ADACAS - ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service

01/10/2026

Right now, the ACT Government is reviewing parts of the Mental Health Act to better understand what is working well and where things could be improved.

🗣️ Do you need help to have your say?
ADACAS can provide some support to help you give feedback on the Mental Health Act until Friday, 16 October 2026.
You can contact us on 02 6242 5060 or email [email protected].

If you or someone you care about has experience with Canberra’s mental health system, the ACT Government wants to hear from you.

Whether you’re a person receiving care, a family member, kin, carer or supporter, your feedback matters.

Your experiences and ideas can help shape safer, more supportive mental health care for people on a Mental Health Order, as well as their families, carers and kin.

To find out more and have your say, visit: https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/mental-health-act-review.

01/10/2026

Yesterday, members of our NSW disability advocacy team attended the Wreck Bay NAIDOC Community Day at the Community Elders Garden.

Since Illawarra Advocacy became part of ADACAS, our expanded team has continued to bring local knowledge, experience and community connections to our work. Community events like this provide an important opportunity for our advocates to listen, build relationships and connect with the communities we support. We really are stronger together.

People often look for advocacy when a problem comes up. Being present in the community gives our advocates an opportunity to explain what independent advocacy is and how it may help. It also means more people can learn that free, independent support is available and know where to find it if they need it.

Thank you to the Wreck Bay community for welcoming us, and to everyone who stopped by our stall for a conversation. It was a valuable day of culture, community and connection, and we were grateful to be part of it.

If you’d like to learn more about our independent disability advocacy, please contact ADACAS at (02) 6242 5060 or visit our website at adacas.org.au.

01/10/2026

Today is the International Day of Older Persons. The 2026 theme, "The Age of Longevity: Rethinking Systems for Longer Lives", calls for systems that uphold older people's rights, dignity, wellbeing and participation.

Growing older can bring changes and challenges, including navigating aged care for the first time. It may be difficult to understand what options are available, fees and charges, or how to raise concerns about a service.

Older people have the right to make their own decisions and have a say in the care and services they receive. They also have the right to speak up when something isn't working.

Independent advocacy can help. ADACAS works alongside older people in the ACT to help them understand their rights and options and navigate the aged care system.

If you need help with aged care, our advocates are here. To learn more about our free and confidential advocacy for older people, call 1800 700 600 or visit adacas.org.au.

25/09/2026

ADACAS is looking for a Disability Advocate to work with people with disability in the Batemans Bay area. The role combines individual advocacy, community education and stakeholder engagement, supporting people to understand and exercise their rights, navigate complex services and systems, address barriers and make informed decisions.

We’re looking for someone to work across disability advocacy (NDAP, DAFP), NDIS appeals, NSW mainstream services and the National Redress Scheme. This is a varied role for someone with experience in advocacy, community services, health, law or a related field and a strong commitment to human rights and person-centred practice.

Are you interested in joining our team?
To learn more, visit our website and search 'Careers'.

Please use the link to send your resume and a cover letter explaining how you meet the key responsibilities of the role. Applications close by COB Friday, 9th October 2026. ADACAS reserves the right to close applications early if a suitable candidate is appointed.

If you need adjustments or support during the application or interview process, or want to talk about the role, please call ADACAS on 02 6242 5060.

24/09/2026

ADACAS is looking for two Aged Care Advocates to join our Older Persons Team. In this role, you will support older people to understand their rights, access aged care services, make informed choices, and have their voices heard. The job includes individual advocacy, community education, working with stakeholders, and addressing broader issues that affect older people.

We are looking for people with experience in aged care, community services, disability, health, or similar fields who share our commitment to human rights and person-centred practice.

Are you interested in joining our team?
To learn more, visit: https://au.seek.com/job/94842400

Please use the link to send your resume and a cover letter explaining how you meet the key responsibilities of the role. Applications close by COB Friday 9th October 2026. ADACAS reserves the right to close applications early if a suitable candidate is appointed.

If you need adjustments or support during the application or interview process, or want to talk about the role, please call ADACAS on 02 6242 5060 or email [email protected].

Turn your commitment to human rights into action—join ADACAS and help older people be heard, respected and empowered.

24/09/2026

Last week’s Shoalhaven Disability Expo was a small but important milestone for ADACAS and Illawarra Advocacy. For the first time, advocates from both organisations attended a community event together as ADACAS Advocacy, united under the Stronger Together banner.

About 300 people came to the Expo, and our advocates spent much of the day talking with people about what independent advocacy means. People were interested to learn that our free, confidential and independent advocacy is not just for NDIS matters. People with disability might need an advocate when dealing with different services and systems, and support is available beyond the NDIS. We can also support people with education, transport, housing, health, child protection and community services, the justice system, and trustee or guardianship matters.

