Useful contacts

NSW Advocacy

Disability advocacy promotes, protects and supports a person’s human rights. Advocacy organisations can support you to make sure you are not discriminated against and are treated equally and respectfully by others.

You can search for NSW advocates on Disability Gateway.

NSW Ageing and Disability Commission

The NSW Government established the Ageing and Disability Commission (ADC) in 2019, to better protect adults with disability and older people from abuse, neglect and exploitation by someone they know in their home, or community. The main role of the ADC is to:

• investigate allegations of abuse, neglect and exploitation of adults with disability and older people in home and community settings
• provide support to vulnerable adults and their families or carers following an investigation
• report and make recommendations to government on systemic issues related to abuse, neglect and exploitation
• raise community awareness of abuse, neglect and exploitation, including how to prevent, identify and respond to matters
• administer the Official Community Visitors program, in relation to disability services and assisted boarding houses.

The ADC is a state-wide service and is a free call to 1800 628 221.

You can find out more on the Ageing and Disability Commission website.

National Disability Insurance Scheme

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is for eligible Australians who were either born with or acquire a permanent and significant disability. A 'permanent disability' means a person's disability is likely to be lifelong.

The NDIS funds reasonable and necessary supports and services that relate to a person's disability to help them achieve their goals. 'Reasonable' means the support is most appropriately funded or provided through the NDIS. And 'necessary' means something a person needs that is related to their disability.

You can find out more on the NDIS website.

Information on Disability Education and Awareness Services (IDEAS)

IDEAS provides a range of information services and products for people with disability and people with age related disability, their families, carers and other supporters that support self advocacy.

Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Services

The Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Services is Natasha Maclaren-Jones MLC. To contact the Minister, visit the NSW Government website.

Helplines

For other helplines, visit the Crisis numbers and helplines page.

National Relay Service / TTY

For other NRS numbers, visit the NRS call numbers page on the Australian Government website.

For more information on the NRS, visit the National Relay Service page on the Australian Government website.

If you are deaf and/or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone, you can contact the National Relay Service (NRS) which is an Australia-wide telephone access service that provides phone solutions for you.

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)

The TIS service provides interpreting services for non-English speakers who need to use an interpreter immediately over the phone, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.