Please see below a list of advocacy groups and organisations. By this, we refer to organisations and services that can assist people to:

  • Express their views and concerns
  • Access information and/or services
  • Defend and promote their rights and responsibilities
  • Explore choices and/or options

Carers

Carers Victoria

Level 1, 37 Albert Street, Footscray 3011

Tel: 03 9396 9500 or 1800 514 845 (free call)

Fax: 03 9396 9555

TTY: 03 9396 9587

Email: reception@carersvictoria.org.au

Website: www.carersvictoria.org.au

Offers direct services to support carers in their caring role, as well as education, training and advocacy programs to increase awareness of carers.

Tandem

Level 1, 37 Mollison Street, Abbotsford 3067

Tel: 03 8803 5555

Email: info@tandemcarers.org.au

Website: www.tandemcarers.org.au

Tandem is the Victorian peak body representing family and friends supporting people living with mental health issues. Tandem’s mission is to provide leadership and coordination for the community of individuals and organisations who seek better outcomes for Victorian mental health carers.

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Culturally Diverse, Migrant and Refugee People

Migrant Resource Centre (MRC)

20 Victoria Crescent (enter via Alfrieda St), St Albans 3021

Tel: 03 9367 6044

Email: mrcnw@mrcnorthwest.org.au

Website: www.mrcnorthwest.org.au

Provides support for people with a disability and their families, who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD).

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Family Advocacy

Council of Homeless Persons

2 Stanley Street, Collingwood 3066

Tel: 03 8415 6200

Website: chp.org.au

Homelessness Advocacy Service (HAS) – 1800 066 256

Provides advocacy, support and advice to people who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Independent Family Advocacy and Support (IFAS)

Tel: 1800 849 200

Email: ifascontact@vla.vic.gov.au

Website: www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/independent-family-advocacy-and-support

This service provides early, non-legal advocacy and support to families who are involved in the child protection system. IFAS has a focus on parents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and parents with an intellectual disability. IFAS also provides coaching for self-advocacy for CALD, family violence, LGBTQI, mental health and other disabilities.

Social Security Rights Victoria

PO Box 4226, Fitzroy Victoria 3065

Tel: 03 9481 0355

Email: info@ssrv.org.au

Website: www.ssrv.org.au

Social Security Rights Victoria (SSRV) is a community legal centre that provides free legal services in relation to Social Security and Centrelink matters to people across Victoria, including people affected by disasters.  In addition, the SSRV Worker Help Line offers free and accessible services to social, community and health workers to help support your clients with social security matters.

Legal Assistance Line 

Tel: 03 9481 0355 (Monday – Friday, 9 am-1 pm and 2 pm-5 pm)

Rural callers 

Tel: 1800 094 164 (Monday – Friday, 9 am-1 pm and 2 pm-5 pm)

Worker Help Line 

Tel: 03 9481 0655 (Monday – Friday, 9 am-5 pm)

General enquiries

Tel: 03 9481 0299 (Monday – Friday, 9 am-5 pm)

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission

Level 3, 204 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053

Tel: 1300 891 848

Hearing impaired (TTY): 1300 289 621

Interpreters: 1300 152 494

Email: information@veohrc.vic.gov.au

Legal Unit fax (Charter notifications, equal opportunity exemptions): 1300 286 834

Under the Equal Opportunity Act and the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act, the Commission helps people resolve complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment, victimisation and racial or religious vilification through a free, fair and timely dispute resolution service with the aim of achieving a mutual agreement.

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First Nations

Aboriginal Advancement League

2 Watt Street, Thornbury 3071

Tel: 03 9480 7777

Fax: 03 9416 9092

Email: reception@aal.org.au

Services include health information, Home and Community Care, parenting and family management support/education, accommodation placement, funeral services, housing services, Koorie Energy program, Indigital Studio & Guwiji neighbourhood house.

Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)

340 Bell Street, Preston 3072

Tel: 03 9287 8800

Email: vacca@vacca.org

Website: www.vacca.org

We deliver more than fifty programs across Victoria aligned to our Vision, Purpose and Principles. Together with the Aboriginal community, we design, develop and deliver programs that build on peoples’ strengths. We understand intergenerational trauma, and that healing occurs in the context of developing relationships, connection to culture, community, and Country. Our services can also be accessed by non-Aboriginal people who have an Aboriginal family member, such as children or a partner.

