What We Do

ADA Australia is an independent not for profit organisation that offers a wide range of advocacy and education services, as well as targeted projects and resources. See below for an overview of our organisations offerings, or download our ADA Australia at a Glance Flyer

ADA Australia Advocacy Services
Service	We Help With	Service Area	Clients	More Information
Aged Care Advocacy	ADA Australia offers information and individual advocacy support to people who have issues related to Commonwealth funded aged care services. Further information on each ADA Australia service and activity can be found on dedicated website pages. Refer to the links provided beside each section.	All of Queensland	People who have issues with accessing services, or are experiencing service provision and care related problems for the following Commonwealth funded aged care programs: Commonwealth Continuity of Support (CoS) Program Commonwealth Funded Dementia Services Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) Home Care Packages (HCP) Residential Aged Care Homes Various Flexible Care Services	Aged and Community Advocacy
Disability Advocacy	Our Disability Advocacy Service provides information, referrals or individual advocacy support to people with disability who are experiencing issues with support services, discrimination or unfair treatment.	All of Queensland for those under the age of 65 Gold Coast and Rockhampton regions for those of any age	People of any age, with a permanent or likely to be permanent disability, which results in substantially reduced capacity for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services. This includes, but is not limited to: physical, cognitive, sensory, learning or neurological disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, developmental delay, Acquired Bran Injury, psychiatric or mental health illness.	Disability Advocacy
Disability Royal Commission Support	We can provide support to those who wish to interact with or provide submissions to the Disability Royal Commission.	Gold Coast or Rockhampton (Fitzroy) Regions People of any age	People living with disability who have experienced violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation and wish to share their story with the Disability Royal Commission.	Disability Royal Commission
Human Rights Advocacy & Legal Help	Our Community Legal Service, ADA Law, provides legal advice, representation, and non-legal advocacy and information, to adults whose decision-making capacity is impaired or in question. Our service supports the adult to express their views, wishes and preferences at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) in relation to Guardianship, Administration and Enduring Power of Attorney matters. We also provide assistance to people (principals) with their Enduring Powers of Attorney and Advance Health Directives.	South East Queensland in the areas from Bundaberg to Toowoomba, and down to the Gold Coast. We may also be able to offer support in other areas of Queensland on a limited case by case basis.	Adults who have a current QCAT hearing scheduled, or about to be scheduled. This includes adults with: Impaired decision-making capacity, who are unhappy with their appointed decision maker and wish to make changes Questionable decision-making capacity, who are at high risk of having appointed decision-makers put in place. We may also assist adults who have questionable or impaired decision-making capacity and are unhappy with their current Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) or Advance Health Directive.	ADA Law
Elder Abuse Advocacy	Our Community Legal Service, ADA Law, also provides Elder Abuse Advocacy. We provide information, individual advocacy and supported referral for people living in residential care who are at risk of elder abuse.	Greater Brisbane region only, including: Moreton Bay Brisbane Ipswich Redland Bay	Adults over 65 years who are: residing in residential aged care; and experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse from their formal (Enduring Powers of Attorney) or informal decision makers, family, carers or friends.	ADA Law
Aged Care Navigator Trial Service	The Aged Care Navigators Trial is delivered as part of a consortium led by COTA Australia and funded by the Australian Government. The Aged Care Navigation Service provides Information on the aged care system Practical support to access aged care services in the home or in residential aged care Group information sessions about aged care	Brisbane South including Tamborine, Lamington, Beaudesert, Kooralbyn and Mt Barney Bundaberg and throughout the Wide Bay area	People seeking support to understand and access the aged care system. Groups of people interested in learning more about the aged care system and how to access it. For example, carer support groups, health related support groups and social groups.	For more information about the ADA Australia Aged Care Navigation Trial Service click here For information about the Aged Care Navigator Trial Program go to www.AgedCareNavigators.org.au.
Systemic Advocacy	ADA regularly engages with both consumers and providers of aged care, disability and guardianship services. This ongoing engagement helps inform our understanding of the service and system issues impacting on consumers.			Systemic Advocacy

Education

ADA Australia offers specialised education and training to the Aged and Disability industry. See below for an overview of the training services.

ADA Australia Education and Training
Education Type	Participants	Cost/Structure	Training Overview	Session Time/Location
Advocacy Education	Staff and residents/clients of Commonwealth funded aged care services.	Free for Commonwealth funded aged care service groups	Education about the rights and responsibilities of clients and care staff, and to inform them of the role of advocacy. For more information got to Advocacy Education	20-45 mins (dependent on group needs) Offered anywhere in Qld.
Understanding Decision Making Staff Training	Health, aged, disability and related sector staff.	Fee for service, Individual tickets, or in house group training.	Training to help people understand about Guardianship and Administration systems in Qld for vulnerable people whose decision making capacity is questioned. For more information go to Understanding Decision Making	Choice of 4 hour or 6.5 hour sessions. Offered anywhere in Qld.
Health Decision Making Training	Health, aged, disability and related sector staff.	Fee for service. In house group training.	Overview of health care decision making to help staff understand how to undertake substituted decision making for a range of scenarios. For more information go to Health Decision Making Training	2 hours. Offered anywhere in Qld.
Elder Abuse Information Sessions	Older persons community groups and service providers.	Free.	Overview of Elder Abuse and Elder Abuse prevention. For more information go to Elder Abuse Education	45 min - 1 hour. Offered in Greater Brisbane Region.
mhWISE Older Persons Mental Health Training	Aged and community care workforce at all levels. Different programs available.	Fee for service. In house group training.	Offers workers in Residential care settings to understand how to support people with disability and older peoples’ mental health and support those experiencing mental illness. For more information go to mhWISE	Choice of 4 hour or 6.5 hour sessions. Offered anywhere in Australia.

