National Disability Advocacy Program Quality Improvement Toolkit
Appendix 3: Draft Disability Advocacy Standards
Standard 1: Accessing advocacy
People with disability have opportunities to access advocacy on the basis of relative need and available resources.
1.1 The agency adopts, applies and promotes non-discriminatory entry rules in respect of age, gender, race, culture, religion or disability, living arrangements, consistent with the contractual obligations and purpose of the agency.
1.2 The agency’s entry and exit procedures are fair and equitable and consistently applied.
1.3 People with disability are informed about how decisions about access and prioritisation are made.
Standard 2: Individual needs
People with disability receive advocacy that is designed to meet their individual needs and best interests.
[Note: The term ‘individual need’ is used in this Standard to cover both the needs of an individual person (that may be met through individual advocacy) and the collective needs of people with disability (that may be met through systemic advocacy)]
2.1 Advocacy objectives are negotiated with the person or people with disability and reflect their needs.
2.2 All advocacy activities reflect and respond to these needs, including opportunities to involve a support person of their choice
2.3 In meeting the needs of a person or people with disability, the advocacy agency will seek to minimise conflict of interest or to deal with it transparently.
Standard 3: Decision-making & choice
People with disability have the opportunity to participate as fully as possible in making decisions about the advocacy activities undertaken.
KPI 3.1 People with disability are supported to make their own decisions about the advocacy activities they require.
KPI 3.2 The advocacy agency acts upon the choices made by the person with a disability. Where a person with a disability has impaired decision making capacity, ethical guidelines will be used to inform decisions about advocacy activities.
Standard 4: Privacy, Dignity & Confidentiality
The right of people with disability to privacy, dignity and confidentiality is recognised and respected.
4.1 The advocacy agency complies with the Information Privacy Principles of the Privacy Act 1988 in order to protect and respect the rights of people with disability.
4.2 The advocacy agency promotes privacy, dignity and respect for people with disability.
Standard 5: Participation & Integration
People with disability are supported and encouraged to participate and be involved in the community.
5.1 Through advocacy, opportunities for participation and involvement in the community are promoted.
5.2 Where appropriate, the advocacy agency takes action to introduce, influence or produce positive systemic change in the community.
Standard 6: Valued Status
The intrinsic value of people with a disability is recognised and each person is supported and encouraged to enhance their valued status in the community.
6.1 Through advocacy, the aspirations and strengths of people with disability are promoted.
6.2 The advocacy agency promotes the intrinsic value and the valued status of people with a disability in all its activities.
Standard 7: Complaints & Disputes
People with disability who have a complaint or dispute with the advocacy agency, are encouraged to raise it, and have it resolved, without fear of retribution.
7.1 The advocacy agency informs people about how to raise complaints or disputes about any areas of dissatisfaction with the advocacy agency, without fear of retribution.
7.2 The advocacy agency seeks to resolve complaints or disputes raised by people with disability, with access to both internal and external complaints resolution mechanisms.
Standard 8: Agency Management
Each agency adopts quality management systems and practices that optimise the effectiveness of advocacy for people with disability and facilitates continuous improvement.
8.1 The advocacy agency has clearly stated aims and objectives that communicate to people with disability and other relevant stakeholders the scope and limitations of the agency.
8.2 The advocacy agency has management systems in place that facilitate quality management practices and continuous improvement.
8.3 The advocacy agency is structured and operates independently, in such a way that it is as free as possible from conflicts with the best interests of people with disability.
Standard 9: Employment
Not relevant to advocacy agencies
Standard 10: Training & Support
People with disability are supported to self-advocate, where appropriate.
[Note: Advocacy agencies are not training and support providers. Under some advocacy approaches, training and support is delivered to assist people with disability, either directly or through their family/ citizens, to meet their advocacy objectives]
10.1 The advocacy agency supports the capacity of people with disability to self-advocate.
Standard 11: Staff, Recruitment, Employment & Training
Each person who has an employment relationship with the advocacy agency has appropriate skills and competencies.
[Note: This standard only relates to paid and unpaid staff who come under the control of the advocacy agency. In citizen and family advocacy, the advocates do not have an employment relationship with the advocacy agency.]
11.1 The advocacy agency ensures that staff have relevant skills and competencies.
11.2 The advocacy agency provides opportunities for the appropriate and continuing training and skills development for each staff member.
Standard 12: Protection of Human Rights & Freedom from Abuse
The advocacy agency acts to prevent abuse and neglect and to uphold the legal and human rights of people with disability.
12.1 The advocacy agency takes all practical and appropriate steps to prevent abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disability.
12.2 The advocacy agency upholds and promotes the legal and human rights of people with disability.
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