Meet the Team
Support for people with an injury and families, in spinal units and in the community
Our policy and advocacy experts can help you resolve issues that impact your independence or ability to live the life you choose. We have experience in areas such as NDIS, equipment, and modifications, employment opportunities, pensions, personal care, access and much more.
We have staff with lived experience of disability on our Policy and Advocacy team, so they understand the challenges you face.
For further information or to be contacted by someone from the Policy & Advocacy Team, kindly complete the Policy & Advocacy Request Form.
We are available for those who need support and guidance for individual, systemic, family and self-advocacy matters. Read more about what advocacy is right for you.
- Assist you with removing barriers such as access issues
- Have your NDIS issues resolved
Please read the brochure for more information about our Policy & Advocacy Services.
We are here for you
Everyone’s experience is different
SCIA’s advocacy team offers independent advice and support to assist with resolving issues that are preventing you from living a fulfilled life. We are constantly fighting for inclusivity and change for people with disability, their family members or carers. Please note: We do not offer legal representation.
Seeks to uphold the rights and interests of people with all disability on a one to one basis by addressing instances of discrimination, abuse and neglect.
Individual advocates work with people on a short term and issue specific basis.
The policy work we do do is broad and covers national, state and local issues in any domain that affects the lives of people with spinal cord injury and other disabilities. Any policy decision or regulation or law that has a negative impact on the lives of the disability community, be it access or inclusion or participation, is likely to have an influence on the work that the team do counter this. This comes in many forms such as lobbying decision-makers and funders (government and non-government) to pursue changes.
Representative Advocacy promotes and represents the views and interests of people with spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions, their families and carers and the spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurological conditions community.
Our Representative Advocacy team is based in Sydney. We hold Online Advocacy Network Forums; face-to-face advocacy catch ups and Advocacy Education and Awareness Workshops.
Our First Nations Representative Advocate works across NSW to connect with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with SCI and other neurological conditions to identify unique advocacy requirements, build connections and encourage and support self-advocacy.
Whether you are a person with a disability, family member, carer, allied health, or service provider we want to empower you to be your best advocate. For more information about the work of the Representative Advocacy team and how we can support you, contact us at representative@scia.org.au
81% of clients supported through individual advocacy at SCIA tell us they reached their desired outcome or an alternative but suitable outcome.
[SCIA Impact Survey 2022]
icare
Support and Advocacy Service
SCIA is able to assist icare lifetime care clients with support and advocacy for any issues you may be experiencing. We are one of three advocacy organisations contracted to support icare clients. Please let us know if you have any concerns or issues with the supports you are receiving from icare.