sarah-Lynn Eade
Tanya Fitch
Policy Briefings & Submissions
Our Systemic & Representative team is committed to speaking up on issues that are important to our members. Through consultation with our members, broader community and Advocacy Advisory Group we have prioritised key Policy Areas.
Read our current Policy Briefings, submissions and information covering the issues of critical importance to SCIA’s membership and to share from a lived-experience perspective.
Taking Action Yourself
Self-advocacy is crucial for people with disabilities, as it empowers them to speak up for their rights and needs – ensuring the voices of people with disabilities are valued and respected.
By participating in self-advocacy, you actively participate in decisions that affect your life, or the life of a loved one.
Our advocacy team has put together resources to help you take action with your local council and on issues such as social housing, as well as accessing exercise therapy through the NDIS.
Forums & Workshops
Our Representative Advocacy team hold regular Online Network Forums and Workshops to provide you with information about the disability space and empower you to take action.
Navigate below to learn about what’s going on in spinal cord injury research, NDIS legislative changes, Disability Royal Commission, accessible air travel and much more.
If you have a topic suggestion, or if you would like more information about our Forums and Workshops, please contact our Advocacy team below.
Representative Advocacy - NDIS Forum Legislative Changes
Recent Advocacy Wins
Advocacy wins happen when the Advocacy Community Networks, Advocacy Advisory Group and the Advocacy Team work together for change.
Many of the larger wins below are due to the collaborative advocacy actions of multiple disability organisations including SCIA.
Check out our wins on this page and join the community to get involved!
Advocacy Wins Overview
Parramatta Council has added new signage to identify accessible toilets at the Lake Parramatta.
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Mid North Coast member organised a Walk/Roll around event with mobility equipment in the Port Macquarie CBD with Major and local MP to increase awareness of accessibility issues.
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Bollards at an accessible parking spot in Port Macquarie were placed back after being removed to ensure accessible parking is kept clutter free.
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Two Peer Leaders have engaged councillors and MPs in their local areas to highlight local access issues.
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SCIA has developed a guide to write to local coucil, available here.
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Inaccessible curb ramp at Liverpool zebra crossing was fixed by Liverpool Council in 4 months. It is now accessible.
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Port Macquarie Council committed to working with local advocates and people with disability to make their CBD accessible.
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Using the Snap Send Solve App, members of the Parramatta Advocacy Group successfully asked Parramatta Council to resolve an issue involving an inaccessible bathroom in a local restaurant. The issue was resolved within a week.
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Westfield Parramatta now has signage directing people to where the next available lift is located to support shoppers with mobility limitations.
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Services NSW responded to say that if permits are destroyed by sunlight, that they will replace them for free.
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Canberra Hospital SCI Annual Review pilot to commence in February 2026. A Spinal ACT and ACT Advocacy Community Network initiative.
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Waverly and Bayside Council Committees have improved commitment to address accessible housing.
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Building Commission began consultation regarding the adoption of the National Construction Code 2022 (NCC) at silver level of the Livable Housing Design Standards (ongoing).
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All NSW Housing Pattern Book designs will (at least) meet the requirements of the Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) Liveable Housing Design Standard.
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Two local real estate agencies have committed to showcasing access.
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Building Commission consultation regarding the adoption of the National Construction Code 2022 (NCC) at silver level of the Livable Housing Design Standards (ongoing).
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City of Sydney commitment to 100% Liveable Housing Design on all new builds.
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Members invited on local DIAP or other Council Committees.
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Advocacy Committee, Representative Advocacy Members and SCIA Team invited on local government, access working groups and DIAP consultations assist councils to adopt improved housing and other accessible measures.
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SCIA team members invited to contribute to the development of new WAV training. Modules to ensure suitability. .
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$15 million package designed to improve passenger experience including support grants, loan scheme, increase in subsidy and driver training.
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Inclusion of Home Modifications and Assistive Technology as separate categories in the new Aged Care Act.
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Available support hours through Support at Home program potentially include an additional 4 hours per week for those assessed on the highest package.
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SCIA team invited to represent member issues in the Aviation Standards co-design workshops.
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SCIA invited to regularly contribute to all transport access decisions through the monthly Accessible Transport Access Committee.
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Aviation White Paper actions include:
- requirements for airports and airlines to collaborate,
- a review of the limit on passenger numbers for people with disability,
- a commitment to improved remedies for damage of wheelchairs and equipment.
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Gained an exemption for proof of payment for reoccurring transport funding to a limit of $132.58.
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A member in Port Macquarie gained access to the NDIS using SCIA materials and support from of the Advocacy Community Network. Others are also applying.
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SCIA team representation on the new NDIS Framework Planning Pool to consult on the development of the new framework plans.
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Revision of NDIS Lists of Supports to include disability related services such as hair and nail care and driving lessons as well as clarification on the replacement process to purchase items on the ‘out list’.
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SCIA team invited to participate in in NDIS Rules Consultation Sessions.
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Parramatta Council has added new signage to identify accessible toilets at the Lake Parramatta.
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Mid North Coast member organised a Walk/Roll around event with mobility equipment in the Port Macquarie CBD with Major and local MP to increase awareness of accessibility issues.
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Bollards at an accessible parking spot in Port Macquarie were placed back after being removed to ensure accessible parking is kept clutter free.
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Two Peer Leaders have engaged councillors and MPs in their local areas to highlight local access issues.
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SCIA has developed a guide to write to local coucil, available here.
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Inaccessible curb ramp at Liverpool zebra crossing was fixed by Liverpool Council in 4 months. It is now accessible.
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Port Macquarie Council committed to working with local advocates and people with disability to make their CBD accessible.
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Using the Snap Send Solve App, members of the Parramatta Advocacy Group successfully asked Parramatta Council to resolve an issue involving an inaccessible bathroom in a local restaurant. The issue was resolved within a week.
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Westfield Parramatta now has signage directing people to where the next available lift is located to support shoppers with mobility limitations.
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Contact our Advocacy Team Today
Want to know more?
If you want to get involved in a campaign, attend an event or if you need support from any of our Advocacy teams, please fill in our form and we will get in touch with you shortly.
Advocacy Community Network
Advocacy Community Network
Community Social Lunch
Hunter Coffee Club
Ten Pin Bowling
Hunter Community Social Lunch
Hunter NRL: Knights v Warriors
Community Social Lunch
SCIA Community Social Picnic
Advocacy Community Network
SCIA’s Advocacy Wins Webpage Launch
NDIS Appeals team assists family with funded supports
Advocacy assists client with service provision issues
NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards Nominations
Advocacy assists woman with her first NDIS planning meeting
Advocacy team changes future decisions of NDIS Appeals
December Representative Advocacy Online Forum 2025
SpinalCordInjuriesAustralia December 22, 2025 3:21 pm