{"id":5574,"date":"2025-09-05T05:01:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T05:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/?page_id=5574"},"modified":"2025-09-05T06:34:36","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T06:34:36","slug":"individual-advocacy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/individual-advocacy\/","title":{"rendered":"Individual Advocacy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"5574\" class=\"elementor elementor-5574\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-22e393d6 gold-hero-sec elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"22e393d6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d9789f1\" data-id=\"1d9789f1\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-756bb5b5 elementor-section-content-middle elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"756bb5b5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5ffbe6ae\" data-id=\"5ffbe6ae\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31a38fb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"31a38fb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Individual Advocacy<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-5ab4258f\" data-id=\"5ab4258f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dfbf389 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dfbf389\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e1fd60\" data-id=\"0e1fd60\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b7ad3a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b7ad3a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>At the Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA), we know that navigating public access rights and funding systems as an assistance animal handler can be overwhelming, exhausting, and, too often, unfair.<\/p><p>That\u2019s why we\u2019re working behind the scenes to build a dedicated individual advocacy service\u2014designed by and for people who live and work with assistance animals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4e7dc9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e4e7dc9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What\u2019s Coming<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-688f92e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"688f92e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Our upcoming Individual Advocacy service will offer tailored, person-centred support for individuals facing barriers related to:<\/p><ul style=\"margin: 10px 0 10px 20px; padding: 0; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc;\"><li>Funding options for assistance animal purchase, training and ongoing care, including exploring and applying for options such as:<ul style=\"margin: 5px 0 5px 20px; padding: 0; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: circle;\"><li>National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)<\/li><li>Aged Care<\/li><li>Veterans Services<\/li><li>Insurance Schemes, such as Workers Compensation<\/li><li>Government, Philanthropic and Charitable Grants<\/li><li>Victims Support<\/li><li>Centrelink Payments for the Handler<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Public access refusal and discrimination, and support to advocate for your rights in all areas, but especially related to the:<ul style=\"margin: 5px 0 5px 20px; padding: 0; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: circle;\"><li>Australian Human Rights Commission, or state\/territory counterparts<\/li><li>Housing and accommodation<\/li><li>Public transport including airline travel<\/li><li>Education including schools and universities<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Support with submission documents to government consultation periods<\/li><li>Policy confusion or bureaucratic hurdles that delay or deny essential supports<br \/><br \/><\/li><\/ul><p>This service will be free, peer-informed, and Australia-wide\u2014with a special focus on reaching assistance animal handlers who are often excluded from formal advocacy or support systems, including people who are:<\/p><ul style=\"margin: 10px 0 10px 20px; padding: 0; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: disc;\"><li>Rural, remote, or regionally based<\/li><li>From culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds<\/li><li>Neurodivergent, multiply disabled, or with progressive conditions<\/li><li>Living in poverty, crisis, or unstable housing<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7617f29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7617f29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What You Can Expect<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-646f4b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"646f4b3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We\u2019re currently developing a trusted national network of peer advocates with lived experience of assistance animals and disability systems. Our approach will be:<\/p><ul style=\"margin: 10px 0 10px 20px; padding: 0; list-style-type: disc; list-style-position: outside;\"><li>Supportive and empowering \u2013 We stand beside you, not in front of you.<\/li><li>Confidential and rights-based \u2013 Your information is safe, and your rights come first.<\/li><li>Flexible and accessible \u2013 We\u2019ll meet you where you are, in the way that works best for you.<\/li><li>Informed and strategic \u2013 We draw on current law, policy, and real-world experience to get results.<\/li><\/ul><p>We will also provide referrals to formal legal advocacy services where needed, and collaborate with disability advocacy organisations to ensure systemic issues are escalated.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3837b8e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3837b8e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why It Matters<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5167bda elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5167bda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Too many people are turned away, silenced, or left behind\u2014simply because their assistance animal doesn\u2019t fit outdated models or their needs aren\u2019t &#8220;standard enough.&#8221; Others are forced to fight discrimination or navigate the NDIS without support, often while managing complex disability, trauma, or poverty. <\/p><p>WAFA believes no one should have to go it alone.<\/p><p>Our advocacy service will help you feel seen, heard, and backed up\u2014whether you&#8217;re writing a letter to the NDIS, responding to an access complaint, or just trying to understand your rights.<\/p><p>We\u2019re finalising the design of this service and preparing to launch.<\/p><p>To be the first to hear when it goes live or to help us co-design or pilot the service, sign up to our newsletter or email <a href=\"mailto:admin@workinganimalsfederationofaustralia.com.au\">admin@workinganimalsfederationofaustralia.com.au<\/a><\/p><p>Together, we can create a system that works with you, not against you.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Individual Advocacy At the Working Animals Federation of Australia (WAFA), we know that navigating public access rights and funding systems as an assistance animal handler can be overwhelming, exhausting, and, too often, unfair. That\u2019s why we\u2019re working behind the scenes to build a dedicated individual advocacy service\u2014designed by and for people who live and work [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":165,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5574","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5574","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/165"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5574"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5574\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5611,"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5574\/revisions\/5611"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/workinganimals.com.au\/en_us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5574"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}