Disability Rights
Advocacy Service Inc
Safeguarding and promoting the rights and interests of people with a disability, their families and carers.
Phone: 08 8351 9500
Disability Rights Advocacy Service is part of the national network of disability advocacy organisations funded by the Australian Government.
About Us
DRAS is a community organisation that is run by our members and our Board, which is made up of people with a disability. We are part of the national network of disability advocacy organisations funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Social Services.
What we do
Our advocates listen to people with a disability and learn from them, so that we can work alongside them to promote and defend their human rights. It means helping people with disability to get a fair go. It means helping people with a disability to enjoy all the things they are entitled to – all the things a person who doesn’t have a disability can access.
Our locations
Disability Rights Advocacy Service has three office locations in South Australia:
Our Brooklyn Park office represents people who reside within greater metropolitan Adelaide, Mount Barker, Adelaide Hills and Murray Bridge.
Based in Mount Gambier, our South East service assists people throughout the South East and Coorong region.
People living within the Riverland region can access our Riverland office, which is based in the township of Berri.
Our services are FREE!
About the National Disability Advocacy Program
OUR MISSION
Safeguarding and promoting the rights and interests of people with a disability, their families and carers. We do this through our four governing principles:
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People with disabilities have the same rights as other members of the Australian community.
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People with a disability should be able to maintain and develop their culture without prejudice or disadvantage and should be encouraged to understand and embrace other cultures.
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People with a disability should be able to receive services necessary to enable them to achieve their maximum potential as members of the community.
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People with a disability are entitled to participate in decisions that affect their lives and to receive services in a manner that results in the least restriction of their rights and opportunities.
OUR BOARD
Our Board of Management is made up of people with a disability from across the Adelaide metropolitan area and South East South Australia. Board members are drawn from our membership and elections are held every two years at our Annual General Meeting in November.
Chair
Deputy Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Members
George Poniatowski
Jeron Hille
Shaun Lorrain
Laurna Howson
Girolama Vinci
Margaret Kelly
Louisa Greco
Colleen Braddick
OUR STAFF
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David McGinlay
Chief Executive Officer
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Ling Gian
Finance Office
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Angela Duigan
Coordinator Disability Royal Commission -
James Murphy
Disability Advocate and Disability Royal Commission -
Katie Spain
Disability Royal Commission -
Kit Yuan
Disability Royal Commission -
Chris Hansford
Disability Advocate
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Monica Leahy
Coordinator Individual Capacity Building -
Carol Cadd
Peer Leader -
Martin Gulliford
Peer Leader
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Paul Barbaro
NDAP and NDIS Appeals -
Aaron Morony
Disability Advocate and NDIS Appeals -
Sue Cain
Disability Advocate -
Tyler Keenan
Disability Advocate and NDIS Appeals
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Kayla Dickeson
Systemic Advocacy
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Mark Biram
Disability Advocate - Riverland
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Narelle Probert
Disability Advocate – South East
THE NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR DISABILITY SERVICES
All disability advocacy organisations funded through the National Disability Advocacy Program must comply with the Principles and Objectives of the Commonwealth Disability Services Act (1986) and the National Standards for Disability Services.
Disability Rights Advocacy Service must show that it follows the Standards, which are:
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Rights - The service promotes individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making and actively prevents abuse, harm, neglect and violence.
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Participation and Inclusion - The service works with individuals and families, friends and carers to promote opportunities for meaningful participation and active inclusion in society.
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Individual Outcomes - Services and supports are assessed, planned, delivered and reviewed to build on individual strengths and enable individuals to reach their goals.
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Feedback and Complaints - Regular feedback is sought and used to inform individual and organisation-wide service reviews and improvement.
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Service Access - The service manages access, commencement and leaving a service in a transparent, fair and equal and responsive way.
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Service Management - The service has effective and accountable service management and leadership to maximise outcomes for individuals.
Further information on the revised National Standards can be found by clicking the link to the right.
