South Australia is the only state that does not fund independent disability advocacy services, despite a clear recommendation from the Disability Royal Commission to do so.
JFA Purple Orange is calling on all parties and candidates to commit to investing in independent advocacy in South Australia via a long-term and stable funding model. Funding should cover independent individual, representative, and systemic advocacy with a starting budget of at least $3.4 million in 2025-2026, which can then be calibrated based on demand for future years.
Independent disability advocacy services are critically important for safeguarding South Australians with disability from violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. They also play an essential role in enabling people with disability to access services, including health and education, and live meaningful lives in our communities.
Recommendation 6.21 of the Disability Royal Commission states that “state and territory governments should ensure long term and stable funding for disability advocacy programs in their jurisdictions to meet demand.”
A small three-year State Government grant was provided to one service after the horrific death of Ann Marie Smith in April 2020, but this has not been continued.
Additionally, the South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence highlighted how people with disability experience much higher rates of incidents and face many more barriers in seeking and accessing help, including because many services are not accessible or inclusive of the needs of adults or children with disability.
“Access to independent advocacy is one of the most powerful resources and safeguards a person with disability can have, yet in South Australia, the state is not funding it,” Tracey Wallace, Interim CEO of JFA Purple Orange, said.
“There’s some Commonwealth investment, but it is a joint responsibility, and the South Australian Government is not contributing currently.
“The upcoming election is an opportunity for all parties to commit to fulfilling the Disability Royal Commission’s recommendation by providing what is a quite modest investment in terms of the overall budget and one that can have life-changing, and potentially lifesaving, benefits.”
The State Government Disability Forum, to be held in Adelaide on Tuesday, 10 February 2026, is an opportunity for parties to publicly respond to this and other key election asks developed by JFA Purple Orange in consultation with the South Australian disability community. These include the need for more accessible and affordable housing, an inclusive education strategy, implementing the recommendations of the Disability Royal Commission, and co-designing a Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence Action Plan with the disability community.
“About 20 per cent of voters are people with disability and they and their families, friends, neighbours, colleagues, and the broader community are looking for clear policy commitments to access and inclusion from the parties,” Ms Wallace said.
“This forum is an opportunity to find out where parties stand on these important issues before South Australians cast their votes in March.”
All election asks and party responses will be published on the JFA Purple Orange website.
For more information, contact Marissa Brown, Leader – Marketing and Communications, on (08) 8373 8388 or via email at media@juliafarr.org.au or marissab@juliafarr.org.au.
About JFA Purple Orange
JFA Purple Orange is a purpose-led organisation working towards a more inclusive world where people with disability have access to the same opportunities as everyone else.
Our work is grounded in lived experience and focuses on systemic advocacy, co-designed projects and peer networks, training and consulting, as well as a small grants program.
We connect people with disability to good information and to each other, and collaborate with stakeholders to influence policy and practice that fosters genuine inclusion.