About the Disability Representative Organisations Program
The Disability Representative Organisations (DRO) Program is funded by the Australian Government. It helps people with disability and their representative organisations share their views with the Government. The program is for all people with disability, no matter their disability, gender, cultural background, or age.
Organisations funded by the DRO Program talk with the Australian Government. They make sure disability issues and voices are heard in:
- decision-making
- legislation
- policy development
- implementation of programs and policies that may affect people with disability.
Providing systemic disability advocacy
Funding to organisations under the DRO Program helps these organisations advocate for Australians with disability by:
- helping people understand the lives of people with disability
- promoting and protecting their rights and dignity
- supporting them take part in all aspects of community life.
These organisations also give the Government advice to reduce barriers and improve social and economic participation. They work with a range of ministers and government areas to do this.
Engaging with funded organisations
Engagement Protocols were created to help Government agencies work with organisations funded by the DRO Program. They explain how agencies should work with these organisations and what activities are part of the program.
The protocols were made with help from funded organisations and Government agencies. They also follow the Good Practice Guidelines for Engaging with People with Disability under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031.
Organisations funded under the DRO Program
In 2023–24 the following 11 organisations were selected to be funded by the DRO Program. The funding period is from 1 July 2024 until 30 June 2026.
Details on funded organisations are available on the Community Grants Hub website.
To find out more about the DROs you can visit their websites:
- People with Disability Australia represent all people with disability, including LGBTIQA+ people with disability
- First Peoples Disability Network Australia represent First Nations People with disability
- National Ethnic Disability Alliance represent culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability
- Women with Disabilities Australia represent women and girls with disability
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia represent children and young people with disability
- Inclusion Australia represent people with intellectual disability
- Australian Federation of Disability Organisations a group that represent all people with disability (including people with brain injury) and people with disability with sensory impairments
- Down Syndrome Australia a group that represent people with intellectual disability, with a focus on chromosomal variations
- Physical Disability Australia represent people with physical disability
- Autism Alliance National represent people with disability, with a focus on autism
- Community Mental Health Australia a group that represent people with psychosocial disability
- Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) represent people with disability who have engaged with individual advocacy supports is funded to provide a National Coordination Function for the DRO Program.