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LGBTIQA+

Aboriginal Bi Alliance

Tel: Rebecca (Pres.): 0408 125 683, James (VP): 0407 823 025

Twitter: @bialliancevic

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BiAllianceVic

Website: www.bi-alliance.org

Bisexual Alliance Victoria Inc. is a non-profit volunteer-run organisation dedicated to promoting the acceptance of bisexuals* in LGBTIQA+ and mainstream society, providing a fun, safe space where bisexuals can meet, make friends, and talk about their experiences, and informing the bisexual community about relevant news and opportunities for activism. St. They hold monthly discussion groups.

Minus 18 (youth)

Contact via the website for resources/merch orders

Urgent: 0478 098 540

Website: www.minus18.org.au

Events, LGBTIQA+ merchandise, training and resources.

Pride VIC

79/81 Fitzroy St, St Kilda 3182

Tel: 0429 979 153

Website: pridecentre.org.au/resources/pride-vic-2

Pride VIC is a community-based organisation embracing gender diversity and equality for people with disabilities from all communities, breaking down social and isolation barriers, regardless of sexual orientation. To deliver more flexible, innovative and specialized support services to people with disabilities.

Rainbow Network

Tel: 03 9479 8870

Email: rainbownetwork@latrobe.edu.au

Website: www.rainbownetwork.com.au

Provides a directory for LQBTIQA+ services and groups throughout Victoria. Provides evidence-based inclusive training for organisations and youth settings. Runs youth events – posted and updated on their website.

Transgender Victoria

100 Drummond Street, Carlton 3053

Tel: 03 9020 4642

Website: tgv.org.au

TGV is Victoria’s leading body for trans and gender-diverse advocacy. We work to achieve justice, equity and inclusive service provision for trans and gender-diverse people, their partners, families and friends.

Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby

PO Box 21305, Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 8011

Tel: 0417 484 438

Website: www.vglrl.org.au

The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby works towards equality, social justice and human rights for members of the LGBTIQA+ community. VGLRL works with, and for the community, along with non-profit, health and representatives of government agencies, to create positive change in the area of human rights and policy development.

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People with Disabilities

AED Legal

Suite 4 Level 9 276 Flinders Street, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9639 4333

Email: noni.lord@aed.org.au

Website: www.aed.org.au

AED works in partnership with service users, other disability and community agencies, trade unions, employers and the government to protect the rights of people with disabilities, aid employees who experience workplace discrimination, provide education and training and increase community awareness.

Assert 4 All

48 McKillop Street, Geelong 3220

Tel: 1300 942 773

Email: info@bdrc.org.au

Website: www.bdrc.org.au

Provides advocacy and support for people with disabilities through advocacy and information, DSF (disability support fund) Access Maps, Disability standards surveys, access audits and consultancy and community projects.

Action for More Independence & Dignity in Accommodation (AMIDA)

Level 1, Suite 1.11, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9650 2722

Fax: 03 9654 8575

Email: amida@amida.org.au

Website: www.amida.org.au

Advocacy, Self-Advocacy, Rights, Accessibility & Community Living for People with a Disability.

Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC)

175 Plenty Road, Preston 3072; 4A Watton Street, Werribee 3030 (appt only); Suite 1, 50 Thomas St, Dandenong 3175 (appt only)

Tel: 03 9480 7000

Fax: 03 9480 3444

Email: info@adec.org.au

Website: www.adec.org.au

Information, referral and advocacy for people with disabilities from ethnic communities and their carers.

Association for Children with a Disability

1/587 Canterbury Rd, Surrey Hills 3127

Tel: 03 9880 7000 or 1800 654 013 (free call)

Email: mail@acd.org.au

Website: www.acd.org.au

Information, support and advocacy for families of children with a disability.

Blind Citizens Australia

247-251 Flinders Ln, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 1800 033 660

Text: 0488 824 623

Email: bca@bca.org.au

Website: www.bca.org.au

It is the united voice of blind and vision-impaired Australians.

