The Services We Offer

• Individual advocacy and support responds to and provides support for family needs to reach an agreed outcome for that family.
• Complex advocacy issues are referred to DAIS or other services with approval of the family concerned.
• Cooinda offers individual advocacy support to families
• Services are provided in a manner sensitive to the needs, age, sex, cultural, language and religious background of each service user.

Systemic advocacy is the action taken to produce change in society to ensure fair treatment or to address less favourable treatment for people with disabilities and their families. Such change may come through improvements to legislation and government policy, the influencing of policy and practices of organizations and services accessed by people with disabilities and their family.

1. By acting on service and policy issues identified through individual advocacy,
2. At a regional, state and national level to ensure people with disabilities and their families living in rural areas have a say in service planning and development,
3. As representatives who consult with service providers, government departments and ministers, and sit on advisory and management committees,
4. By conducting research and identifying service gaps in the region.

promotes the positive aspects of family and people with disabilities living in the community. Program includes:

1. Conducting workshops and conferences on disability issues,
2. Hosting visits by state wide organizations/guest speakers,
3. Lecturing at TAFE colleges and universities,
4. Providing current information,
5. Conducting a support program for siblings in conjunction with Upper Murray Family Care,
6. Writing articles for the news media, Cooinda newsletter and other disability organizations, and
7. Promoting the use of Cooinda's book/video library.

Disability group development empowers families through better knowledge and skills to work as a group to pursue their particular needs

Cooinda provides support to disability groups by:

1. Assisting in the establishment of new groups,
2. Providing information and advice,
3. Writing submissions for funds,
4. Auspicing groups and assisting them to become incorporated, and
5. Hosting visits by statewide disability groups.

• Information gathering
• Home visits by Parents and Staff
• Convene meetings
• Newsletter
• Attending meetings
• Membership of the Combined Parent Support Group
• Social Functions
• Surveys
• Obtaining adequate funding
• Regular Guest Speakers
• Seminars/Workshops
• Maintaining contact with related bodies

Referral for family support can be made by self-referral, a carer, a family member, an advocate, a friend, other interested parties, a support worker or a service provider representative.

Referrals are accepted by telephone, letter or attendance at Cooinda's office.

limits to our services

At times staff will be unable to respond immediately to a request for individual family support due to a full workload.

When staff are unable to respond immediately to an individual's request for support, the request will be placed on a waiting list. The staff member will give an estimate of when the support will begin.

Staff will give priority to requests for family support from or for individuals/families with a family member with a disability where there is a critical need for support.

Read our Grievance Procedure Policy