Individual

Advocacy for the Individual

Under this type of advocacy, we work with the person with disability as well as their family when the need arises but always in the interest and with the consent of the person with disability.  However when working with family members, the person with disability remains our client and their wishes, decisions and well-being is our primary goal.

We also provide advocacy services in formal and judicial hearings (we do not provide legal advocacy or representation nor can we give legal advice).  For example we advocate for you at:

• Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) hearings;
• Legal/Justice proceedings;
• Mental Health Review Court and Tribunal hearings;  and at
• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) hearings.

Request for Services

Due to the growing demand for advocacy since the introduction of the NDIS in 2016, we have had to introduce a more formal and structured process of handing the vast number of referrals we receive.  This system has been streamlined over the past few years and has been approved by our accreditation auditors.

All requests for services are handled through an Intake process that takes into account a number of factors.  The Intake process is undertaken by our dedicated Advocate\Intake Officer who access all requests and is our first point of call for all general enquiries.

Requests must be submitted using our Service Request Form and this is available in a number of ways:

• you can complete an online form on our website
• you can download both a Word or PDF version from our website that you can complete and email to our Advocate\Intake Officer at intake@ianq.org.au.
• call or email our Advocate\Intake Officer to speak with them and request one to be sent to you;  or
• you can attend at our office and speak with our Advocate\Intake Officer

Assessment of Requests

Each request is assessed according to:

• whether the person has a disability as opposed to a complex medical/health condition
• whether the matter is an advocacy issue and what you have done to attempt to resolve the matter
• the Spectrum of Vulnerability to determine waitlist priority
• the person to be assisted is within our funded Service Regions
• whether we are the best organisation to deliver assistance

Referral Waitlist

Due to the demand for services, all pending requests after the assessment process are added to a Waitlist until an advocate is available. 

Another unfortnate issue faced with the introduction of the NDIS is that most matters relating to NDIS issues take much longer to resolve.  In fact those wanting Internal Reviews or NDIS Appeals can expect their matter to take months or even a year or more to finalise.  Hence it takes longer for an advocate to become available and the Waitlist grows.

Assistance while on Waitlist

We undertake basic monitoring of Waitlisted referrals which is usually a call or email every month and provide you with information and resources. 

However, we may be able to provide some self-advocacy assistance in the form of more complex information and resources which may assist you in resolving your issue.   This does not mean that you have an Advocate - and you remain on the Waitlist for the next available Advocate. 

What is required of you on the Waitlist:

• to keep us up to date with the progress of your matter
• to give us instructions and/or answers within a reasonable time - usually two weeks
• to advocate for yourself to the best of your ability