About Us

Disability Advocacy NSW Inc (DA)

DA was established in 2006 with the amalgamation of Disability Advocacy Service Hunter (DASH) and Advocacy Northwest (ANW). After a number of years working together, both services believed that they could provide a better service to more people with a disability by joining forces. Combined services have 35 years experience of advocating for people with a disability.

The service is funded to provide advocacy by Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FACSIA) and NSW Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care.

The service operates in the Hunter, New England and Mid-North Coast regions of NSW with some limitations based on funding.

ANW History

In 1985 a steering committee of citizens, parents and families of people with disabilities in the Tamworth area formed Citizens Advocacy Northwest Inc to apply for funding for a coordinator to promote, develop and oversee citizen advocacy relationships and to increase community awareness of the needs of people with disabilities.

From 1986 to 2000 Citizens Advocacy Northwest Inc. provided the legal and administrative framework within which, the concept of citizen advocacy was implemented.

In 2000 the board of Citizens Advocacy Northwest Inc. surveyed the local community views and found that people with disabilities wanted a different form of advocacy.

The Advocacy Northwest was registered as a trading name and the program commenced using the individual advocacy model to seek justice for people with disabilities within society.

Citizens Advocacy Northwest Inc. initially covered Tamworth, Gunnedah, Quirindi and Barraba. Advocacy Northwest covers the towns and areas of Tamworth, Gunnedah, Quirindi, Walcha, Armidale and Barraba.

Advocacy Northwest has been successful in gaining funding from the NSW Department of Corrective Services since 2000 to assist in the reduction of sexual assault of people with intellectual disabilities.

DASH History

The Disability Advocacy service - Hunter (DASH) Inc. began with a successful tender to the then, Commonwealth Department of Human services and Health, in November 1993.  Funding to establish the service through Newcastle Community Access Inc. was provided in mid 1994.  DASH became separately incorporated in mid 1995 and moved into its own premises at Newcastle West in May 1996.

From 1995 to 1998 the NSW Department of Health, funded DASH to run the Hunter Boarding House Project. In 1997 DASH established a new service, the Disability Infoline,  a free information service for people with a disability, carers and professionals.  The Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services now funds DASH core advocacy services

In July 2002 DASH received funds from the Department of Ageing Disability and Home Care to establish an new service within DASH called Advocacy Partners. This service trains and supports volunteers to be advocates for people with a disability.

In 2002 DASH and the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA) working together established a new position for an individual advocate for people from a non-English speaking background. This position is based at DASH.

To find out more about DA and the services we offer, click on the links at the top of the page, or contact us on
(02) 4927 0111