FAQs
Do you have a question about EDEAN or how we can support you, the industry or community? Explore our frequently asked questions.
We’re a not-for-profit disability advocate and provider of subsidised or donated direct supports. We help people with a disability where funding was inadequate, has been exhausted, or they’re awaiting the outcome of a request or review. We also help those working in the industry receive the support and training they need. EDEAN stands for the Ethical Disability Advocacy Employment Network.
We provide free or subsidised support coordination, direct support, advice on where to seek assistance, and subsidised holidays or accommodation depending on available resources. We may also offer support or training subsidies to people with a disability looking for work in the disability sector or elsewhere.
Our advocacy and subsided support services are currently available to people in Newcastle, the Hunter and wider NSW. Our head office is located in Maitland.
You can access EDEAN supports by either approaching us directly if you’re a participant or through a family member or Support Coordinator. Contact us.
Anyone with a recognised disability can access EDEAN support, even if they don’t yet have a NDIS plan or have been told they don’t meet the criteria due to age or other factors.
Our board or senior managers assess applications and consider our available resources. They then decide to either meet all of the request or a percentage of the request. If you’re not satisfied with the senior managers’ decision, you can request a review by the board.
Available supports depend on several factors, including available resources, urgency of need and other requests for support. However, if there’s an accepted need and we have the resources, we aim to provide as much support as possible. People can apply as often as they believe they need.
If you’re seeking assistance and funds while awaiting the outcome of a new request or review with the NDIS and this review or request is successful, there might be an expectation to pay the funds or part of the funds back so that we can assist other people in need. This expectation will be clearly set out before any assistance is delivered or a request for the return of funds is made.
We work with other providers, particularly support coordinators, some who we know are already doing a lot of unpaid hours to support their participants. We also work with other direct support providers by contracting their staff to deliver services or our staff to help them deliver services when needed.
If you’re finding it hard to deliver services, get staff or provide your staff with what they need to stay engaged and do their job well, we have the ability to help you help others. We can support you with training and supporting staff and backend HR. You can also tap into our talent pool. Simply register today!
You can volunteer your time to EDEAN to assist in any way you can. This might include direct support, admin assistance or helping at events. Contact us to become an EDEAN angel! If we’re successful in becoming a registered charity or Public Benevolent Institution (PBI), you’ll be able to donate funds or in-kind services to use.
We have a complaints policy and register. You can make your complaint anonymously if you wish. If you’re not satisfied, you can contact the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC), and they’ll investigate the complaint against our registration.