We appreciated hearing that people valued talking with advocates who live and work locally, and who understand the services, issues, and practical challenges in their community. This matters as we come together. By joining forces, we bring more capacity and shared experience, while keeping the local relationships and knowledge we’ve built over many years.

Thank you to everyone who stopped to talk at the Expo, and to the volunteers who made this important Shoalhaven community event possible.

If you’d like to learn more about independent disability advocacy, please contact ADACAS at (02) 6242 5060 or visit our website at adacas.org.au.

15/09/2026

If you or someone you care about has experience with Canberra’s mental health system, the ACT Government wants to hear from you.

Whether you’re a person receiving care, a family member, kin, carer or supporter your feedback matters.

Right now, the ACT Government is reviewing parts of the Mental Health Act to better understand what is working well and where things could be improved.

Your experiences and ideas can help shape safer, more supportive mental health care for people on a Mental Health Order, as well as their families, carers and kin.

To find out more and have your say, visit: https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/mental-health-act-review.

📌 Do you need help giving feedback?
ADACAS can provide some support to help you have your say on the Mental Health Act until Friday, 16 October 2026. You can contact us on 02 6242 5060 or email [email protected].

14/09/2026

This post discusses the National Redress Scheme. Please engage with this information in the way that is right for you.

If someone mentions the National Redress Scheme or says they are unsure where to start, you can let them know that independent advocacy is available if and when they would like information or support.

The person decides whether to seek advocacy, what assistance they want and whether to proceed with an application.

Depending on what the person wants, an advocate can:
• explain the National Redress Scheme process
• provide information to help the person understand their options
• support the person to make their own informed decisions
• assist with an application if the person chooses to apply.

Applications to the National Redress Scheme are open until 30 June, 2027. Survivors are encouraged to seek information and support early, to ensure they have enough time to gather information and complete their application at a pace that feels right for them.

ADACAS provides free, confidential and trauma-informed independent advocacy for people considering or engaging with the National Redress Scheme.

To find out more about independent advocacy, contact ADACAS on (02) 6242 5060 or visit the ADACAS website. A person can ask for information without deciding whether to make an application.

10/09/2026

ADACAS Advocacy will be at the Shoalhaven Disability Expo next week. This will be our first public event since we've come together with Illawarra Advocacy.

Advocacy can help when a person with a disability is struggling to be heard, needs support to understand their rights and choices, or wants help with a problem involving a service or system. An independent advocate works with the person, follows their wishes, and does not represent service providers or government agencies.

If you haven't used independent advocacy before, the Expo is an opportunity to learn what advocacy is, how it works, and when it might help.

Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2026
Time: 10.00 am to 2.00 pm
Quiet Hour: 12.00 pm to 1.00 pm
Location: Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre, 111 Cambewarra Road, Bomaderry
Entry: Free

Come by the ADACAS stand to meet our team, ask questions about independent advocacy, and see if we can help. If you have a personal or confidential matter, we can explain how to contact ADACAS privately.

If you can't attend the Expo but would like to learn more about our advocacy for people with disability, contact ADACAS on (02) 6242 5060 or visit adacas.org.au.

03/09/2026

ADACAS and Illawarra Advocacy are coming together to build a stronger, more sustainable disability advocacy service. Guided by our shared values, culture and practice, we can have a greater impact on the communities we support in the ACT and NSW.

Simply put, we’re ‘Stronger Together’.

We bring more than 70 years of combined advocacy experience, strong local relationships, and a shared commitment to supporting people with disability. We ensure their rights are upheld, their voices are heard, and they have equitable access to the supports and services they need.

Joining our organisations enhances our capacity while preserving the local knowledge, relationships, and community connections central to effective advocacy. Our combined team will provide greater workforce depth and broader expertise, and we will continue to value the strengths and histories of both organisations.

Our approach remains person-centred, rights-based and locally responsive. Our particular focus is on reaching people who face barriers to accessing advocacy or are at greater risk of exclusion, disadvantage or discrimination. Shared knowledge and practice experience increase our ability to respond to diverse and complex advocacy needs across the regions.

‘Stronger Together’ means greater capacity, stronger local advocacy and a sustainable service for the future. Most importantly, people with disability remain at the centre of everything we do.

Welcome, Illawarra Advocacy.

Illawarra Advocacy contact details remain unchanged during the transition, or you can reach us at ADACAS Advocacy on adacas.org.au or by phone at 02 6242 5060.

Contact us in the way you prefer to discuss an issue and find out what help is available.