{"id":5796,"date":"2026-02-24T16:48:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T05:48:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/?p=5796"},"modified":"2026-06-11T23:46:41","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T13:46:41","slug":"standing-together-strengthening-our-advocacy-voice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/standing-together-strengthening-our-advocacy-voice\/","title":{"rendered":"Standing\u00a0together: Strengthening\u00a0our\u00a0advocacy\u00a0voice\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5796\" class=\"elementor elementor-5796\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-322566d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"322566d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d2e0ef4 e-con-full home-banner e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5d2e0ef4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d906777 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget-laptop__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet_extra__width-initial elementor-widget-tablet__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2d906777\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Standing\u00a0together: Strengthening\u00a0our\u00a0advocacy\u00a0voice\u00a0<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-40988a46 elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"40988a46\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-f88c87c elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time> 24 February 2026<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-777cf6ff e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"777cf6ff\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-24e19f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"24e19f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39b0ed45 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"39b0ed45\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1ac2d10f elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1ac2d10f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Chrissy-square-social-12.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-5803\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Chrissy-square-social-12.png 940w, https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Chrissy-square-social-12-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Chrissy-square-social-12-768x490.png 768w, https:\/\/www.melbasupport.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Chrissy-square-social-12-600x383.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2ddc9dae link elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2ddc9dae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"block--custom-layout block_81bceae25a79f603f8a24832b88895e6 custom-wysiwyg blog-wysiwyg\">\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At the end of last year, we began talking more openly about the advocacy work Melba is undertaking. That work has not only continued \u2013 it is ramping up.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">At Melba, one thing will never change: people we support always come first. People\u2019s lives,&nbsp;rights&nbsp;and outcomes must remain the priority in everything we do. At the same time, our sector is facing the most difficult operating conditions in its history. Navigating this reality requires honesty,&nbsp;courage&nbsp;and a strong collective voice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our commitment to a sustainable Melba is real. It is daily work, grounded in human rights,&nbsp;quality&nbsp;and transparency. Sustainability and quality are not competing goals \u2013 we are not choosing one over the other. We are fighting for both.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Why advocacy matters now<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We are speaking up because the current system is not working as it should for people who rely on it \u2013 or for the organisations supporting them.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We continue to advocate strongly for pricing and policy settings that reflect the&nbsp;real cost&nbsp;of delivering safe, person&nbsp;led, quality support, particularly for people with complex needs.&nbsp;The reality is that quality has a cost, and at present, the NDIS does not adequately fund for quality.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Across the sector, we are seeing increasing pressure and instability:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ul><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">The&nbsp;NDIS&nbsp;pricing model does not reflect the&nbsp;true cost&nbsp;of delivering quality&nbsp;services.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">Providers are closing, highlighting just how fragile the sector has become.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">In many cases, NDIS plans do not reflect people\u2019s actual needs,&nbsp;and we are actively advocating for reviews where&nbsp;appropriate.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">We&nbsp;are also advocating alongside&nbsp;members of the Melba community&nbsp;who&nbsp;have&nbsp;had&nbsp;their plans cut overnight,&nbsp;causing&nbsp;extreme distress and&nbsp;placing people at&nbsp;significant risk.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">The costs of regulation and registration are not built into the&nbsp;current&nbsp;pricing&nbsp;structures,&nbsp;&nbsp;placing&nbsp;registered providers at a significant disadvantage.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\" style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: 500;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n<ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We also know that people\u2019s life experiences shape their future. Institutionalisation is real, and we must acknowledge that systems have not always worked well in the past. People who have&nbsp;borne the brunt of&nbsp;poor systems should not now face further disadvantage because of choices that were outside their control.