SYSTEMIC ADVOCACY
VALID provides systemic advocacy representation on behalf of people with intellectual
disability and their families. Systemic advocacy informs and influences the policies and
practices of disability service agencies, governments and the broader community.
Roles
Champion
VALID champions the vision of a community that includes and celebrates the diversity of
disability.
Defender
VALID defends the rights and interests of people with intellectual disability and their
families across Victoria.
Ally
VALID works in collaboration with services, departments and governments to improve their
policies and practices.
Representation
State Government
We provide representation to the Victorian State Government through a broad range of
policy and planning forums and committees.
Federal Government
We work with the National Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID) to provide national
peak representation to the Federal Government on behalf of people with intellectual
disability and their families.
Victorian Disability Advocacy Network
We are an active member of the Victorian Disability Advocacy Network (VDAN), which is an
independent association comprised of over thirty five state-based disability advocacy
organisations, sharing information and facilitating strong systemic advocacy.
Consultation Processes
VALID's systemic advocacy is driven and informed by its active individual advocacy role.
Our policies and positions are determined by the VALID Committee of Management, informed
by the VALID Self Advocacy Forum. Specific issues are also canvassed through Members
Forums and the Advocacy Stream of the annual Having a Say Conference, which brings
together people with disability, family members, advocates and supporters from across the
country.