Organisations for people with disability

There are many groups and organisations that support people with disability in Australia. These organisations contain an extensive range of information and resource materials on a wide range of issues. Explore the following listings to find organisations that might best support you.

National

ADHD Australia – advocates for the needs of people living with ADHD
arbias – provides support services to people with an acquired brain injury
Arthritis Australia – provides support and information for people with arthritis
AUSPELD – supports and advocates for people with learning disability
Australian Association for Infant Mental Health (AAIMH) – advocates in the interests of infant mental health, including research and professional and public awareness
Australian Autism ADHD Foundation – works to improve all aspects of Australia’s response to autism and ADHD, from research to treatment to advocacy
Australian Dyslexia Association (ADA) – works to improve the wellbeing, identification and treatment of those with dyslexia
Australian Leukodystrophy Support Group – raises funds to provide counselling, support and information to families
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (A4) – an organisation that is focused on the development and promotion of autism spectrum disorder policies at the national level
Autism Awareness Australia – provides information about therapy and support for children and adults with autism
Autism Community Network (ACN) – advances the health and social wellbeing of people with autism, their families and communities
Autistic Family Support Association (AFSA) – assists and supports individuals with ASD by providing emotional and practical support for parents, carers and families
Autistic Self Advocacy Network of Australia and New Zealand (ASAN AUNZ) – helps autistic people engage in the planning of services to be used by themselves and their peers
Beyond Blue – provides information and support for people with mental health issues
Black Dog Institute – a portal to research and education about mental health issues
Blind Citizens Australia – provides a united voice of Australians who are blind or vision impaired
Blind Sports Australia (BSA) – promotes increased opportunities for people who are blind and vision impaired to access sport and recreation (the website includes a useful list of member organisations)
Blue Knot Foundation – advocates for and supports those who have experienced complex trauma, including childhood trauma
Brain Injury Australia – the peak body representing people with an acquired brain injury
Brain Injury Matters – a self-advocacy group for people with an acquired brain injury
BrainLink – provides support and services for people with an acquired brain injury and their families and carers
Cerebral Palsy Support Network (CPSN) – provides information and support services
Deaf Australia – an advocacy and information organisation for Deaf people who are bilingual – using both English and Auslan
Deaf Children Australia (DCA) – works to remove barriers to the personal development and social inclusion faced by children and young people who are deaf or hard of hearing
Deaf Services – works to enhance services and programs for deaf and hard-of-hearing adults and children
Deaf Sports Australia – facilitates and supports the participation of deaf Australians in all levels of sport
DeafBlind Australia - represent and advocate for deafblind people, and work to improve supports and services for deafblind people in Australia
Deafness Forum of Australia (DFA) – the peak body representing interests of deaf and hearing-impaired people around Australia
Disability Sports Australia – represents, supports and advocates for all Australians with a physical disability who want to be involved in sport
Dissociative Initiative – works to raise awareness about dissociation, amnesia, and multiplicity
dNet.org.au – empowers Australians with depression, and their families and friends, to make informed choices and find solutions
Down Syndrome Australia – works with state- and territory-based associations to develop strong policy positions; helps people with Down syndrome achieve their full potential (website links to state-based divisions)
Embrace – multicultural, multilingual mental health resources
Epilepsy Foundation – provides services to people living with epilepsy and works to raise awareness of the condition
Guide Dogs Australia – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
Inclusion Australia (NCID) – the national peak body for intellectual disability
Kaleidoscope Society – supports women with ADHD
Limbs 4 Life – an organisation to provide up-to-date information and peer support to amputees
Mental Health Australia (MHA) – the peak, national nongovernment organisation representing the Australian mental health sector
Mind Australia – provides community mental health services
MND Australia – supports people with motor neurone disease
MS – supports people with multiple sclerosis
Muscular Dystrophy Australia – provides a range of resources including information, programs and research information
National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) – advocates for a nationally consistent, evidence-based approach to the prevention and management of eating disorders in Australia
National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum (NMHCCF) – a national voice for mental health consumers and carers, including people with psychosocial disability
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) – works to raise awareness of perinatal anxiety and depression and support women, men and their families to recover from it
Phoenix Australia – works towards improved quality of life for individuals and communities who experience trauma
Physical Disability Australia (PDA) – works to remove barriers inhibiting people with disability through systematic advocacy to government
Polio Australia – a not-for-profit organisation that supports polio survivors living in Australia
SANE Australia – a national charity helping all Australians affected by mental illness
Short Statured People of Australia (SSPA) – advocates for equality of opportunity for short-statured people in all spheres of life
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia – advocates for and supports people with spinal cord injuries
Spinal Life Australia – advocates to all levels of government for people with physical disability
Stroke Foundation – supports stroke research, awareness, treatment and advocacy
Synapse – advocacy, research and services to improve the lives of people affected by brain injury
The Spectrum – provides support and services for people with autism and their families
Vision Australia – provides blindness and low-vision services

