We were pleased to host members of the Regional Disability Advocacy Service (RDAS) team who spoke to our staff about their work and the coming National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Paige and Dave from RDAS, which was formerly known as the Disability Advocacy and Information Service, spoke about how the not-for-profit organisation provides information and advocacy to people with any type of disability, including acquired brain injury, physical, intellectual, sensory or mental illness.

RDAS works across southern NSW, the Border and north-east Victoria.

Paige and Dave said an estimated one in five Australians have a disability and that people with a disability were at greater risk of abuse and neglect.

RDAS provides free advocacy, support and information to anyone with a disability, to ensure equality of rights and increased integration into the community. It supports people to know what payments and subsidies they are entitled to, provide support at tribunal hearings and to make a complaint if they are not happy with the service they are receiving.

The NDIS is a new way of providing support for eligible people who have a permanent and significant disability and is run by the National Disability Insurance Authority.

Under the NDIS, clients move from being “service users” to “consumers” and have the power to choose their services.

Our client services manager Janine Lawler said Junction was working with more clients who had disabilities so it was important to get a greater insight in the work of RDAS and find out more about the NDIS.

Find out more at rdas.org.au or call 02 6056 2420

Find out more about NDIS at ndis.gov.au