Systemic Advocacy

Systemic Advocacy is working to change whole laws, systems, or services instead of focusing on one person. It aims to benefit many people with disability at once, not just individuals.

Why Systemic Advocacy Matters

It targets big, ongoing problems that affect many people.
It is stronger and lasts longer than acting alone on individual cases.
Real lived experiences from people with disability guide and shape these changes.

Parts of Systemic Advocacy

1. Policy and Law Reform

Fight for stronger disability rights laws.
Push for better enforcement and more inclusive policies.

2. Public Awareness and Education

Work to raise awareness about disability issues.
Help reduce stigma and discrimination by sharing accurate messages.

3. Accessibility and Inclusion

Advocate for improvements in physical access (buildings, transport).
Push for better opportunities in education, employment, and healthcare.

4. Challenging Discrimination

Fight discrimination in places like workplaces, schools, and public spaces.
Work to change unfair practices that affect groups of people.

5. Community and Government Engagement

Work with governments, organisations, and businesses to support change.
Build partnerships and alliances to strengthen the impact of the advocacy.

Examples of Systemic Advocacy

Campaigning for better public transport accessibility.
Advocating for inclusive education policies.
Influencing laws to create a more inclusive society.

Closure of Institutions - 1990's

For a long time, people with disability were placed in large institutions like Willow Court in Tasmania. These places often did not give people choice, safety or a good quality of life.
Advocates, families and people with disability worked together to show the government and the community that institutions were harmful.
They shared stories, reports and evidence about poor living conditions and lack of rights.
They campaigned for people to be supported to live in the community with dignity, not in isolated institutions.
This strong advocacy helped convince governments to close institutions like Willow Court.
Because of systemic advocacy, more people now live in safe, supported homes in the community, with greater freedom and control over their lives.

WARNING: The following video may contain images and voices of deceased persons.

WARNING: The following video may contain images and voices of deceased persons.

Moving into Communities - 2000's

When disability institutions like Willow Court started to close, people needed support to move safely into the community.
Advocates, families and people with disability worked together to make sure the government planned good community living options.
They spoke up for people’s rights to choose where they live, who supports them, and how they want to live their lives.
Advocates pushed for safe housing, proper funding, good support services, and training for workers.
They made sure people leaving institutions were treated with respect and were included in decisions about their own lives.
Because of systemic advocacy, more people were able to move from places like Willow Court into inclusive, supported community homes, with greater freedom, safety and independence.

NDIS 2010's

In Australia, disability Advocacy groups like Speak Out and people with disability, used systemic advocacy to push for a fairer, national support system.
They shared stories to show that the old systems were not working.
They met with government, organised campaigns, and worked together to create a strong public message.
Their advocacy helped the government see that people with disability needed choice, control and long-term support.
Our work and the work of other advocacy organisations played a big part in creating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

WARNING: The following video may contain images and voices of deceased persons.

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