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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Gippsland Disability Advocacy Inc.

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Traralgon, VIC
Gippsland Disability Advocacy Inc.

Disability Advocacy Organisation

Providing advocacy support, advice and referrals for people with disabilities including carers across Gippsland.

Our mission is to advocate, promote, and be responsive to the welfare, rights and interests of people with disabilities, and to build a more inclusive community. Our vision is that through advocacy, people with disabilities are empowered to exercise their rights. We provide services to people with a disability who live in the local government areas of:
- Baw Baw
- South Gippsland
- Bass Coast
- Latrobe City
- Wellington
- East Gippsland

Priority for sevice will be given to people who are unable to articulate their needs without support and may be experiencing potential abuse, discrimination or negligent treatment, denial or infringement of rights and social isolation.

14/11/2025

What is IDPwD?

International Day People with Disability is a United Nations day recognised around the world on 3 December each year. The day aims to promote community awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

In Australia, IDPwD is a joint effort between government, schools, organisations, businesses and individuals.

We encourage conversations around IDPwD to:
• challenge stereotypes and negative attitudes
• recognise the contributions of people with disability
• build a more inclusive community

To find out more:
https://www.idpwd.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IDPwD-Community-Conversation-Guide-ONLINE_Final.pdf

13/11/2025

Lakes Entrance Unveils New Changing Places Facility

East Gippsland Shire Council, disability advocates and community representatives came together on Thursday 6 November to celebrate the opening of a Changing Places facility, designed for people with high support or mobility needs, on the Lakes Entrance foreshore.

The ribbon was cut by upper house member for eastern Victoria, Tom McIntosh, joined by East Gippsland Shire Mayor Cr John White, Councillors Tom Crook and Arthur Allen, representatives from the Lakes Entrance Action and Development Association including Bruce Hurley and Sharen Cameron, Gippsland Disability Advocacy Executive Officer Leanne Wishart, and Council staff and community members.

The new facility provides fully accessible toilets and changerooms for people with disabilities and their carers. Features include a height-adjustable adult change table, ceiling hoist, accessible shower, Braille signage, and extra space for carers.

Bianca Bassett, a wheelchair user and Lakes Entrance local, noted that the Changing Places facility represents far more than just a bathroom.

"It means not having to choose between comfort and participation. It means not having to stay home," Bianca said.

"Disability inclusion isn't just a moral imperative, it's an economic opportunity."

"When we stay home, our families stay home. Our friends stay home. Our communities miss out on our presence, our contributions and our stories."

Mayor Cr John White said the facility will make a big difference for residents and visitors alike.

"This is about dignity, inclusion and making sure everyone can be part of community life," he said. "It means families and carers can enjoy a day at the beach or a walk along the foreshore without the stress of not having suitable facilities nearby."

The Lakes Entrance facility was jointly funded by the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing and Council, as part of a statewide program to improve access for people with disability.

The Lakes Entrance Action & Development Association welcomed the project, saying it complements the town's ongoing efforts to make the foreshore more welcoming for everyone.

The facility is open 24 hours a day and can be accessed using a Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK).

"Everyone deserves to be part of community life," John said. "This is another step in making that happen - one facility at a time."

Council is creating another Changing Places facility in Cann River, with completion anticipated around December. Until then, a Marveloo portable accessible facility is available in the town.

12/11/2025

Unfortunately we have to cancel this month’s Latrobe Valley Friday Friendship Group (Friday 14th November) due to unexpected events.

We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

Kind regards,

Group Worker
Positive Powerful Parents

Positive Powerful Parents Self Advocacy Group is run by and for parents with intellectual disability.

