Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc.

What Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc. does

Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc. (RIAC) is a not-for-profit disability advocacy organisation founded in 1984 and headquartered in Shepparton, Victoria, Australia. It provides free advocacy and information services to people with disabilities across 22 local government areas in regional Victoria and southern New South Wales, operating from offices in Shepparton, Geelong, Bendigo, and Mildura. Service lines include individual advocacy, the Access & Support Program, First Nations Disability Advocacy, NDIS Appeals, the R.A.I.S.E Your Voice systemic advocacy project, Support Groups for Carers, and systemic advocacy work, supplemented by the Free Inform Hub self-service resource portal. RIAC is governed by a board with directors drawn from PwC, HESTA, and ANZ, and is led by CEO Dr Sandy Ross.

The organisation is funded almost entirely by Australian and Victorian Government grants, with services delivered to clients at no cost. In 2024 RIAC merged with the Barwon Disability Resource Council (BDRC), consolidating two regional disability advocacy bodies and deepening its regional footprint. The service model is human-delivered rather than technology-led: there is no software platform, no AI tooling, and no proprietary technical stack — qualified advocates and partner organisations (e.g., Grampians Disability Advocacy, TIS National for interpreting) carry the operational load. Trust is built through 40 years of regional presence, regulatory accreditation under the National Standards for Disability Services, and culturally tailored expertise in First Nations disability advocacy.

Revenue is grant-dependent and not publicly disclosed. Customer concentration is structurally high in the funder sense (Australian and Victorian Government) but diffuse at the end-user level, since every client is an individual receiving free services. Growth is driven by geographic expansion and merger activity rather than commercial scaling, and the organisation is best understood as a mission-driven regional advocacy entity rather than a venture-backable technology business.

Name

Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc.

Legal name

Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc.

Website

https://riac.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc. is a Shepparton-based, not-for-profit disability advocacy organisation founded in 1984, serving individuals with disabilities across 22 local government areas in regional Victoria and southern New South Wales via free, grant-funded advocacy and support services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy services
• NDIS appeals support
• Community advocacy programs
• Carer support services
• Aged care navigation

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: RIAC operates as a not-for-profit organization primarily funded by Australian and Victorian Government funding to provide advocacy, information and support services to people with disabilities, their families and carers.
2. Donations and Bequests: RIAC accepts donations from the public and receives bequests (legacies left in wills) to support their advocacy and support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc. (RIAC) is a not-for-profit disability advocacy organization that delivers free individual, systemic, and self-advocacy services to people with disabilities, their families and carers across regional Victoria and southern New South Wales. Its portfolio includes NDIS appeals support, the Access & Support Program (covering under-65s and over-65s), a First Nations Disability Advocacy Program, a Free Inform Hub drop-in service for form-filling and technology assistance, R.A.I.S.E Your Voice self-advocacy training, carer support groups, and policy submissions.

