Disability counselling and advocacy support
Welcome to the counselling and advocacy support page.
You might need support from a counsellor or an advocate if you:
- Have ever been hurt, treated badly or taken advantage of
- Are thinking about taking part in the Disability Royal Commission
Support is free, independent and confidential. If you would like to speak to a counsellor or advocate near you, select your state and territory.
On this page
- How we can help you
- Who you can talk to
- What is counselling support
- What is advocacy support
- What accessible resources are there
- What support is there for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability
- What Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources are there
- Translated videos
- What support is there for culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability
- How you can help spread the word
- Where you can find more information
How we can help you
If you have experienced or witnessed someone being hurt, treated badly or taken advantage of, you may need support.
A counsellor can support you to talk about your feelings and emotions in a safe space.
An advocate can help you tell your story, protect your rights and access other supports.
You may be thinking about engaging with the Disability Royal Commission. A support person can help you make choices about telling your story. Getting support does not mean you have to take part in the Disability Royal Commission – it is your choice.
Many people say that counselling and advocacy has helped them.
You can take your time to think about getting support. It’s here for you when you are ready.
Who you can talk to
Contact the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468 for counselling support, or ask to be connected to a counsellor or advocate near you.
It is available 9am to 6pm weekdays, and 9am to 5pm weekends and national public holidays.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing and/or find it hard speaking with people who use a phone, call the National Relay Service (NRS) on 133 677.
If you are currently experiencing any form of violence or abuse, or you are concerned for your or someone else’s safety, call 000 immediately.
If you would like to speak to a counsellor or advocate near you, select your state and territory.
What is counselling support
Learn more about the free counselling support available to you, your family and your carers in this video.
You can also watch our video containing answers to common questions about counselling support services.
What is advocacy support
Learn more about the free advocacy support available for you, your family and your carers in this video.
You can also watch our video containing answers to common questions about advocacy support services.
What accessible resources are there
We have a number of accessible resources that you can use and share.
Fact sheets
General
- Disability Royal Commission support services fact sheet
- General counselling and advocacy support fact sheet
Easy Read
- Disability Royal Commission support services fact sheet - Easy Read
- Disability Royal Commission counselling support fact sheet – Easy Read
- Disability Royal Commission advocacy support fact sheet – Easy Read
- General counselling and advocacy support fact sheet – Easy Read
Auslan
- Disability Royal Commission support services fact sheet - Auslan
- General counselling and advocacy support fact sheet - Auslan
Braille and large print
- Send an email to disabilityadvocacy@dss.gov.au with your name and address.
Guide to Disability Royal Commission support services
- Guide to Disability Royal Commission support services – accessible booklets
What support is there for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability
Culturally appropriate support is available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability and their families.
Indigenous-run support is available in some areas.
To speak to a counsellor or advocate near you, select your state and territory.
You can also call the National Counselling and Referral Service for counselling support or ask them to connect you to a counsellor or advocate near you. Call 1800 421 468 (9am to 6pm weekdays, and 9am to 5pm weekends and national public holidays).
Counsellors and advocates can arrange translations and interpreting if you need help in another language.
What Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources are there
We have fact sheets, posters, and translated videos and audio that you can use and share.
Translated videos
- Aboriginal English
- Arrernte
- Kriol
- Kunwinjku
- Murrinh-Patha
- Pitjantijatjara
- Tiwi
- Yolngu Matha
- Yumplatok
- Warlpiri
Fact sheet and poster
- Disability Royal Commission support services fact sheet - Indigenous
- General counselling and advocacy support fact sheet - Indigenous
- Disability Royal Commission support services poster - Indigenous
- General counselling and advocacy support A3 poster - Indigenous
- Flipbook - Indigenous
Radio advertisements
- Arrente (MP3 1.49MB)
- English (M4a 293KB)
- Kriol (MP3 915KB)
- Kunwinjku (MP3 1.25MB)
- Mirrinh-Patha (MP3 1MB)
- Tiwi (MP3 957KB)
- Warlpiri (MP3 1.6MB)
- Yolngu Matha (MP3 1.7MB)
What support is there for culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability
If you need counselling or advocacy support in another language, you can use the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) free of charge. You can call:
- National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468 and ask for an interpreter
- TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be connected to the National Counselling and Referral Service on 1800 421 468.
We have translated fact sheets and audio that you can use and share.
Fact sheet
Our fact sheet is available in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese:
- Disability Royal Commission support services fact sheet - Translated
- General counselling and advocacy support fact sheet - Translated
Radio advertisements
- Arabic (MP3 1.17MB)
- Cantonese (MP3 1.76MB)
- French (MP3 1.76MB)
- Greek (MP3 1.76MB)
- Hindi (MP3 1.76MB)
- Italian (MP3 1.76MB)
- Mandarin (MP3 1.76MB)
- Persian (MP3 1.17MB)
- Spanish (MP3 1.76MB)
- Turkish (MP3 1.76MB)
- Urdu (MP3 1.76MB)
- Vietnamese (MP3 1.76MB)
How you can help spread the word
We encourage you to spread the word about these support services so people can get the support they need.
We have a communication toolkit and a range of resources to help get the message out to people with disability, families, carers, and your network.
- Disability Royal Commission support services communication toolkit
- Disability Royal Commission support services images
- Disability Royal Commission support services poster
- General counselling and advocacy support A3 posters
- Disability Royal Commission support services fact sheet
- General counselling and advocacy support fact sheet
- Disability Royal Commission support services - media guidelines
The communication support services toolkit is also available in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese:
Where you can find more information
- Your Story Disability Legal Support
- Legal Financial Assistance Scheme for the Disability Royal Commission
- List and map of counselling and advocacy providers
- National Disability Advocacy Program support services finder
- Disability Royal Commission website
- COVID-19 Information and support for people with disability and carers
- Disability Royal Commission Terms of Reference consultation
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