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
‘Holding cell’: Melbourne family with disabled son stuck in ‘transitional’ housing for a decade
When Rosalie Dow moved into transitional housing in Melbourne with her two young children in 2013, she thought it would only be for a few months. Dow’s son, Mayer, was two, and showing signs of what would soon be diagnosed as Coffin-Lowry syndrome, a rare and often debilitating genetic condition with complications including intellectual disability, … Continued
Australia misses 20-year public transport accessibility target as many train and tram networks fail people with disabilities
Australia has 960 train stations, and by the end of 2017, each state was required to have ensured that 90 per cent of their stations met accessibility standards. "Across the country, we would be at best 50 per cent compliance to those standards," said Susie Pascoe, CEO of Sterling Infrastructure — a company that delivers services across Australia's rail network and assesses the accessibility of stations and walkways around trains.
Watchdog reveals thousands of reports of sexual misconduct, injury, abuse and neglect in disability group homes
There have been more than 7,000 serious incidents — including sexual misconduct, serious injury, abuse and neglect — in disability group homes over the past four years, according to a startling new report from the NDIS complaints watchdog. The report followed an inquiry into disability group homes, set up to identify trends among issues occurring in the sector and how best to address them.
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We have extended the deadline for our survey until 2 February. Please share so more people can have a say about emp… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Retweeted by DARU
Have you seen our Everyone Can Work website? It is full of easy-to-understand information and real stories to help… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… Retweeted by DARU
Deaf Victoria are looking for a Community Mental Health Officer to be responsible for a community education and sup… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Leadership Plus is running an exciting new program in 2023. A number of part-time or full-time advocates with stron… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
AMIDA are seeking an Advocate to provide individual and systemic advocacy to disabled people that addresses instanc… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…