About

About Us

Southwest Advocacy Association (SWAA) is an independent, not-for-profit, community organisation that has provided individual and systemic advocacy for people with all types of disabilities throughout Southwest Victoria since 1992. SWAA’s advocates travel anywhere in the City of Warrnambool and Shires of Moyne, Glenelg, Southern Grampians and Corangamite to provide advocacy assistance to individuals with disabilities and their families.

SWAA is committed to the defence and promotion of the rights and interests of people with all types of disabilities & of all ages, including people with physical disabilities, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, psychiatric disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and neurological disorders.

Rights

The service promotes individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination and decision-making, and actively prevents abuse, harm, neglect, and violence.

Participation and Inclusion

The service works with individuals and families, friends, carers, and advocates to promote opportunities for meaningful participation and active inclusion in society.

Individual Outcomes

The service supports individuals to achieve their personal goals and aspirations.

Feedback and Complaints

The service has effective mechanisms in place to receive and respond to feedback and complaints.

Service Access

The service supports individuals to achieve their personal goals and aspirations.

Service Management

The service has effective management systems and practices in place to ensure quality service provision, financial and operational management, continuous improvement, and stakeholder engagement.

SWAA assists people with disabilities to speak up for their wants and needs and to obtain fair outcomes.
Sometimes people just need information, sometimes people need help to navigate other services and sometimes people need help to exercise their rights. SWAA advocates, provide people with information across a broad range of areas. Advocates assist people with disabilities & their families, to find their voice, enabling them to potentially advocate for themselves. SWAA provides information and advocacy assistance in relation to most issues.

SWAA can provide information and advocacy assistance in relation to any issue. Some of the most common issues that we assist with include -

● Disability Accommodation issues
● Centrelink – Disability Support Pension applications, Carer's Payment, Aged Pension, reviews
● Employment issues
● Financial issues
● VCAT Applications - Guardianship & Administration applications
● Mental Health Review Board Hearings
● Legal problems – referrals 
● Problems with health, welfare & disability service providers (Government & non-Government)
● Barriers to disability access
● All aspects of disability rights
● Disability service and Health Commission complaints
● Assistance with NDIS access, reviews/appeals
● Mediation
● Elder Rights
● In addition to providing information, referral and advocacy casework for individuals and families, SWAA also engages in systemic advocacy and community education and supports disability self-help groups.

Systemic advocacy is action taken to influence or produce changes to systems or communities in an effort to ensure fair treatment, social justice and enhanced opportunities for people with disabilities. Changes are commonly sought in regard to such things as legislation; the policies and practices of Government or non-Government agencies; community attitudes; and access to premises, facilities and services. Systemic advocacy is a very important part of SWAA’s work, as systemic action has the potential to benefit large numbers of people with disabilities and lead to long-term change and community development. SWAA's community education work is designed to raise awareness of the rights and needs of people with disabilities. Activities include information dissemination, media work, speaking to school groups, support groups and interested community groups; and participating in and delivering workshops and forums.

SWAA can also provide support to disability self-help groups and can assist in the establishment of new self-help and support groups.

Our Board

Richard Ziegeler

Mark Barling

Gayle Boyle

Annemaree Stonehouse

Annika Jackson

Our Staff

Jennie Trigg

Margaret Gottlewski

Annette Ludeman

Want to learn more? Get in touch with us today