My work days are: Wednesday & Friday

03) 9639 9106
0493 309 484

10/11/2025

Disability self help grants now open

Dear all,
We are pleased to let you know that a new round of Victorian Government grants to support disability self help groups is now open.
You can find out more on the disability self help grants webpage. Please share information about the grants with anyone who may be interested to apply.
About the grants
Grants of up to $7,000 per year for 1 or 2 years are available to help disability self help groups to run (a total maximum of $14,000 over 2 years).
Disability self help groups provide valuable peer support for people with disability, and their families and carers. They boost social connection, mental health and wellbeing.
The grants can assist with administrative costs, communications and activities that strengthen the group.
We're interested to hear from groups representing diverse communities and those in regional areas.
Information session
The Office for Disability is holding an online information session on Thursday, 27 November 2025. This session will provide more information about the program for groups that are interested to apply.
For more details and to register for the session please visit the disability self help grants webpage
More information
Applications are open for 10 weeks, closing at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 27 January 2026.
To find out more and apply go to the disability self help grants webpage
If you have any questions please email the Office for Disability
Thank you for your support.

Office for Disability
Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
ofd@dffh.vic.gov.au
www.dffh.vic.gov.au

22/10/2025

International Day of People with Disability celebrations at Latrobe Leisure

Free All Abilities Walking Basketball and Community Lunch. Local Advocacy Organisations will also be present. No registration required.

Gippsland Regional Indoor Sports Stadium Traralgon
Monday 1st December 2025
All Abilities Walking Basketball: 10.30am-11.30am
Community Lunch: 11.30am-12.30pm

Moe Newborough Leisure Centre
Friday 5th December 2025
All Abilities Walking Basketball: 11.00am-12.00noon
Community Lunch: 12.00noon-1.00pm

Gippsland Disability Advocacy, New Wave Gippsland, Latrobe Community Health Service, Carers Victoria and Latrobe City Emergency Management are supporting these events.

If you have any accessibility or dietary requirements to support your participation, please contact Hayley Hall, email: hayley.hall@latrobe.vic.gov.au, phone: 0437 964 54. Latrobe Leisure offers step-free entry, accessible parking and Changing Places toilets.

16/10/2025

Gippsland Disability Advocacy Inc. – GDA - is seeking
additional Board members.

GDA is a not for profit, community based Incorporated Association,
funded to provide advocacy support, advice, and referrals for people
with disability.

GDA provides outreach support to people with disabilities across the six
local government areas of Gippsland.

GDA is governed by a Board of management made up of
voluntary/unpaid board members. The Board has a variety of lived,
industry, health, disability, and community backgrounds.
GDA is seeking prospective Board members who have values consistent
with our Mission and Vision, including social justice and upholding the
rights of people with disability.

A GDA board member’s role is a strategic position in the organisation
and a board member is responsible for governing the organisation. This
should not be confused with the management and operational aspects of
the organisation (that is, the everyday running of the organisation).
Meetings are held on the third Monday of the Month either Face to face
or online via Microsoft Teams.

For more information and/or to discuss becoming a Board member of
GDA please contact the Board Chair: Rosalie O’Neil, please contact
Rosalie via email board.chair@gdai.org.au

You can find out more about GDA by looking at our webpage
Web page: https://gdai.com.au/ and our page

02/10/2025

Make every tomorrow better, starting today

Households are finding it increasingly difficult to afford basic living expenses, come along to these FREE events and see how we can help.
Email: info@bettermentalll.com.au
Phone: 0412 418 431

30/09/2025

NDIS Needs Assessment Tool I-CAN Version-6

Friday 26 September

People with Disability Australia (PWDA) hears and shares a number of the concerns of our members and the broader community about the recently announced NDIS needs assessment tool, I-CAN Version 6.

PWDA will be holding government to account in their commitments to meaningful co-design. We reaffirm our position that needs assessment must be individualised, co-designed, and rights-based, with the clear goal of supporting people with disability to live with independence, choice, and control.

We insist that I-CAN must only ever be used as part of a broader process of needs assessment, where participants retain the ability to provide reports from their own health and allied health specialists.

