Who we are
Get to know us...
SUFY is an independent Individual Social Advocacy Organisation for people with a disability who live in Brisbane, Moreton Bay and Redlands regions.
Individual social advocacy is when the advocacy worker speaks, acts and writes on behalf of another person who is being treated unfairly, unjustly and whose human rights are being denied. The advocate is on the side of a person or people with a disabilities and no one else. They do not have conflicting interests and loyalties. They are separate from service providers and government departments.
The principles of self-advocacy underpins the essence of SUFY’s work as we enable individuals to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to speak up about issues that impact on or influence their lives. We stand beside and with vulnerable people with disability so that they can feel confident their voice is heard. Our advocacy work with individuals is often long term as we work to create positive, real and sustainable differences to each person’s well-being and lifestyle. Our work is informed by the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and the principles of social advocacy.
SUFY’s Organisational Goals
- To provide individual advocacy for the most vulnerable and marginalised people with disability whose human rights are not being met or are being breached.
- To resource self-advocacy and/or advocacy by family or other support people by providing timely, accessible information, support and referrals.
- To work for systemic change to address the issues that impact the lives of people for whom we advocate.
- To contribute to the maintenance and development of a strong, diverse disability advocacy movement in Queensland and Australia.
- To continue to operate SUFY as a principled, effective, accessible, accountable and sustainable advocacy organisation, that is inclusive and whose membership is reflected in its staffing and governance.
SUFY’s Principles
- Human Rights: SUFY will promote and defend the human rights, lives, autonomy and relationships of each person with disability whom we support in an advocacy relationship.
- Social Justice: SUFY will operate in ways that support the achievement of rights, equity, access, participation, and equality in our advocacy work with each person.
- Inclusion in Community Life: SUFY will operate in ways that value and support the inclusion of people with disability to live a good life with choice in their diverse communities.
- Priority of the most vulnerable and marginalised: In all its work SUFY will prioritise those who are most at risk and least able to speak up for themselves.
