Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Queensland Advocacy Incorporated?
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated (QAI) is an independent, community-based systems advocacy and legal advocacy organisation for people with disability in Queensland, Australia.
What does Queensland Advocacy do?
QAI’s mission is to promote, protect and defend, through advocacy, the fundamental needs and rights and lives of the most vulnerable people with disability in Queensland. QAI does this by engaging in systems advocacy work – through campaigns directed to attitudinal, law and policy change, and by supporting the development of a range of advocacy initiatives in this State.
We have provided, for over a decade, highly in-demand individual advocacy services – the Human Rights Legal Service, the Mental Health Legal Service, the Justice Support Program, the National Disability Insurance Scheme Appeals Support Program and Decision Support Pilot Program and most recently the Disability Royal Commission Advocacy Program and the QAI Education Advocacy Service.
Our Human Rights and Mental Health services offer legal advice and representation on guardianship, administration, and mental health matters. Our Justice Support provide non-legal advice and support to people with disability engaged with the criminal justice system. QAI’s NDIS Appeals and Decision Support Pilot provide advocacy and support to individuals and families to engage with and access to the NDIS and where necessary within the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. QAI is also a member of the Combined Advocacy Groups of Queensland.
How does Queensland Advocacy operate?
QAI are an incorporated body who operate with a Management Committee who are elected at yearly Annual General Meetings and meet regularly throughout the year. QAI’s staff and work is governed by the Committee. QAI’s constitution holds that every person is unique and valuable, and that diversity is intrinsic to community.
What is advocacy?
Advocacy is speaking acting, writing with minimal conflict of interest on behalf of the sincerely perceived interests of a disadvantaged person or group to promote, protect and defend their welfare and justice by
- being on their side and no-one else’s
- being primarily concerned with their fundamental needs
- remaining loyal and accountable to them in a way which is emphatic and vigorous and which is, or is likely to be, costly to the advocate or advocacy group
For further information please see
What are the different types of advocacy?
- Individual Advocacy
- Citizen Advocacy
- Systems Advocacy
- Parent Advocacy
- Self Advocacy
For further information please see
What is systems advocacy?
This form of advocacy is primarily concerned with influencing and changing the system (legislation, policy and practices) in ways that will benefit people with a disability as a group within society. Systems advocates will encourage changes to the law, government and service policies and community attitudes. Organisations that operate on a systemic level are Queensland Advocacy Inc (QAI) and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, Children and Young People with Disability and People with Disability.
Where can I find an individual advocate?
QAI has the following legal and non-legal individual advocacy services:
There are a range of funded individual advocacy organisations based in Queensland to meet the needs of people with a disability.
What if I have a complaint?
Please see our complaints policy.