March Update

What a start to 2024! We kicked February off with an Advocate Peer Network, a webinar, and an EO/Manager’s Peer Network. It was so great to be able to connect with everyone after a holiday break and hear about how busy everyone was. 

The Advocate Peer Network took a different format which enabled Advocates to really dig down into case noting practice to see where improvements could be made. In our Supported Decision Making (SDM) webinar, we heard from CID NSW and ADA Law about SDM practice and how helpful breaking down big decisions into smaller decisions can be. The EO/Managers Peer Network discussed Human Resources, especially recent changes in contracting workers and it was so great to see how Managers have been adapting to and implementing change in the rapidly evolving fair work environment.  

We have continued to refine some reports that we look forward to sharing with you shortly, such as the Systemic Insight Report and the Census Week Survey Report. We’re conscious that the ‘feedback loop’ has been something missing from information-collecting exercises historically. As the National Centre, we want to close that loop by providing the information provided to us, back to you all through accurate and quality reports. As we’re still a small team, consolidating and refining this information can take a bit longer, so thank you for your patience.  

March is another exciting month, full of activities! Not only do we have the regular programming of peer networks, webinars, and working groups, but we also have our bi-yearly Systemic Advocacy Forum. We have taken the feedback on board from the last Systemic Advocacy Forum and have changed up the agenda and running of the forum, to create energising spaces for collaboration and information sharing. We’ve also invited the DANA Policy Team to come and share what they have been doing in the national systemic advocacy space, as well as few Disability Representative Organisations (DRO’s) to listen to how the individual advocacy sector identifies and addresses systemic issues  

We’ve also been making headway with our partner portal, which will be a ‘one stop shop’ to support your advocacy practice. In the meantime, we have created a public resource library on our website which collates all of the sector’s high quality resources in one place. If we’ve missed something you’ve developed and would like to be linked there, please email ncda@dana.org.au and let us know. 

We look forward to seeing you online!