Advocate’s Corner – September 2025

Welcome to this month’s edition of The Advocate’s Corner, where we share what’s been happening at Advocacy WA and highlight the key themes emerging in our work alongside people with disability, their families, and supporters.

What We’ve Been Seeing

September was another busy month for our team, with dozens of new referrals from across the South West. Most people reached out to us directly, showing that more community members are feeling confident to seek advocacy support for themselves and others.

The top areas people needed help with were:

• Navigating the NDIS, especially access and appeals
• Understanding government payments and entitlements
• Managing challenges around housing and homelessness

Our advocates continue to stand beside people through these complex systems — helping them understand their rights, gather information, and have their voices heard.

Advocacy in Action

A growing number of people are facing new or unfamiliar steps within the NDIS appeal process, such as Directional Hearings being scheduled earlier than expected. These changes can cause confusion and stress, so our advocates are focusing on education and clear communication to make sure people know what to expect.

We’re also seeing a significant increase in the amount of additional medical evidence required by the NDIA. This has created pressure for individuals and families who must attend extra appointments or request further reports. Our advocates are working hard to help people collect strong, clear evidence and respond within tight timeframes — ensuring that no one is left to face these processes alone.

Empowering Self-Advocacy

This month, several people shared that they’ve been experimenting with AI tools to help organise documents and draft letters for the NDIS or Administrative Review Tribunal. Many said it gave them confidence to take an active role in telling their own story.

While technology can help with structure and organisation, our clients made it clear that it can’t replace the empathy, experience, and advocacy that comes from a real person walking alongside them. Together, these approaches are creating new opportunities for people to build self-advocacy skills and confidence.

In Our Communities

Our team has been out and about across the region, from Bunbury to Busselton, Donnybrook, and Harvey, connecting with local organisations, sharing information about people’s rights, and ensuring that advocacy is accessible wherever it’s needed.

Every conversation reinforces what we believe at Advocacy WA that “It’s always okay to speak up.”

Team Update

This month, we welcomed a new team member into our Intake and Advocacy area, ensuring we can continue to meet growing demand. The team is also developing a new Intake Task Sheet to help maintain consistency and quality as we expand.

Our advocates continue to support high numbers of NDIS appeals and provide guidance to individuals navigating complex systems. We are proud of their dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to person-centred advocacy.

Advocacy WA remains committed to ensuring that every person with disability has the information, support, and voice they need to make their own choices and live the life they want.

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