Projects

ADA Australia regularly engage in specialised project work to support the wider needs of the aged and disability sector. Below is an on overview of recent projects ADA Australia has undertaken.

ADA Australia Projects
Project	Project Type
MHLaw Qld	Development of a one-stop directory where you will find information and services that can help you navigate legal and other issues which impact people experiencing mental health issues in Queensland. For more information go to www.mhlawqld.com.au
Speak-up	Development of the speak-up series, a range of self-advocacy resources to you speak up to resolve a range of everyday issues that people with disability and older people tell us they face. For more information go to www.adaaustralia.com.au/speak-up
Financial Capability Video Resources	Development of free video resources to support people living with intellectual disability and their supporters to increase their financial literacy. For more information go to Supporting Financial Decisions
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA)	Development of resources and a video to guide staff and those Attorneys operating under an Enduring Power of Attorney. For more information go to Enduring Power of Attorney
Advance Health Directives for Mental Health	Development of resources and education for consumers and staff on Advance Health Directives for Mental Health documents. For more information go to Advance Health Directives for Mental Health
My Rights Qld	ADA Australia, funded by Legal Aid Queensland, created a free online guide to help people with disability to understand their rights, and find help available in Queensland. For more information go to My Rights Qld
ATSIDNQ	ADA Australia manage the Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Disability network of Queensland (ATSIDNQ), under the auspice of QDN. For more information go to ATSIDNQ
Research Projects	ADA Australia has been involved in various research projects and partnerships. For more information go to Strategic Alliances
Events	ADA Australia regularly hosts events to inform the industry about important topics. For more information go to Events
Media	ADA Australia has a stable media presence, often providing provides insight on the aged and disability sector. For more information go to Media

ADA Australia - Your aged and disability advocates

Advocacy, information, education and resources

What we do

Education

Projects

The advocate was forthright in addressing the problems we were facing, she was an inspiration to us, thanks.

Disability

I think its important to have someone like your advocate to speak up for homosexual people in residential care. Your card says you give people a voice and you did that for me.

ADVOCACY

My team now know how to interact more effectively with a client who has a mental illness. Our responses and services are more person centered.

MHWISE TRAINING

I would like to thank my advocate for all the hard work she did in resolving my issues and for empowering me when I thought it was not possible.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

I'm 82 years old and live alone. Advocacy was wonderful for me as I didn't understand what to do and the advocate helped me.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

My father was very pleased with the advocates manner and her assistance. She gave my fathers issues prompt attention and helped support a great outcome

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

The advocate was absolutely wonderful, thanks to him things have improved at the aged care facility for me.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

The Advocate gave me back my dignity and made my service provider accountable. You made such a difference to my life. My generation doesn't like to make a fuss, but the advocate handled everything so professionally, everyone was respected.

AGED CARE ADVOCACY

The training provided clear materials that were easy to understand. The knowledge I gained was easy to transfer to my work practice.

GUARDIANSHIP TRAINING

The stress that occurred because of my provider was a real issue and caused me much anxiety. My advocate stood up for my rights and he gave me the strength to resolve the issue with them. Thanks so much.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

I would still be extremely distressed if you have not come along to help. The entire process made me more aware of my rights and I am now aware of other services that can help me.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

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What we do

Advocacy, information, education and resources

Education

Projects

The advocate was forthright in addressing the problems we were facing, she was an inspiration to us, thanks.

Disability

I think its important to have someone like your advocate to speak up for homosexual people in residential care. Your card says you give people a voice and you did that for me.

ADVOCACY

My team now know how to interact more effectively with a client who has a mental illness. Our responses and services are more person centered.

MHWISE TRAINING

I would like to thank my advocate for all the hard work she did in resolving my issues and for empowering me when I thought it was not possible.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

I'm 82 years old and live alone. Advocacy was wonderful for me as I didn't understand what to do and the advocate helped me.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

My father was very pleased with the advocates manner and her assistance. She gave my fathers issues prompt attention and helped support a great outcome

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

The advocate was absolutely wonderful, thanks to him things have improved at the aged care facility for me.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

The Advocate gave me back my dignity and made my service provider accountable. You made such a difference to my life. My generation doesn't like to make a fuss, but the advocate handled everything so professionally, everyone was respected.

AGED CARE ADVOCACY

The training provided clear materials that were easy to understand. The knowledge I gained was easy to transfer to my work practice.

GUARDIANSHIP TRAINING

The stress that occurred because of my provider was a real issue and caused me much anxiety. My advocate stood up for my rights and he gave me the strength to resolve the issue with them. Thanks so much.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

I would still be extremely distressed if you have not come along to help. The entire process made me more aware of my rights and I am now aware of other services that can help me.

ADA AUSTRALIA ADVOCACY

Contact

Newsletter Signup

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