Systems Advocacy

We advocate for long-term and sustainable changes to barriers experienced by people with disability. This involves pushing for inclusive services, systems, legislation, and policies that create lasting change and support. 

We do this by:

• Engaging with advocates across the network
• Analysing data
• Writing submissions and reports
• Working on campaigns

QIDAN’s approach to systemic advocacy is driven by the experiences, identified gaps and concerns raised by independent disability advocates in collaboration with people with disability. Our priorities are based on people’s fundamental needs and are viewed through a cultural, social justice, and human rights framework.

The common barriers experienced by people with disability include: 

• Attitudinal and cultural barriers (such as stereotypes, stigma, prejudice, and discrimination)
• Social barriers (such an underemployment, access to healthcare, access to education, and experiencing violence)
• Accessibility barriers (such as inaccessible environments or communication)
• Policy barriers (such as being denied access to programs, services, or opportunities to participate)
• Systemic barriers (such as systems / structures that treat people with disability unfairly, or legislation failing to properly address the needs of people with disability).

QIDAN is committed to addressing the additional barriers experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people, those in rural and remote locations, and closed environments in all our systemic advocacy efforts. QIDAN focuses on human rights, supported decision making and de-institutionalisation in all systemic advocacy work.