The Queensland Independent Disability Advocacy Network (QIDAN) is the statewide network for independent disability advocacy organisations supporting Queenslanders with disability. Through the Queensland Disability Advocacy Program (QDAP), QIDAN members collectively supported more than 1,700 people with disability on over 3,400 complex advocacy matters during the financial year. These involved issues like the NDIS, housing, domestic and family violence (DFV), justice, child protection and safeguarding systems. Demand for independent disability advocacy in Queensland is growing rapidly due to escalating social pressures, ongoing disability reform, and the absence of foundational supports. In 2024–25 alone, 48% of requests for advocacy could not be met due to the demand for advocacy exceeding our sector’s capacity.
Independent disability advocacy is a proven form of early intervention and prevention. The Disability Royal Commission (DRC) identified advocacy as critical to preventing abuse, neglect, violence and exploitation, and found that the cost ratio of advocacy is at a minimum $2.21 of benefit for every $1 spent on [government] funding.
QIDAN is grateful for the Queensland Government’s temporary uplift funding to the QDAP. However, temporary funding does not enable workforce stability, long-term planning, or sustained service delivery. Without further investment, state funding will reduce to approximately $7 million, significantly undermining sector capacity at a time of rising demand.
QIDAN calls on the Queensland Government to:
- Guarantee no cuts to independent disability advocacy funding; and
- Increase ongoing investment in QDAP to $20 million per annum.
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