Brain Injury Matters

247 Flinders Ln, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9639 7222

Email: office@braininjurymatters.org

Facilitates self-advocacy and community education for people living with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

Communication Rights Australia

Unit 4, 3 Tuck Street, Moorabbin 3189

Tel: 1300 666 604

Fax: 03 9555 8550

Email: info@communicationrights.org.au

Website: www.communicationrights.org.au

A human rights advocacy and information service for people with little or no speech.

Deaf Children Australia

597 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004

Tel: 03 9539 5300 or 1800 645 916

Email: info@deafchildren.org.au

Website: www.deafchildrenaustralia.org.au

Provides advocacy and information service which represents the Deaf children community.

Deaf Victoria Inc

Level 3, 340 Albert Street, East Melbourne 3002

Tel: SMS 0431 476 721

Email: info@deafvictoria.org.au

Website: www.deafvictoria.org.au

Deaf Victoria advocates on behalf of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Victorians to increase access to services and to educate the wider community on how to work, play and study with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. Deaf Victoria also represents Deaf and Hard of Hearing people in both state government and disability groups.

Disability Discrimination Legal Service

Tel: 03 9654 8644

Email: info@ddls.org.au

Website: www.ddls.org.au

Provides free legal services in several areas, including information, referral, advice, casework assistance, community legal education, and policy and law reform.

Disability Justice Advocacy

Unit 2, 28A Albert Street, Preston 3070

Tel: 03 9474 0077 or 1800 808 126 (free call)

Fax: 03 9489 2988

Email: info@dja.org.au

Website: dja.org.au

Disability Justice Australia Inc DJA provides advocacy support to people who have ongoing support needs as a result of disability.

Disability Resources Centre DRC

3rd Floor Ross House, 247 Flinders Ln, Melbourne 3070

Tel: 03 9671 3000

Email: advocacy@drc.org.au

Website: www.drc.org.au

Provides individual advocacy to adults with physical, sensory, intellectual, neurological, psychosocial and/or multiple disabilities. We also work on systemic issues and conduct and support campaigns which aim to provide long-term benefits for many people.

Disability Support Pensioners Australia

PO Box 2092, Werribee 3030

Mobile: 0403 001 042 (Members only)

Email: judiann.leggetts@gmail.com

Website: disabilitysupportpensioners.weebly.com

A support organization for young pensioners in our society who live on very low fixed incomes.

Inclusive Rainbow Voices

100 Drummond Street, Carlton, 3073

Tel: 0405 491 359

Email: hello@irv.org.au

Website: https://irv.org.au/

Inclusive Rainbow Voices (IRV) represents and advocate for the human rights of all LGBTIQA+ people with disability.

Leadership Plus Inc

21-25 Flinders Ln, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9489 2999

Email: admin@leadershipplus.com

Website: www.leadershipplus.com

At Leadership Plus, our vision is simple – An inclusive society in which people with disabilities are valued members of the community who have opportunities to achieve their full potential.

North East Citizen Advocacy Inc

56 Gabonia Avenue, Watsonia South 3087

Tel: 03 8407 3684

Email: neca@citizenadvocacy.com.au

Website: www.citizenadvocacy.com.au

Works throughout the area to link up with people who have an intellectual disability and need support to deal with issues in their lives. The program seeks to uphold the rights and interests of adults with an intellectual disability on a one-to-one basis by addressing instances of discrimination, abuse and neglect.

Office of the Public Advocate

Level 1, 204 Lygon Street, Carlton 3053

Tel: 1300 309 337

Email: Online enquiry form

Website: www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au

The Victorian Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) promotes the rights, interests and dignity of people with disability (specifically intellectual impairment, mental illness, brain injury, physical disability or dementia) living in Victoria.

Rights Information and Advocacy Centre (RIAC)

Shepparton: 72 Wyndham St, (PO Box 1763), Shepparton 3630

Tel: 03 5822 1944

Bendigo: 122 Queen St, Bendigo 3550

Tel: 03 5443 0550

Geelong: 11/23-31 Gheringhap St, Geelong 3220

Tel: 03 5222 5499

Mildura: Deakin Business Centre, Cnr Lemon Avenue & Eighth Street, Mildura 3500

Tel: 03 5021 0265

Horsham: 17 High St, North Horsham 3402

Tel: 0491 208 113

Website: www.riac.org.au

Provides information and support, referral assistance, representation, and advocacy at a government level and helps to uphold individual rights.

