Engage-In project

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Engage-In aims to break down the barriers people with psychosocial disability face when they try to access services while living in institutional settings.

Engage-In assists people with psychosocial disability across NSW to access services and supports prior to their release into the community.

We do this by partnering with a variety of stakeholders and service providers that can provide non-legal, trauma-informed advocacy support to people who live in institutional or closed settings, like prisons, hospitals and long stay mental health facilities.

Engage-In aims to empower and support people to live their best lives in the community. Our research suggests community-based support reduces recidivism rates and a return to institutional settings. The University of Sydney partnership has produced a research report to document the work of Engage-In.

What can Engage-In help with?

  • Trauma informed service advocacy 
  • NDIS access requests 
  • Liaise with stakeholders  
  • Non- legal support and referrals  
  • Information  
  • Disability rights 
  • Issues with accessibility in institutions

Who is eligible? 

  • Anyone who lives in an institutional setting with a psychosocial disability.  
  • No formal diagnosis is required. 
  • NSW wide service. 

Our service is free and confidential

Get Help or Make a Referral

Please note, a formal referral is not required to access PWDA Engage-In advocacy.

Peer-led discussion, consultation, and practice

Peer workers (people with experience of psychosocial disability who form the Engage-In’s Project Advisory Group) have collaborated with PWDA project officers to access and support consumers/survivors in closed settings.

Drawing upon these insights, a community of practice worked on solutions to the structural and cultural barriers advocates face in making connections with people in closed settings.

Partnerships

An action research framework has been co-designed by the Project Advisory Group and the University of Sydney Faculty of Education and Social Work to develop a desired practice model for working with people with psychosocial disability. 

This desired practice model has informed a training program, run by people with experience of psychosocial disability, for staff at PWDA. We envisage that this program will be replicated by other services striving to revitalise their practice.

The University of Sydney partnership has also produced a research report to document the work of Engage-In.

Engaging confidently with psychosocial disability


Training module designed for all workers from frontline to executive level, in any sector or industry, this one day, or two half-day workshop provides an understanding of how to engage appropriately when working with colleagues or clients who experience psychosocial disability. The workshop provides practical tools that equip and guide you in your interactions. Please call (02) 9370 3100 or email training@pwd.org.au. Peer-led discussion, consultation, and practice
Peer workers (people with experience of psychosocial disability who form the Engage-In’s Project Advisory Group) have collaborated with PWDA project officers to access and support consumers/survivors in closed settings. Drawing upon these insights, a community of practice worked on solutions to the structural and cultural barriers advocates face in making connections with people in closed settings.

How to get help

To understand how we can best help, we need to learn more about you, your situation as well as the issue you’re experiencing.

  • Phone: 1800 422 015 (toll-free) and speak to one of our intake officers
  • Fill out our online Advocacy request form or using the button below.

Once we have your information, we’ll then be able to provide the most appropriate assistance we can. An intake officers will be in contact with you via your preferred method of contact to provide you with information about progressing your case.

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