Governments of all persuasions have for years floated different tools and approaches to needs assessment. Most have fallen far short of what people with disability require. While I-CAN is still not fit for purpose on its own, it at least starts from a more complete frame than many of the options previously proposed. That makes it all the more critical that this time the process be genuinely co-designed with our community.

PWDA reiterates that the new needs assessment process must:

Ensure that no one is worse off or left behind.
Be safe, accessible, and responsive to all people with disability.
Guarantee meaningful co-design with the community at every stage.
Allow participants to submit reports from their own therapists, clinicians, and specialists.

Uphold meaningful rights of review at every stage, from assessment through to budget allocation and planning.
The government must act with full transparency at all times regarding all aspects of their decisions and this process.

PWDA will continue our efforts to gain further information about the new process and tool, and we will hold the government accountable to ensure the new system is a foundation for a fairer NDIS that genuinely supports people with disability to thrive.

29/09/2025

Please register!
After the success of our latest Home Fire Safety Q&A in May, we are hosting another FREE online session, this time focusing on bushfire safety.

This is a session for support workers and service providers to ask us questions about bushfire safety, and hear from us about the upcoming fire season.
Register now to come along (and please share with your networks!)

22/09/2025

HAVE YOUR SAY
Department of Health, Disability and Ageing have published on their website which includes links to the Parliamentary inquiry into the Thriving Kids initiative and the link to the survey to gather community feedback on the experiences of families and carers in accessing support services for children with additional needs.

Please share with families you know who would benefit in making a submission/filling in survey.

Seeking written submissions and community feedback for Thriving Kids initiative
The Committee is seeking written submissions addressing the terms of reference by Friday, 3 October 2025.

Further information about the terms of Reference and how to make a submission to the parliamentary committee is available here

A brief survey is also now available to gather community feedback on the experiences of families and carers in accessing support services for children with additional needs. The survey will be open until Friday, 10 October 2025 and can be accessed here.
Read more about Thriving Kids

22/09/2025

2-year time limit on NDIS claims starts 3 October 2025
From 3 October 2025, participants, nominees and plan managers need to submit claims within 2 years of a support’s start date. Before this change, there was no time limit.

This is because of changes The Australian Government made to NDIS laws in 2024.

This change will reduce the chance of missing a claim and make it easier to check and approve payments.

To give everyone time to adjust, a 12 month grace period was put in place. This ends at midnight on 2 October 2025. Until then, you can still submit older claims, even if they’re over 2 years old. But from 3 October 2025, NDIA systems will automatically reject claims that are more than 2 years past the support start date.

If you have any older claims, now is the time to submit them.

09/09/2025

Twin City Archers Gippsland - provides an opportunity to learn a new sport

We a volunteer recreational archery club based in Morwell and have secured funding from DHHHS to offer free coaching in archery to disabled participants.

We have a great indoor, all weather, easy access range, a group of experienced coaches (all of who are experienced archers and personally aware of disability issues) and plenty of equipment; but lack participants.

The program is only available to physically disabled adults as per the funding guidelines and will run on weekdays.

If you have any suggestions for finding particiapnts or would be able to help us with this It would be greatly appreciated.

Please note this is independant of NDIS or any other support and our ability to assist participants is very broad.

Regards and with thanks,

David Proctor 0402 270 347

Address

Suite 2 First Floor 6/8 Grey Street
Traralgon, VIC
3844

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61351750444

Website

http://www.gdai.com.au/

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Our Story

Our mission is to advocate, promote and be responsive to the welfare, rights and interests of people with disabilities, and to build a more inclusive community. Our vision is that through advocacy, people with disabilities are empowered to exercise their rights. We provide disability advocacy to people with a disability who live across Gippsland in the local government areas of: - Baw Baw - South Gippsland - Latrobe City - Wellington - East Gippsland - Bass Coast Priority for service will be given to people who are unable to articulate their needs without support and may be experiencing potential abuse, discrimination or negligent treatment, denial or infringement of rights and social isolation.