Spinal Cord Injuries Australia (SCIA) is a for-purpose organisation working for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI) and other neuro conditions. We were founded by people with SCI in 1957; people with disability make up over 23% of our staff, and the majority of our Board have a spinal cord injury.
Who are we?
SCIA is a national, member based organisation. We have physical locations in New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, and we support people nationwide.
SCIA serves nearly 3,400 members made up of people living with disability, their family, carers, researchers, and other professionals working in the sector.
We are a peak body for people with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions and a Disabled Peoples Organisation. A Disabled Peoples Organisation (DPO) is internationally recognised as an organisation where more than 51% of its board and membership is made up of people with a disability.
At SCIA:
- 66% of our board have a disability.
- A third of our of employees have a disability and 31% have an immediate family member with a disability.
- 53% of employees with a disability have a physical disability.
- 31% of our staff provide regular care to a person with a disability, long-term health condition or age-related issues.
So, whether you are booking with the Wheelchair Book and Ride Service, calling to ask for information or seeking advocacy support, chances are you are talking to someone who completely understands your needs.
Our Vision
To create a world where people with spinal & neuro conditions and their loved ones thrive.
Our Mission
To advance the rights, choices and entitlements of people living with spinal cord injury and other neuro conditions, and to ensure that high quality, relevant services are readily available for people with spinal cord injury and other physical disabilities.
Our Commitment
All services SCIA provides are based on the assessed needs of individuals with a spinal cord injury (and other disabilities) and support the strategic goals and objectives of the organisation.
SCIA as a registered provider under the NDIS is guided by and aligned to the NDIS Practice Standards and is committed to ensure that the Core Modules are achieved and reflected in the culture and philosophy of the organisation on an ongoing basis.
SCIA recognises the rights of each person with a disability to receive services and will not discriminate on any basis.
SCIA has been approved as both a registered plan management provider and a registered provider of a wide range of other support services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and is aware of a potential conflict of interest in performing both these roles for an individual. See SCIA’s Conflict of Interest under the NDIS policy.
- NDIS Quality and Safeguarding – Client Rights Fact Sheet outlining key client rights and information for NDIS participants using SCIA’s NDIS services
- Protection of Human Rights and Freedom from Abuse Policy
- Working with People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Backgrounds Policy