About Us

Side By Side Advocacy has a particular focus and expertise in providing advocacy for people with intellectual disability.

Side By Side was founded in April 1990 in response to unmet fundamental needs of people with intellectual disability in the Ryde and Hunter’s Hill local government areas. We were originally known as Citizen Advocacy Ryde-Hunter’s Hill.

We established a Citizen Advocacy program to identify people with intellectual disability who were at risk of neglect, abuse or isolation. We then matched them with carefully chosen and trained volunteers, who became Citizen Advocates.

In July 2007 Side By Side Advocacy expanded its operation to include Individual Advocacy in addition to our Citizen Advocacy program. Individual Advocacy is provided by our professional staff and is available to people with intellectual disability in the northern part of Sydney.

Over time, we have increased the way we support people with disability including NDIS Appeals and Individual Advocacy for people with disability affected by the Disability Royal Commission.

We have also started a project researching inclusive governance. This project will investigate a range of governance models, structures, policies and procedures that are used in community organisations.

Our Vision

We envisage a world where people with disability are equal and valued; where diversity is celebrated, needs are fulfilled and opportunities realised.

Our Purpose

Side By Side Advocacy promotes and upholds the rights, needs and interests of people with intellectual disability to enable full and meaningful participation in the community.

Our Values

Each person’s life is of equal and inherent value and worth.

People with disability have the right to advocacy and to protection from devaluation, neglect, abuse and the denial of human rights.

People with disability have the right to be treated as individuals, and not in terms of their disability.

All people are entitled to comprehensive and appropriate support to ensure full inclusion into the community.

All people have the right to make decisions about their own lives.

All people should be treated with dignity and respect.

All people have the right to be safe, valued and accepted.

All people have the potential to grow and develop and should be provided with opportunities to do so.

All people regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality or religion have the same human and legal rights.

People with disability are to be treated in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.

Our Board

A voluntary Board of Management oversees the legal and financial operation of the organisation. Board members are elected annually and contribute at every level to ensure the ongoing success of Side By Side Advocacy. The Board also has various sub-committees that are created as needed to assist and support the work of our organisation.

Our Staff

A committed, specialist team works to promote and upholds the rights, needs and interests of people with intellectual disability to enable full and meaningful participation in the community.

  • Executive Officer – Kim Roots
  • Senior Advocate – Preeti Thadani
  • Individual Advocate – Tina Huang
  • Citizen Advocacy Coordinator – Deb Maio
  • Senior Advocate – Disability Royal Commission Advocate – Cathy Milne
  • Inclusive Governance Project Research Officer – Dr Bernadette Curryer
  • Inclusive Governance Project Co-researcher – Katrina Sneath
  • Inclusive Governance Project Co-researcher – Will Harding
  • Karen Reyes – Communications and Engagement
  • Accounts – Kay Jones

Funding

Side By Side Advocacy (ABN: 83 395 894 577) is an Incorporated Association. We are primarily funded by the Department of Social Services. Side By Side Advocacy is a registered charity (Cc28451) and may accept tax deductable donations from individuals and organisations.

Strategic Plan

Click the link below to view our current Strategic Plan.

Side  By Side Advocacy Strategic Plan

Annual Reports

Click the links below to view our most recent annual reports:

Annual Report 2021 – 2022

Annual Report 2020 – 2021

Annual Report: 2019-2020

Annual Report: 2018-2019