Who we work with Edited on 17 March 2009

Grampians disAbility Advocacy Association works with regional and statewide networks of disability advocacy organisations.

Victorian Rural Advocacy Network (VicRAN)

VicRAN is an association of regional advocacy organisations which assist people with disabilities. VicRAN has representation from all rural regions of Victoria.

The aim of the network is to:

• Ensure that people with disabilities living in rural Victoria have access to resources and services to meet their needs.
• Uphold and promote community recognition of the rights of people with disabilities.
• Work toward the removal of all physical and social barriers which prevent full participation of people with disabilities in the life of the community.

The purposes of the nework are to:

• Advise Government Ministers, Government Departments, Local Government and other service providers on service policy, service planning and development.
• Disseminate information.
• Conduct research.
• Lobby for new services.
• Act on issues that have implications for rural Victorians.
• Co-ordinate staff development for rural regional advocacy services.
• Refer issues with national implications to relevant national organisations.
• Raise awareness of issues affecting people with disabilities in rural Victoria.
• Maintain and support a rural regional advocacy network.

Disability Rights Victoria

Disability Rights Victoria is an advocacy organisation directed by people with disability. They work with and on behalf of adults with a disability.

Their aim is to ensure that all Victorians with disabilities enjoy the same citizenship rights and life opportunities as other members of society.

Disability Rights Victoria advocate in support of your right to:

• Equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of community life.
• Access to the accommodation, support services, education, training, transport, recreation and medical treatment you need.
• A life free from abuse, exploitation and discrimination.
• The same civil and political rights as any other Australian citizen.
• Control over the decisions that affect your life.
• Economic and social security, and a decent standard of living.
• The consideration of your needs at all stages of economic and social planning.
• The assistance of a friend, family member or advocate to represent you if you require it.

For information about your rights and access to formal complaints systems visit the Advocacy House (opens in a new browser window) website.

Victorian Disability Advocacy Network

The vision of Victorian Disability Advocacy Network (VDAN) is to be an active participant in the creation of a fully inclusive society in which people who have a disability are included as equally valued and contributing citizens.

The network aims to strengthen and promote an effective network for the advocacy movement, to defend good advocacy and to promote good advocacy and the rights and needs of people with a disability.

It is a coalition of independent, community based organisations that advocate with and for people with any kind of disability.

VicRAN hosted the National Disability Advocacy Conference for the first time in July 2007. You can find conference details and resolutions on the VDAN (opens in a new browser window) website.

Grampians Access and Advocacy Network

The Grampians Access and Advocacy Network (GAAN) is committed to peer support, knowledge sharing and confidentiality for people working in the advocacy sector in the Grampians region. The network aims to provide a practical forum to raise, promote and further social and community issues that affect people with a disability. It also promotes partnerships between advocacy, RuralAccess, Department of Human Services, Access for All Abilities and DeafAccess. Meetings are held quarterly at rotating venues throughout the region.

The GAAN model is now being adopted by other regions, following a statewide RuralAccess and Advocacy conference in May 2005 where the model was presented as an example of good practice.