Australian Capital Territory

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
ACT Mental Health Consumer Network – a consumer-led peak organisation that represents the interests of mental health consumers in the ACT

New South Wales

Physical Disability Council of NSW – the peak organisation that represents and advocates for people with physical disability in New South Wales
Deaf Society – supports deaf, deafblind and hard-of-hearing people and their families to make choices and take actions to change their lives
Guide Dogs NSW/ACT – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
One Door – mental health support and advocacy
Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS) – provides legal help and justice support for people with cognitive impairment
Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) – an advocacy organisation for people with intellectual disability, run by and for people with intellectual disability

Northern Territory

Guide Dogs SA/NT – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
The Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition (NTMHC) - the peak body for community managed mental health services across the Northern Territory

Queensland

Autism Queensland – provides support for individuals on the autism spectrum
Guide Dogs QLD – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
Queensland Blind Association (QBA) – supports people who are blind or have impaired vision

South Australia

Brain Injury SA – provides advocacy and support for people with an acquired brain injury and their families and carers
Citizen Advocacy – advocates for vulnerable people believed to have an intellectual disability
Deaf Can:Do – provides community support options for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (also known as The Royal South Australian Deaf Society)
Guide Dogs SA/NT – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
Independent Advocacy SA – promotes valued lives for people with an intellectual disability
Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA) – supports and advocates for people with mental health concerns
Royal Society for the Blind – now known as RSB, provides advice, assistance and advocacy for people with vision impairment

Tasmania

Expression Australia – provides advocacy, interpreting services, Auslan classes and other services (formerly the Tasmanian Deaf Society)
Guide Dogs TAS – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
Mental Health Council of Tasmania (MHCT) – the peak body for community-managed mental health services in Tasmania
Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania (MHFFT) – supports and advocates for families and friends of people affected by mental ill health
ParaQuad Tasmania – aims to be the leading voice in Tasmania, advocating for people living with spinal cord injuries and other physical disability

Victoria

Amaze (formerly Autism Victoria) – the peak body for people on the autism spectrum and their supporters in Victoria
Anxiety Disorders Association of Victoria (ADAVIC) – provides help and support for anxiety and depression, including information, and resources
AQA – provides support for people with a spinal cord injury
Aspergers Victoria – provides information and support to those living with Asperger Syndrome
Better Hearing Australia – Soundfair (formally Better Hearing Australia) – an independent non-profit service assisting people experiencing hearing conditions
Cystic Fibrosis Victoria – promotes research and awareness of cystic fibrosis as well as education, support, and advocacy
Deaf Victoria – a non-profit organisation that provides information and referrals about deaf and deafness issues
Dementia Australia – advocates for the needs of people living with all types of dementia and provides support services, education and information
Dyslexia Victoria Support (DVS) – provides awareness and teaching solutions
Guide Dogs VIC – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
Mental Health Victoria – aims to promote improved attitudes to mental health issues and to encourage mental health research
MND Victoria – supports people with motor neurone disease
Musculoskeletal Australia (MSK) – represents Victorians living with arthritis and many other musculoskeletal conditions
Reinforce – a self-advocacy group for people with an intellectual disability
SPELD Victoria – provides support for people with dyslexia or other learning disability
Spina Bifida Foundation Victoria (SBFV) – provides a wide range of resources for people living with spina bifida
Stroke Association of Victoria (SAV) – a support service for people re-entering their lives after having a stroke
Victoria: Centre for Developmental Disability Health (CDDH) – helps mainstream health services increase their capacity to assist adults with intellectual and associated developmental disability

Western Australia

Development Disability WA – advocates for people with developmental disability
Guide Dogs WA – provides assistance to anyone with vision loss
WA Disabled Sports Association (WADSA) – empowers people with disability to participate in sport and recreation
WA Foundation for Deaf Children – helps deaf children and their families receive the education, support and information they need
Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) – provides advocacy and support for people with developmental disability and related issues