Advocacy program support

What is being tracked?

Measure: Proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions

The Strategy would like to see the following tracked – proportion of people who accessed independent advocacy programs reporting improved choice and control to make their own decisions. Available data do not currently allow this.

This measure is part of the Rights are protected and upheld priority of the Strategy. This priority is about protecting the rights of people with disability, decreasing discrimination, and improving access to supports that help people with disability stand up for themselves and make their own decisions.

The desired outcome is that more people with disability who use advocacy programs report improved choice and control to make their own decisions.

Last updated: 30 Jan 2026

Outcome area: Safety, rights and justice Priority: Rights are protected and upheld

Baseline value

62%in 2020–21
Latest value

61%in 2024–25

Regress the measure is not moving in the direction the Strategy wants

View the data source

Trends

Has the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions increased over time?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions. Data from 2020–21 to 2024–25 are used. In 2024–25, 61% of assessed NDAP clients reported improved choice and control, compared with the baseline value of 62% in 2020–21.

Year	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
2020–21	62%
2021–22	59%
2022–23	63%
2023–24	66%
2024–25	61%

Notes

Although the total number of assessed clients has increased there is still some uncertainty with the data. This uncertainty arises because the data represents only a subset of NDAP clients. While the proportion of NDAP clients assessed for this outcome has grown over time, the sample may not be representative of all NDAP clients supported in 2024–25. Care should be taken when comparing these results to samples from previous years.
Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview

State and territory

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary between states and territories?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions, grouped by Australian states and territories. In 2024–25, 68% of assessed NDAP clients in South Australia and 43% in Western Australia reported improved choice and control (please note that some categories were not published due to small numbers and to protect confidentiality).

State/Territory	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
National	61%
New South Wales	62%
Victoria	60%
Queensland	61%
Western Australia	43%
South Australia	68%
Tasmania	62%
Australian Capital Territory	n.p.
Northern Territory	n.p.

Notes

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.
Remoteness and State/Territory categories are based on the outlet address where the client received their last session assessment. Remoteness categories are based on ABS ASGS 2016.
A small number of clients (<5) received services from two outlets in two different states or remoteness areas and have been counted in each.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview

Population groups

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary for First Nations and non-Indigenous clients?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions, by Indigenous status. In 2024–25, 57% of First Nations clients and 62% of non-Indigenous clients reported improved choice and control.
Indigenous status % of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions

First Nations 57%

Non-Indigenous 62%

All persons 61%

Notes
Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.
First Nations refers to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview
Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by gender?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions, for males and females. In 2024–25, 61% of male and female clients reported improved choice and control (please note that some categories were not published due to small numbers and to protect confidentiality).
Gender % of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions

Males 61%

Females 61%

Intersex n.p.

All persons 61%

Notes
n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.
Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.
Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview
Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by age?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions, grouped by age. In 2024–25, 62% of assessed NDAP clients in the 25–44 and 45–64 age groups reported improved choice and control, compared with 58% in the 65 and over age group.
Age group % of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions

0–24 59%

25–44 62%

45–64 62%

65 and over 58%

All ages 61%

Notes
n.p. (not published) Results have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people and due to volatility caused by small numbers.
Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.
Age refers to the age of the client at their last NDAP session in the financial year 2024–2025.
Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview
Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by cultural and linguistic diversity background?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions, by culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) status. In 2024–25, 64% of clients from CALD backgrounds reported improved choice and control, compared with 61% among the non-CALD group.
Cultural and linguistic diversity status % of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions

CALD 64%

Non-CALD 61%

All persons 61%

Notes
Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.
CALD refers to clients where their Country of Birth is Not 'Australia' and their Main Spoken Language is NOT 'English' or 'Not Stated'.
Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview

Indigenous status	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
First Nations	57%
Non-Indigenous	62%
All persons	61%

Gender	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
Males	61%
Females	61%
Intersex	n.p.
All persons	61%

Age group	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
0–24	59%
25–44	62%
45–64	62%
65 and over	58%
All ages	61%

Cultural and linguistic diversity status	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
CALD	64%
Non-CALD	61%
All persons	61%

Remoteness

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by remoteness?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions, grouped by remoteness. In 2024–25, 66% of assessed NDAP clients in inner regional areas reported improved choice and control, compared with 55% in outer regional areas (please note that some categories were not published due to small numbers and to protect confidentiality).

Remoteness	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
Major cities	61%
Inner regional	66%
Outer regional	55%
Remote	n.p.
Very remote	n.p.
All areas	61%

Notes

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.
Remoteness and State/Territory categories are based on the outlet address where the client received their last session assessment. Remoteness categories are based on ABS ASGS 2016.
A small number of clients (<5) received services from two outlets in two different states or remoteness areas and have been counted in each.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

n.p. (not published) Data have been suppressed to avoid identifying individual people.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview

Disability group

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by disability group?

The data in the graph and the table below show the proportion of assessed National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) clients (of all ages) who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions, by disability group. In 2024–25, 64% of NDAP clients with physical/diverse disability reported improved choice and control, compared with 59% of NDAP clients with intellectual/learning disability.

Disability group	% of assessed NDAP clients who report improved choice and control to make decisions
Physical/diverse	64%
Intellectual/learning	59%
Psychiatric	63%
Sensory/speech	62%
Unknown	55%
All disabilities	61%

Notes

Data current as at 1 August 2025.
The target group for advocacy support provided by NDAP agencies are people with disability that is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of such impairments; is permanent or likely to be permanent; and results in a substantially do reduced capacity of the person for communication, learning or mobility and the need for ongoing support services.
A 'client' can be either a person with disability or a carer/family member of a person with disability.
A client is considered to have improved when the Goals domain 'Empowerment, choice and control to make own decisions' outcome that had changed, with a positive outcome as calculated by the difference between: a. The latest recorded Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) in the reporting period, for each domain, minus b. The earliest recorded SCORE for the corresponding domain.
According to DSS Data Exchange (DEX) protocol, a SCORE may be determined by the practitioner’s professional assessment, a client’s self-assessment, a joint assessment between the client and practitioner, or an assessment by the client’s support person (such as a carer). In the case of a child client, the assessor may be the carer.
Participation in the 'partnership approach' became a requirement of funding for all NDAP providers from 1 January 2021. Under the partnership approach, providers are expected to assess clients and report Standard Client Outcome Reporting (SCORE) data in the Data Exchange for over 50 per cent of their clients.
Organisations funded under the NDAP program are required under their agreement with the Commonwealth to enter data into the DEX in accordance with the Data Exchange Protocols.
The total for disability group does not match the sum of the rows, as a client may have more than one disability.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange.

Source: Department of Social Services – Data Exchange (DEX) | Data source overview

Where did these data come from?

Data on advocacy program support come from administrative data collected by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

Learn more about these data

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Advocacy program support

What is being tracked?

Baseline value

Latest value

Trends

Has the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions increased over time?

State and territory

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary between states and territories?

Population groups

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary for First Nations and non-Indigenous clients?

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by gender?

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by age?

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by cultural and linguistic diversity background?

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by remoteness?

Does the proportion of assessed NDAP clients who reported improved choice and control to make their own decisions vary by disability group?

Where did these data come from?

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