Self Advocacy Sydney Inc

What Self Advocacy Sydney Inc does

Self Advocacy Sydney Inc (SAS) is a nonprofit disability advocacy organisation founded in 1986 as Self Advocacy NSW and renamed in 1991 to reflect its operational shift to the Sydney metropolitan area. It is run by and for people with intellectual disability, with an executive board, staffing and membership that intentionally embed lived experience at every level. SAS primarily serves people with intellectual disability across the Sydney metropolitan area and Central Coast, with a secondary mandate for individual advocacy supporting people with any disability type; the organisation operates from five physical offices in Blacktown (headquarters), Liverpool, Penrith, Springwood and Gosford, complemented by outreach into homes and communities. CEO Maria Katrivesis leads day-to-day operations, with academic and lived-experience expertise on the board via Secretary Professor Iva Strnadova (UNSW) and Patron Professor Trevor Parmenter AM.

The organisation delivers a portfolio of free programs organised around seven core service lines: Self Advocacy (one-on-one and group support for people with intellectual disability to represent themselves); Individual Advocacy (rights-based support for people with any disability); NDIS Appeals (assistance appealing NDIA decisions through the Administrative Review Tribunal, described as the only service of its kind between Parramatta and Penrith); New Leaders and Peer Support (LAPS, a leadership and peer-mentoring programme for ages 18-35 with regional team-leader coverage); My Home My Choice (NDIA-funded peer mentoring on home and living options); Let's All Play (sports inclusion for ages 6-13 in West and South Western Sydney, delivered with grassroots clubs and with national sporting-club endorsements being pursued); and Colour My Way (disability arts). There is also a research arm conducted in partnership with the University of New South Wales under the GeneEqual programme on genetic testing for people with intellectual disability, alongside additional UNSW research workstreams. Programmes are delivered in person, by phone, and increasingly through client-to-staff pipelines (e.g., Skie Sarfaraz progressed from LAPS client to LAPSSA Team Leader). Underlying technology footprint is limited to standard nonprofit tooling (website, MailChimp e-newsletter, social media channels, online referral form); there is no proprietary platform or technology product.

Revenue is grant-dependent rather than transactional: SAS has been continuously funded by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services (DSS) since 1986, supplemented by tax-deductible donations, bequests, and nominal annual membership fees (A$10 Full, A$20 Associate, A$50 Group, free Reciprocal). All services are delivered free of charge to participants. Regulatory standing is underpinned by NDAP certification (National Disability Advocacy Program, certificate 286984-2019), ACNC charity registration, JAS-ANZ disability service certification, NSW Charitable Fundraising registration (CFM 16621), and ABN 77 288 359 636. Distribution is community-led, with referrals accepted from individuals, families, service providers and support persons across the Sydney metropolitan area and Central Coast.

Name

Self Advocacy Sydney Inc

Legal name

Self Advocacy Sydney Inc

Website

https://sasinc.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Self Advocacy Sydney Inc is a nonprofit founded in 1986, run by and for people with intellectual disability in Sydney. It provides free self-advocacy, individual advocacy, NDIS appeals, peer support, housing education, and sports inclusion services across five regional offices in the Sydney metropolitan area.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Rights & Accessibility Advocacy (BPAGAFAF), Self-Advocacy & Self-Determination Training (EDAKANAI)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy
• Intellectual disability support
• Self-advocacy services
• Community advocacy
• Disability rights

Headquarters

HQ city

Blacktown

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: SAS has been funded since 1986 by the DSS (Department of Social Services). This is the primary funding source for operations.
2. Donations: Accepts tax-deductible donations from the public. Donations over $2 are tax deductible. Also accepts bequests through wills.
3. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees: Full members (people with intellectual disability) $10/year, Associate members $20/year, Group members $50/year, Reciprocal members free.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Self Advocacy Sydney Inc is a nonprofit disability advocacy organisation that provides free, independent individual and systemic advocacy for people with intellectual disability in Western Sydney. Its services include one-on-one advocacy, peer support groups, community education, and member-led governance activities, funded primarily through the Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS).

Product overview

Self Advocacy Sydney Inc is a non-profit advocacy organization offering a portfolio of free services for people with disability. The core offerings include Self Advocacy (supporting people with intellectual disability to speak up for themselves), