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We recognise that people living with a disability have multiple complex needs, including for lifelong access to health care. While many of our clients can arrange and access their own supports without any assistance, we offer a suite of supports to residents that elevate their health and well-being and overall quality of life.

With more than one million people living with disability in Victoria and only 127,6733 currently benefitting from the NDIS, there are members of the community who do not have adequate or any access to the scheme because of their rural or remote location, ethnicity, language barriers, life circumstances and institutional discrimination. We aim to increase our capacity to partner with other agencies so that we can help more people to benefit from our expertise and capabilities in disability.

Upholding and safeguarding the rights of people with disability is central to our practice. Yooralla aligns with the purpose of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to: promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Regardless of their level of support through the NDIS, people with disability still face many barriers in enjoying the same rights and freedoms as others in society. They experience inequality in safety, employment, education, health and income. We help amplify the voice of people with disability to decision makers, leaders and the community more broadly.

Our workforce deliver necessary supports for people with disability. Alongside our efforts to attract and retain staff in all disciplines are initiatives to develop the leadership skills of our frontline supervisors and support managers who oversee and coordinate our work. The leadership skills of direct support managers have a direct correlation to the quality of support that people with disability receive, as well as their safety, health and well-being outcomes.

Advances in technology are great enablers for people with disability. However, they come at a cost that is out of reach for many. We do not receive funding for the high cost of acquiring and maintaining devices, hardware and software that are critical to daily life for many people with disability. Diagnostic tools and therapy equipment, especially for children with disability, are also essential tools for our Allied Health Professionals. Without some of these equipment, children may miss out on a diagnosis that, in turn, may delay their qualification for support from the NDIS and other supports they need.

Research is key to understanding the complex nature of disability support provision and the whole eco-system in which it operates. The rigorous and analytical process of research results in vital data and information that serves as evidence for innovations that can enhance the lives of people with disability. Yooralla has a long history and expertise in disability research. However, our capacity for research is limited. We require partners, collaborators and funding to fully maximise our research outcomes for the people we support.