Side By Side Advocacy

Side By Side Advocacy Side By Side Advocacy specialises in providing advocacy for people with intellectual disability.

“People with intellectual disability often miss out on getting information we need,” shared peer leader Jeff Lai.Today, ...
12/08/2026

“People with intellectual disability often miss out on getting information we need,” shared peer leader Jeff Lai.

Today, we were delighted to welcome Minister for Disability Inclusion Kate Washington to our Parramatta office to talk about the Disability Advocacy Futures Program. As recent recipients of funding under this program, we got the chance to share why access to advocacy and government systems is so important, and why hearing people’s voices matters. It is crucial that people with intellectual disability have a say in decisions that affect their lives.

“It is great that Side By Side Advocacy can now meet with more people with intellectual disability so that we can have a say,” Jeff explained.

As a part of this program, we are able to travel across NSW and learn more about the issues that profoundly isolated people with disability care about. Our new newsletter, made by people with intellectual disability, is also intended to gather and share information that matters to people with disability. We will be able to offer co-designed, peer-led workshops related to this funding, and provide more opportunities for peer learning.

You can learn more about what we do on our website: https://sidebysideadvocacy.org.au/

11/08/2026

Meaningful inclusion is about more than being present in the community - it is about belonging, contribution and relationships. Dr Angela Amado's seven strategies provide a practical framework for thinking creatively about how people with intellectual disability who are socially isolated can become better connected to their communities.

In this video, Angela explains the strategies she teaches people to brainstorm ways that someone in their life could be better connected to their community. She talks about finding welcoming places, finding interested people, and more.

We spoke to Angela on her Australian tour. You can see footage of her Parramatta workshop in the video below. We use Angela's strategies as a tool in Community for Everyone. Through Community for Everyone, we connect isolated people with intellectual disability to other community members. We included photos from Community for Everyone in the video.

You can learn more about Angela's strategies in her Friends workbook:https://rtc.umn.edu/docs/Friends_Connecting_people_with_disabilities_and_community_members.pdf

You can learn more about Community for Everyone on our website: https://sidebysideadvocacy.org.au/community-for-everyone/

Building relationships takes time. This morning, people who came to Dr Angela Amado's workshops in Newcastle and Parrama...
28/07/2026

Building relationships takes time.

This morning, people who came to Dr Angela Amado's workshops in Newcastle and Parramatta had the chance to catch up with Angela and other attendees a month after the workshops.

It was great to hear how attendees had put into practice the strategies that Angela shared. We learned what people had accomplished and discussed ways to overcome any challenges they have faced. It is encouraging to see so many people committed to building their communities.

Are you interested in making your community more inclusive? Community for Everyone, run by Side By Side Advocacy and Hunter Circles, connects isolated people with intellectual disability to their local communities. The next chance to meet up with the Social Connectors and Community for Everyone team at Side By Side Advocacy is on Friday 14 August 2026 from 2pm to 4pm. Let us know if you are interested in coming or learning more about Community for Everyone.

You can learn more about Community for Everyone on our website: https://sidebysideadvocacy.org.au/community-for-everyone/

Advocacy is important. That is why we are making a new newsletter about advocacy issues, made by people with intellectua...
09/07/2026

Advocacy is important. That is why we are making a new newsletter about advocacy issues, made by people with intellectual disability, for people with intellectual disability.

The newsletter will be co-designed by people with intellectual disability. It will feature writing, photos, and videos made by people with intellectual disability about the advocacy issues that matter to them.

At a time when there is a lot of uncertainty in the sector, it is more important than ever that the voices of people with intellectual disability are heard.

Does this sound like something you or someone you know might be interested in being involved with? We are looking for people with intellectual disability who want to help us make the newsletter. To get involved, email [email protected] or text or call 0416 077 974.

Do you want to get copies of the new newsletter? You can fill out this form or let us know in the way that suits you: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ELCsbtc8SUyR1iiKPRZJL2diP5eSYiNPtwbx9Lt9zYJURDg5RjBOSFpTN0tEVDROV0M3SUw2SUZOTC4u

Image description: a woman reads the Side By Side newsletter and smiles.

Great news! Side By Side Advocacy now has funding from the state government to ensure people with intellectual disabilit...
07/07/2026

Great news! Side By Side Advocacy now has funding from the state government to ensure people with intellectual disability can speak up and be heard.

The funding is part of the Disability Advocacy Futures Program.

Our focus is people with intellectual disability, including isolated people without active family and who communicate informally, who are often left out of consultations an engagement.

We know this group of people often benefit from face to face communication, bespoke communication methodologies, and support to participate. Electronic and online offerings are often unhelpful.

There will be more member engagement, peer collaboration, self-advocacy support and more Easy Read resources. We are starting a newsletter by and for people with intellectual disability.

We will also be able to ensure the voice of people with intellectual disability can better inform systemic advocacy.

Expected outcomes include increased participation of people with intellectual disability in advocacy and community life, stronger peer connections, improved access to accurate information, and enhanced collaboration between individual voices and systemic advocacy efforts.

Thank you to the state government for making this possible!

Find out more about what we do on our website: https://sidebysideadvocacy.org.au/

Image description: six members of our community sit around a table in a meeting.

Supported decision making changes lives.Last week, long-time Side By Side Advocacy member Carole gave input into the NSW...
23/06/2026

Supported decision making changes lives.

Last week, long-time Side By Side Advocacy member Carole gave input into the NSW Parliament supported decision making roundtable. It was an opportunity for her to share her experiences of decision making and why it is so important to her. She told the Parliament about changes that need to be made in hospitals so that people with intellectual disability can make informed choices. She shared barriers to engaging with financial institutions and challenges related to substitute decision making. She spoke about getting support from advocates to make decisions and how being able to make decisions for herself has made her life better.

