Independent Advocacy Townsville

 
Welcome 
 
Independent Advocacy Townsville is an independent advocacy agency run by and for people with disability. 
 
We are funded by Disability Services Queensland and the Commonwealth Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. 
 
If you feel that you, or someone you know, is in a situation where your rights are not being respected, advocacy may be able to assist you. 
 
For office hours and contact information, see our Contact Details page. 
 
Our office is wheelchair accessible. 
 
Introduction 
 
Independent Advocacy in the Tropics Incorporated, trading as Independent Advocacy Townsville (IAT) is a community organisation formed in 1989 to provide advocacy support for people with disability in the locality of Townsville, Thuringowa and surrounding rural communities. Our Mission is to stand with and for vulnerable people with a disability through vigorous, independent advocacy.  The objectives of IAT are: 
 
  • To provide solutions through the application of advocacy principles, to enable people with disability to redress unjust circumstances, and to make positive and equitable changes for a quality life;
 
  • To provide confidential and high-quality advocacy that strives for people with disability to achieve personal goals without harmful effect;
 
  • To analyse critically and respond to community attitudes, practices and service models that create dependency and segregation from the community and that impact negatively on people with disability;
 
  • To support individual advocacy in ways that are creative, responsive and flexible; and
 
  • To undertake systemic advocacy that pro-actively and assertively seeks to influence positive change to policies and procedures that affects the lives of people with disability.
 
More information can be found on our profile page. 
 
The Need for Advocacy 
 
People with a disability are in particular need of advocacy because they often experience or are vulnerable to: 
 
  • Discrimination
  • Neglect
  • Exploitation
  • Abuse
 
The Values of an Advocate 
 
We believe the following: 
 
  • People with disability are just as valuable as any other human being regardless of what they do or don't do.
 
  • People with disability need the same things that all people need to live well in this world; their own place, sense of belonging, love and affection, safety.
 
  • We are all connected within a community and in our world and people with disability must be fully included in this.
 
  • People with disability should not be separated, segregated or isolated.
 
  • People with disability are human and as such will make mistakes, have courage, be fearful, be likeable, be unpleasant just as any other person.
 
Lastly 
 
Click on any of the cartoons on this page for a larger image!