Disability counselling and advocacy support

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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

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

Easy Read

Auslan

Braille and large print

Guide to Disability Royal Commission support services

Videos

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

Fact sheet and poster

Radio advertisements

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:

Radio advertisements

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.

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

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