Advocacy services: Supporting rights and empowering voices
Feb 06, 2025
In Tasmania, advocacy services help people in the aged care and disability sectors by protecting their rights and making sure their voices are heard. These services provide important support to individuals, carers, and families, helping them deal with complex systems, sort out problems, and get the care and resources they need.
Making a lasting difference
Advocacy services do more than solve immediate issues, they work towards long-term improvements in aged care and disability support. They help shape policies, raise awareness, and promote inclusion, making sure people have a say in decisions that affect their lives, from aged care assessments to resolving disputes.
Why advocacy matters
At Community Based Support (CBS), we believe in the power of advocacy. We encourage clients, their families, and our team to reach out to advocacy services whenever they face obstacles. These services are a vital tool, ensuring everyone gets the representation and support they deserve.
Kelly Frerk, CBS Manager, has seen first-hand the difference advocacy can make. During the height of COVID-19, Kelly referred clients to advocacy organisations to help them maintain crucial connections with loved ones in healthcare facilities—something many were unable to do on their own. “Advocacy was the bridge that allowed families to stay together when isolation and uncertainty were at their peak,” she reflects.
In another instance, Kelly helped clients access funding for essential home modifications. Advocacy services stepped in, guiding them through the application process, ensuring their homes became safer and more accessible, and giving them the confidence to live independently.
Here are just a few of the organisations in Tasmania that are making a difference:
Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)
Provides free, independent advocacy for older Australians seeking aged care services.
Phone: 1800 700 600
Website: opan.org.au
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
Protects and enhances the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of people receiving aged care.
Phone: 1800 951 822
Website: www.agedcarequality.gov.au
Health Consumers Tasmania
Advocates for improved healthcare services, ensuring access to appropriate services, particularly for older people.
Phone: (03) 6210 2800
Website: healthconsumerstas.org.au
Advocacy Tasmania Inc. (ATI)
Provides free, independent advocacy for people with disabilities, older individuals, and those with mental health issues.
Phone: 1800 005 131
Website: advocacytasmania.org.au
Disability Voices Tasmania
Empowers individuals with disabilities to have a voice in policy and community matters.
Phone: (03) 6215 6800
Website: disabilityvoicestas.org.au
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Quality and Safeguards Commission
Oversees complaints about providers and supports participants in resolving issues.
Phone: 1800 035 544
Website: ndiscommission.gov.au
Speak Out Association of Tasmania
Advocates for people with intellectual disabilities, providing peer support and community education.
Phone: (03) 6231 2344
Website: speakoutadvocacy.org
Carers Tasmania
Provides advocacy for carers of older people, people with disabilities, and those with mental health issues.
Phone: (03) 6144 3700
Website: carerstas.org
How to access advocacy services
If you or someone you care about needs support, don’t hesitate to reach out to these advocacy services. They offer confidential advice and assistance at no cost and are committed to ensuring your voices are heard and your rights upheld.