About DARU
DARU is unique in Australia as a dedicated resource unit funded to work with disability advocacy organisations to promote and protect the rights of people with disability. We develop and distribute resources and provide training opportunities to keep disability advocates informed and up-to-date about issues affecting people with disability in Victoria.
DARU proudly hosts the advocacy sector’s flagship event each year in Melbourne in partnership with Disability Advocacy Victoria and Victorian Council of Social Services (VCOSS). Check out the conference website to catch up on past sessions:
Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference
Find an Advocate
Directory of organisations for agencies delivering disability advocacy as well as complaints bodies, campaigners, support groups and useful referral and information services.
Find an advocateOur Publications
A collection of information sheets and reports including ‘What is disability advocacy?’, ‘How to be disability inclusive’ and ‘How we talk about disability matters’.
Browse publicationsOnline Courses
Unaccredited online training that supports skill development for providing human rights based advocacy practice. The courses are self-paced and free of charge. Register and learnAdvocacy Sector Conversations Forum
This forum series provides in depth knowledge on topics that impact disability advocacy practice. Session resources include video, audio, transcript and useful links. Browse resourcesDisability Royal Commission
Commentary around the Commission’s proceedings with analysis and perspectives under investigation. Find out moreIn the news
They were told they weren’t smart enough to vote. They were, and now they do
Over the next hour, I heard a dozen personal stories, each as enraging and saddening as the next, but all following a similar theme. During their late teens or early 20s, each of these people were told, usually by a close family member or friend, that they “weren’t smart enough to vote” or it “wasn’t worth the effort to learn”.
Testimony at the disability royal commission
Testimony to the disability royal commission this week described a culture in which people were “seen as a dollar figure” and in which management and staff did not report serious incidents.
Funding delays keep NDIS participants in hospital months longer than necessary, report finds
Overall, government data showed there were 1,140 participants stuck in hospital waiting for housing funding or other support before they can be released.
Latest tweets
Proud Indigenous man Thomas Marks tells his story of being Stolen Gen, incarceration and turning his life around th… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
WWDA has developed a fact sheet to support women, girls, feminine identifying and non-binary people with disability… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Retweeted by DARU
Want to know what @AustralianLabor & @billshortenmp have planned for the #NDIS #ausvotes @criprights @NDISDeane… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Retweeted by DARU
University of Melbourne is looking to learn about the experience of autistic young people who have difficulty atten… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
DSC have released their latest episode of ‘Disability Done Different: Candid Conversations’ featuring Senator Jordo… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…