STAR Victoria

2nd floor, Ross House, 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9650 2730

Email: info@starvictoria.org.au

Website: www.starvictoria.org.au

STAR is an independent community organisation that advocates on a state-wide basis for the rights of people with intellectual disability and their families.

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission)

Tel: 1800 035 544 (free call from landlines)

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) is an independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services.

Villamanta Disability Rights Legal Service

P O Box 7328, Geelong West, VIC 3218

Tel: 1800 014 111 (Free Call – Legal Issues Only – 10 am – 4 pm)

Tel: 03 5260 1845 (Admin line – Monday to Friday)

Email: legal@villamanta.org.au

Website: www.villamanta.org.au

Villamanta is a Community Legal Centre (CLC) that works across Victoria on disability-related legal and justice issues.

Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability Inc. (VALID)

235 Napier Street, Fitzroy 3065

Tel: 03 9416 4003

Fax: 03 9416 0850

NDIS Hotline: 1800 655 570

Email: office@valid.org.au, intake@valid.org.au

Website: www.valid.org.au

An advocacy group for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families. An advocacy group for adults with intellectual disabilities and their families.

Youth Disability Advocacy Service

Level 2, 235 Queen Street, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9267 3700 dial 1

Email: info@yacvic.org.au

Website: www.yacvic.org.au

Supports young people with disabilities to access their rights in a range of areas, including employment, education, housing, Centrelink, and discrimination.

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People Living with Mental Illness
(in addition to disability orgs above)

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA)

Tel: 1300 947 820

Email: contact@imha.vic.gov.au

Website: www.imha.vic.gov.au

Independent Mental Health Advocacy (IMHA) support people who are receiving compulsory psychiatric treatment to have as much say as possible about their assessment, treatment and recovery.

Mental Health Complaints Commissioner

Tel: 1800 246 054 (free call from landlines) or 03 9032 3328

Website: www.mhcc.vic.gov.au

The Mental Health Complaints Commissioner is an independent, specialist complaints organisation established under the Mental Health Act 2014 to help resolve complaints about Victorian public mental health services and recommend improvements.

Mental Health Legal Centre Inc

106 Victoria Street, Carlton 3053

Tel: 03 9629 4422 or 1800 555 887 (free call)

Email: mhlc@mhlc.org.au

Website: mhlc.org.au

The Mental Health Legal Centre provides a free and confidential legal service to anyone who has experienced mental illness in Victoria, where their legal problem relates to their mental illness.

Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC)

Building 1, 22 Aintree Street, Brunswick East 3057

Tel: 03 9380 3900

Website: www.vmiac.org.au

VMIAC engages in several activities, which include information provision, advice, mutual support and self-help, individual, group and systemic advocacy, research and evaluation, and education and training.

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Seniors (or their Representatives)

Aged Care Complaints Commissioner

Tel: 1800 951 822

Website: www.agedcarequality.gov.au

A service which monitors the quality of care and services against the Aged Care Quality Standards.

Elder Rights Advocacy

Suite 4, Level 8/167 Queen St, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9602 3066 or 1800 700 600 (free call)

Email: era@era.asn.au

Website: www.era.asn.au

Offers a free, confidential and independent service to older people (or their representatives). They provide help to identify and advocate for solutions. Cover all areas of Vic and all forms of aged care, home-based and residential.

Housing for the Aged Action Group (HAAG)

Floor 1, Ross House 247 – 251 Flinders

Lane, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 03 9654 7389

Website: www.oldertenants.org.au/haag/about

Provides support for the elderly to find safe, secure and affordable housing.

My Aged Care

Tel: 1800 200 422

Website: www.myagedcare.gov.au/quality-aged-care

Provides support to access Australian Gov funded aged care services. Provides information, assessment of needs, referrals, and payment support and information.

Senior Rights Victoria

Level 4/533 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne 3000

Tel: 1300 368 821

Email: info@seniorsrights.org.au

Website: www.seniorsrights.org.au

Primary, government-funded destination for older Victorians, their friends and family members seeking information & support relating to elder abuse.

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Survivors of Crime/Torture

Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture

4 Gardiner Street, Brunswick 3056

Tel: 03 9389 8900

Fax: 03 9277 7871

Email: info@foundationhouse.org.au

Website: www.foundationhouse.org.au

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