Product overview

RIAC operates as a not-for-profit disability advocacy organization offering a portfolio of human-delivered services rather than a technology product. The core service offerings include: individual and systemic advocacy; the Access & Support Program (covering both under-65 and over-65 populations including First Nations people); a dedicated First Nations Disability Advocacy Program; a Free Inform Hub providing form-filling and technology assistance; NDIS Appeals support with Administrative Appeals Tribunal assistance; the R.A.I.S.E Your Voice ILC project (in partnership with Grampians Disability Advocacy); and carer support groups. Services are delivered across 22 local government areas in regional Victoria and southern New South Wales through offices in Geelong, Bendigo, Mildura, and Shepparton, with phone and interpreter support for non-English speakers via TIS National.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Advocacy Individual advocacy providing personalized support to address specific challenges in service access, education and healthcare; systemic advocacy to influence broader policies and practices; and self-advocacy support to equip individuals with knowledge and confidence. For people with disabilities, their families and carers.
• Access & Support Program Personalized assistance program offering access to resources in healthcare, education and employment, empowerment through information, and collaborative support planning. Includes dedicated services for people under 65 with disabilities (including dementia and cognitive impairments) and people over 65 (including First Nations people over 50), assisting with NDIS processes, My Aged Care and Home Care Packages.
• First Nations Disability Advocacy Program Specialized advocacy program for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander individuals with disabilities, families and carers. Services include self-advocacy, navigating government systems such as NDIS and Centrelink, letter writing, meeting representation, complaint assistance and decision reviews. Available on Wadawurrung, Taungurung, Bangerang, Yorta Yorta, Ladji Ladji, Barkindji, Dja Dja Wurrung and Ngurai-illam Wurrung Country.
• Free Inform Hub Weekly drop-in sessions held Tuesdays 10am-2pm in Bendigo and Mildura providing form-filling assistance for Centrelink, housing and government rebates, complaint writing, service referrals, technology support for iPads, computers and phones, and app setup for MyGov, Services Victoria, My Aged Care and Medicare Express. Includes NDIS and DSP application templates. Culturally safe, LGBTQIA+ safe space with interpreter services.
• NDIS Appeals Support for individuals facing challenges with the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Services include external review assistance through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, self-advocacy support, NDIS accountability work and peer support groups for developing self-advocacy skills. For people with disabilities and their families.
• R.A.I.S.E Your Voice Information, Linkages and Capacity Building (ILC) project delivered in partnership with Grampians Disability Advocacy. Free group services across Victoria offering self-advocacy training including peer and systemic advocacy, community project support and mentoring. Inclusive of people with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities, women with disabilities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Local groups in Barwon-West, Bendigo, Creswick-Daylesford-Ballan, Grampians, Mildura, Shepparton and Surf Coast-Bellarine Peninsula.
• Support Groups for Carers (Strengthening Parents Support Program) Regular meetings for mutual support and networking, information and training, advice and phone support, referrals and resources. Available in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Echuca and Mildura. Includes the Carers Connect Newsletter. For carers of people with disabilities.
• Systemic Advocacy and Submissions Policy influence through parliamentary submissions addressing NDIS planning and performance; participation in NDIS Act reviews and Disability Support Pension inquiries; and feedback on proposed NDIS reforms to advocate for accessible and fair assessments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $11 million raised through Ambassador's 24 Hour Mega Swim event
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Grampians Disability Advocacy (GDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Grampians Disability Advocacy to deliver the ILC R.A.I.S.E Your Voice project offering free group services across Victoria to enhance self-advocacy skills, support community projects, and improve disability rights, access, and inclusion.
• TIS NationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationTIS National provides free interpreting services for RIAC clients who do not speak English, enabling access to advocacy and support services through phone interpretation in multiple languages.
• Carol Cooke AM PLYflagshipOthersRIAC Ambassador - Paralympian, nine-time World Champion, three-time gold medalist, author and advocate who uses her journey to inspire others and raise funds for disability causes (founded 24 Hour Mega Swim raising $11M+ for MS support).
• Barwon Disability Resource Council (BDRC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRIAC and BDRC joined forces, combining expertise and reach in the disability advocacy sector in Victoria to provide better services across more regions.
• Disability Services CommissionerminorOthersReferral and complaint resolution partner - Resolves complaints made by or on behalf of people who receive disability services about their providers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VALID (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability): Victorian disability advocacy organization providing individual and systemic advocacy for people with disabilities. Directly comparable to RIAC in mission, advocacy services, NDIS support, and Victorian regional footprint.
• People with Disability Australia (PWDA): Australia's peak national disability rights and advocacy organization representing people with disabilities. Comparable to RIAC in advocacy focus, NDIS engagement, and systemic policy submissions, but operating at national rather than regional scale.
• Inclusion Australia: National peak body advocating for people with intellectual disability and their families. Comparable in advocacy service model, NDIS policy engagement, and self-advocacy program design that overlaps with RIAC's R.A.I.S.E Your Voice project.
• Grampians Disability Advocacy (GDA): Regional Victorian disability advocacy organization delivering the R.A.I.S.E Your Voice ILC project in partnership with RIAC. Directly comparable in service scope, target population, and regional Victorian operating model.
• First Peoples Disability Network Australia (FPDN): National First Nations disability advocacy organization. Comparable to RIAC's First Nations Disability Advocacy Program in culturally safe advocacy, NDIS navigation, and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disabilities.
• Disability Advocacy Victoria: Victorian state peak body for disability advocacy organizations, of which RIAC's CEO serves as Treasurer. Comparable peer membership organization coordinating disability advocacy providers across Victoria.

Emerging players

• Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities (ADEC): Victorian advocacy organization focused on people with disabilities from non-English speaking backgrounds. Overlaps with RIAC's TIS National interpreting partnership and multicultural accessibility focus, but specializes in CALD communities.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Services (NDS): Australia's peak industry body for disability service providers. Larger, established industry association operating across all states; comparable in sector representation and policy engagement but not focused on individual advocacy delivery like RIAC.
• Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO): National cross-disability peak representing advocacy organizations Australia-wide. Larger umbrella organization with overlapping policy and systemic advocacy mandates relative to RIAC's submissions and NDIS review work.

Others

• Financial Counselling Victoria: Victorian not-for-profit where RIAC's CEO Dr Sandy Ross previously served as Executive Officer. Comparable as a Victorian community sector not-for-profit, but focused on financial rather than disability advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rights Information & Advocacy Centre Inc.