The Committee on Ageing and Disability is currently doing work on supported decision making. We hope that this roundtable is a step towards inclusive policy that supports the right of every person to make their own decisions. We are proud of Carole for speaking up about her lived experience.

You can find more about the Committee’s current work on supported decision making, including the submissions Side By Side Advocacy and others made as a part of the inquiry, here: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/Pages/inquiryprofile/supported-decisionmaking-for-adults-with-disability-and-older-people-in-nsw.aspx -submissions

Image description: Carole smiles in Parliament House in front of paintings.

“Social inclusion takes going beyond.”Yesterday, we were delighted to host a workshop by Dr Angela Amado at Parramatta T...
19/06/2026

“Social inclusion takes going beyond.”

Yesterday, we were delighted to host a workshop by Dr Angela Amado at Parramatta Town Hall. We know that isolation continues to be a significant issue and Angela shared tips about creating connections and opportunities for meaningful relationships to form between people with intellectual disability and other community members.

It was wonderful to hear examples from her years of experience about how everyone benefits from community inclusion. We also got practical advice and worked as groups to develop real strategies that can be put into practice.

One tip was to stop thinking about activities as ends in themselves and instead focus on what human connections could be possible. Angela challenged attendees to consider who could form a connection with an isolated person.

Excellent catering was provided by The Welcome Table by House of Welcome, a Western-Sydney based social enterprise that employs people seeking asylum and refugees, advancing social inclusion. We were supported by the Parramatta Town Hall staff, who ensured the event ran seamlessly.

We wish Angela the best for the rest of her tour around Australia!

Are you interested in keeping up-to-date with us and our future events? You can find more about us and join our newsletter through our website: https://sidebysideadvocacy.org.au/

Our Winter newsletter is out now! Learn about what the Side By Side Advocacy team have been up to in the last few months...
11/06/2026

Our Winter newsletter is out now!

Learn about what the Side By Side Advocacy team have been up to in the last few months! We have been travelling across the state, hosting workshops about communicating confidently, setting up new matches through our Community for Everyone program, and more!

The Connecting with Community event presented by respected international speaker Dr Angela Amado is now next week on 18 June 2026. Tickets are available until Monday 15 June 2026 so register soon if you would like to be part of this terrific opportunity at Parramatta Town Hall! You can find more information about it, and all our other upcoming opportunities, in the newsletter.

You can read the newsletter here: https://mailchi.mp/379f04e569c5/our-winter-newsletter-is-here?e=[UNIQID]

Image descriptions: six people sit and talk around a table at a Speak with Confidence workshop.
The Side By Side Advocacy team at the Sydney Alliance Discernment Convention pose with a wall of post-it notes.
Ryan presents at the Speak with Confidence workshop.

Do you want to help change the systems that shape the lives of people with disability?Side By Side Advocacy are hiring a...
29/05/2026

Do you want to help change the systems that shape the lives of people with disability?

Side By Side Advocacy are hiring a Systemic Advocate to help drive strategic social change work across NSW and support people with intellectual disability to strengthen their leadership, advocacy and influence in systemic reform.

You would work with a team of passionate professionals to influence laws, policies, systems and community attitudes to remove barriers and advance inclusion, rights and self-determination. As a specialist disability advocacy organisation, you will join a skilled and collaborative team and receive ongoing professional development, supervision, and support.

This is an opportunity to contribute to high-impact advocacy in partnership with people with intellectual disability, government, community organisations and sector allies. The role will suit someone with strong policy, advocacy and relationship-building skills who is committed to disability rights and social justice.

In a time of uncertainty in the disability sector, it is more important than ever to have skilled and experienced people contributing to systemic change.

Learn more about the role on our Ethical Jobs listing: https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/sbsa/systemic-advocate

Find our more about us on our website: https://sidebysideadvocacy.org.au/

Image description: two women sit on a bench by a river. They are talking and smiling.

Many people with intellectual disability experience profound isolation. You can be a part of a worldwide movement commit...
19/05/2026

Many people with intellectual disability experience profound isolation. You can be a part of a worldwide movement committed to more inclusive communities.

Side By Side Advocacy is excited to be hosting respected international expert Dr Angela Amado at Parramatta Town Hall on 18 June 2026 as part of her national tour.

This full-day workshop brings together community members, policy makers, service providers, people with lived experience, families and other allies, to explore practical approaches to strengthening communities and relationships. The day offers opportunities for shared learning, reflection, and connection with others committed to inclusive communities.

With only one month left before the workshop, we are looking forward to seeing you there.

Tickets to the workshop in Parramatta are available via Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community-with-angela-amado

The workshop is being held across the country:
· Newcastle: 16 June with Hunter Circles: https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community
· Parramatta: 18 June with Side By Side Advocacy
· Brisbane: 23 June with CRU - Community Resource Unit Ltd.: https://events.humanitix.com/building-friendships-and-connections-06-26
· Canberra: 25 June with Imagine More: https://imaginemore.org.au/events/building-friendships/
· Adelaide: 27 June with Community Living Project Inc.: https://events.humanitix.com/connecting-with-community-a-workshop-with-dr-angela-amado
· Melbourne: 30 June with Belonging Matters Inc.: https://events.humanitix.com/building-friendships-and-connections-in-everyday-community-life

Image description: A purple graphic titled 'Connecting with Community: Dr Angela Amado national tour". It lists the dates for each stop on the tour and has a QR code for Side By Side Advocacy's event booking page. There is a photo of Angela Amado smiling.

Address

Level 2, Suite 206, 34 Charles Street
Parramatta, NSW
2114

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61298085500

Website

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