Who We Are
The Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre (EDAC) is the peak advocacy organisation in WA and aims to safeguard the rights of ethnic people with disabilities and their families.
We provide individual and systemic advocacy services for people with all types of disability including physical, sensory, intellectual and psychiatric conditions.
Individual and Systemic Advocacy
EDAC can advocate in areas such as the justice system, health-care, education, child-care, employment, housing, transport and others. More information on individual advocacy and systemic advocacy.
For inquiries or advocacy assistance please phone 9388 7455 or 1800 659 921.
EDAC is funded by Department of Social Services and by the Department of Communities (Disability Services)for Advocacy activities.
EDAC can help by providing information regarding services, community support groups and government agencies/policies and also liaising with these agencies. Fill in the referral online.
EDAC can also assist in referrals to other services.
Our Mission
Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre vigorously seeks to promote, protect and safeguard the rights and interests of people with disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CaLD) and/or mental health issues, their families/ carers and community in order for them to fulfill their full potential.
Our History
The Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre (EDAC) was established in March 1995 to provide an advocacy service for people with disabilities from non-English speaking backgrounds in Western Australia. EDAC came about as issues for ethnic people with disabilities and their carers were inadequately addressed and their uptake of disability services was poor.
EDAC remains the only independent advocacy agency in WA that represents the rights and interests of people with disabilities from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) background and their carers.
Strategic Plan
Disability Services Standards
Disability Services Standards (1-6) define what the West Australian Government expects services to achieve when assisting people with disabilities and their families. It describes how the principles and objectives of the Disability Services Act (1993) should be put into practice in disability services. They represent a framework that assists people with disabilities, their families/ carers and service providers to collaborate in the development and maintenance of high quality services.
EDAC has been able to contribute significantly to facilitate the application of the Standards for service providers and their CaLD clients.
Department of Communities (Disability Services) – www.disability.wa.gov.au
Board of Management
President:
Kit Chui
Vice-President:
Angelo Cianciosi
Secretary:
Ruth Lopez
Treasurer:
Melissa Del Borrello
Committee Members:
Dr. Bernadette Wright
John Cooke
Annie Abraham
Christian FitzGerald
Leah Moolman
Asha Selathurai
Staff
Wendy Rose, Chief Executive Officer
Jeyanti Segaran, Finance and Office Manager
Wayne Press, Advocacy Officer
Halina Krapez, Advocacy Officer
Christine Grace, Manager for Advocacy Services
Rose Dale, Advocacy Officer
Jenni Gordon, Advocacy Officer
Milica Mladinovic, Advocacy Officer
Marjorie Perle, Advocacy Officer
Ann Melbin, Advocacy Officer
Siyat Abdi, Systemic Officer
Noel Johnstone, Project Officer
Grace Rosales, Communications Project Officer
Cheryl Ozies, Regional Advocate – Kimberley
Helen Clements, Regional Advocate – Kimberley
Sandra Collard, Regional Advocate – Pilbara
Selena Casey, Regional Advocate – Pilbara
Lily Ong, Book keeper
Veronica FitzGerald, Administration Officer
Organisational Structure