Changes to PWDA’s advocacy services
We know that this is a difficult and scary time for many of us, and we are here to help with information and support. We are updating our website, and our advocates can assist you.
However, due to the current COVID-19 public health emergency, PWDA will be moving all staff to work from home. All our advocates will no longer be available for face-to-face support, but can help over the phone or by email.
Please continue to call our Wayfinder Hub on 1800 843 929 or fill out this information request form.
Wayfinder Hub’s phone line is currently operating on a call-back basis – please leave your name and number in a voicemail. We will call you back from a private number.
You can watch the video above with audio description on our YouTube channel.
Do you need help? We can assist people with disability on a range of issues.
Our Wayfinder Hub gives people with disability and their families easy access to the information, advice and referrals they need to understand choices, link to appropriate supports and make informed decisions about the life they want.
The Hub is open to the community to contact us via phone, email or internet chat for assistance on any aspect of disability information.
We can also help with our individual advocates who stand up for the rights of a person with disability and help sort out their complaint, issue or problem.
Advocacy support can include going to meetings with or for the person, writing letters, making phone calls or help them lodge complaints.
All our advocacy services are:
- non-legal,
- issue-based,
- short to medium term,
- for people with disability who have serious and urgent issues and
- also provide information to people with disability about how to advocate for themselves.
We have a range of brochures, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and in community languages (Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Vietnamese) available in Word and PDF formats.
Here’s an Auslan translation of the information on this page:
See our full Auslan playlist on Youtube.
Where we help
- Wayfinder Hub answers questions about disability services and support across Australia.
- Individual advocates can help people with disability in NSW and Queensland with various problems – for example with NDIS appeals, violence, Centrelink or employment.
- In NSW only, individual advocates can also help with Assisted Boarding Houses and Specialist Disability Accommodation.
- Individual advocates can help anyone with disability across Australia who needs information and support about the National Redress Scheme, including how to lodge a claim for redress.
Who else can help
PWDA is not a crisis service. If you need help immediately, you can contact these support services:
- 000, if your life is in danger right now (open 24/7).
- 1800 RESPECT, the national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service (open 24/7).
- Lifeline Australia or the Suicide Call Back Service, if you or someone you know is feeling suicidal (open 24/7).
- Mensline, a telephone and online counselling service for men with family and relationship concerns (open 24/7).
- QLife provides Australia-wide anonymous, LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships (open 3pm to midnight, 7 days a week).
How to make a complaint
You can make a complaint about PWDA services.
How to contact us
For advocacy support, please call us on 1800 843 929 (toll free) or fill out this information request form.