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Quality and registration matter<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Melba is a quality registered provider, and we believe registration matters. Being registered means meeting rigorous standards designed to protect people\u2019s safety,&nbsp;rights&nbsp;and outcomes. Yet many people are unaware of the value of being supported by a registered provider, and this is something we are committed to explaining more clearly.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We support the upcoming changes, including the requirement from July for all SIL providers to be registered. We believe quality registered providers are the only way forward, and we will continue to advocate strongly for this position.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Working together for reform<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Advocacy is not something we do alone. Melba is part of Ability First Australia and one of five organisations that took over transferred services&nbsp;from the State Government. We collaborate wherever we can and are actively engaging with agencies, ministers, members,&nbsp;families&nbsp;and sector partners to build the strategic relationships needed to influence effective, lasting&nbsp;reform.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We are also building&nbsp;and using&nbsp;case studies that highlight the funding and service delivery challenges being experienced across the system. We extend our sincere thanks to those who have agreed to share their experiences,&nbsp;quotes&nbsp;and insights to support this work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We know that plan cuts and funding pressures are&nbsp;impacting&nbsp;many people. We want to acknowledge and thank the Melba teams who are working closely with people and families every day to navigate these challenges and advocate for positive outcomes.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your voice matters<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Systemic reform will not be achieved by one organisation or one voice alone. Real change happens when people come together.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you are interested in being involved in advocacy with Melba \u2013 whether by sharing your story, contributing to case studies, or simply learning more about the work we are doing \u2013 we encourage you to reach out. Your experience,&nbsp;perspective&nbsp;and voice matter.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Together, we will continue to stand up for quality,&nbsp;sustainability&nbsp;and the rights of the people we support \u2013 now and into the future<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Together, we will continue to stand up for quality, sustainability and the rights of people we support \u2013 now and into the future. To find out more or to get involved, please email the Melba team at&nbsp;<a href=\"mailto:communications@melbasupport.com.au\">communications@melbasupport.com.au<\/a>&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c8348d4 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2c8348d4\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5d4c3008 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"5d4c3008\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3b0b438b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3b0b438b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Share<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56b74358 elementor-share-buttons--view-icon elementor-share-buttons--skin-flat elementor-share-buttons--shape-circle elementor-share-buttons--color-custom elementor-grid-0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-share-buttons\" data-id=\"56b74358\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"share-buttons.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_facebook\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-facebook\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.78 90.69 226.38 209.25 245V327.69h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.31 482.38 504 379.78 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_linkedin\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on linkedin\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fab-linkedin\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-grid-item\" role=\"listitem\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-share-btn elementor-share-btn_email\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Share on email\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-share-btn__icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-envelope\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M502.3 190.8c3.9-3.1 9.7-.2 9.7 4.7V400c0 26.5-21.5 48-48 48H48c-26.5 0-48-21.5-48-48V195.6c0-5 5.7-7.8 9.7-4.7 22.4 17.4 52.1 39.5 154.1 113.6 21.1 15.4 56.7 47.8 92.2 47.6 35.7.3 72-32.8 92.3-47.6 102-74.1 131.6-96.3 154-113.7zM256 320c23.2.4 56.6-29.2 73.4-41.4 132.7-96.3 142.8-104.7 173.4-128.7 5.8-4.5 9.2-11.5 9.2-18.9v-19c0-26.5-21.5-48-48-48H48C21.5 64 0 85.5 0 112v19c0 7.4 3.4 14.3 9.2 18.9 30.6 23.9 40.7 32.4 173.4 128.7 16.8 12.2 50.2 41.8 73.4 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you are interested in being involved in advocacy with Melba \u2013 whether by sharing your story, contributing to case studies, or simply learning more about the work we are doing \u2013 we encourage you to reach out. Your experience,\u00a0perspective\u00a0and voice matter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":5803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5796","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Standing\u00a0together: Strengthening\u00a0our\u00a0advocacy\u00a0voice\u00a0 | Melba Support Services<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you are interested in being involved in advocacy with Melba \u2013 whether by sharing your story, contributing to case studies, or simply learning more about the work we are doing \u2013 we encourage you to reach out. 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