ADVOCACY AND POLICY

The goal of our Policy and Advocacy activities at UnitingCare Community Options is to translate the experience of our participants and our workers into positive change to improve the lives of all those with disabilities, who are ageing, and the community in general.  

Our Advocacy and Policy staff work closely with other staff within the organisation, with our participants, with other organisations, and with government bodies to achieve better outcomes for people through changes in legislation and reform of the community sector.

We engage in a range of activities in support of our Advocacy and Policy goals, including:

• Working with other organisations and groups who are doing similar or related work.
• Providing submissions and reports to Government and other bodies to encourage improvements or changes in how services are delivered and people are treated.
• Running regular forums and other consultative activities with participants to identify issues and areas of concern.
• Advocating on behalf of our participants and other communities which deserve better.

CURRENT AND RECENT PROJECTS

The Advocacy and Policy team is currently engaged in several longer-term projects in addition to a number of projects that have been recently concluded. These include:

National Disability Insurance Scheme
UnitingCare Community Options is an active member of the campaign for a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a campaign that argues for the introduction of a comprehensive national insurance scheme for people with disabilities, regardless of how they are acquired. Our work on the campaign has included policy-level work through our individual and UnitingCare submissions to the Productivity Commission’s inquiry into Disability Care and Support and a Forum we held with Productivity Commission staff, participants and representatives from local organisations. We have also been involved in ongoing work to publicise the need for a National Disability Insurance Scheme through visits to local politicians, ongoing discussions with the Uniting Church and other organisations and groups, and through work to communicate information amongst the general community.

For more about the NDIS campaign, please click here.

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Human Rights Charter
UCCO is a strong advocate for the human rights of every individual, and believes that upholding human rights in how services are delivered and people are treated is foundational to a ‘good life’. UCCO has been actively contributing to the review of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, and works with other agencies to ensure the Charter remains a powerful tool and becomes a part of how we treat people in our services every day.

For more information, visit the Human Rights Law Centre

Aged care Reform
Over the last year the Australian Government (through the Productivity Commission) has been investigating how aged care services are delivered and how this could be improved. UCCO has been involved in these discussions and worked with UnitingCare organisations from across Australia in providing our opinion and experiences as to how services could be improved.

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Child Protection and Disability
Our workers have observed a gap in the system where children with disabilities have child protection issues. We are working with other organisations across both sectors to lobby for improved programs and policies, as well as determining the training needs of staff who are working with these participants.

Housing Accessibility
UCCO remains closely involved with the housing sector, and understand how critical housing is to the welfare of anyone who is ageing or with a disability. We are working on innovative approaches to housing and are involved with a number of public housing organisations and committees to ensure that housing is provided to the most vulnerable in our communities.

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