Disability Advocacy Resource Unit
Main DARU website
Visit us at www.daru.org.au for information and resources.
The Disability Advocacy Resource Unit (DARU) is a state-wide service run by and for people with disabilities. The aim of DARU is to increase the ability of those advocating on behalf of others and gain improvements to existing disability advocacy and related sectors.
DARU is a joint project of VCOSS and the Victorian Disability Advocacy Network (VDAN). VDAN is a coalition of independent community based organisations working as a network to advocate for and with people with disabilities. The partnership was developed to enable DARU to play a significant role in ensuring the rights and interests of people with disabilities are respected and realised.
In late 2005 the Department of Human Services (DHS) provided funding for two new advocacy services, DARU and the Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU). SARU is aimed at increasing the ability of people with disabilities to better advocate for themselves while DARU is aimed at increasing the ability of people to better advocate on behalf of others.
Established in February 2007, DARU is one of the actions resulting from the State Disability Plan. This 10-year plan outlines the Victorian state government’s vision for the future. It reaffirms the right of people with disabilities to live and participate in the community with the same rights, responsibilities and opportunities as other members of the community. There are five priority strategies identified in the Plan:
- Reorient disability supports
- Develop strong foundations for disability supports
- Provide and protect people’s rights
- Strengthen local communities
- Make public services accessible
Strategy 3 commits the Victorian State Government to promote and protect the rights of all Victorians, including people with a disability. One of the actions identified is for the government to support the development of advocacy services to ensure people with disabilities have the same opportunities as all other members of the community; have the same responsibilities as all other citizens of Victoria; exercise choice and control over their lives and have equal access to a range of services to support quality of life.
Over the next three years DARU will:
- Develop a Code of Practice to improve advocacy practice;
- Offer professional development opportunities;
- Establish working partnerships with the tertiary sector to develop mentoring and coaching programs and courses in advocacy;
- Provide access to information to support people with a disability including, a clearinghouse to support advocacy efforts and a resource and equipment library;
- Work on broader social issues affecting people with disabilities through systemic advocacy;
- Provide links to broader social policy and generic advocacy
For information about the Disability Advocacy Resources Unit, contact the DARU coordinator or visit the DARU website http://www.daru.org.au/.
Sharon Granek
sharon.granek@vcoss.org.au
TTY: Call the National Relay Service on 133 677 quoting 9639 5807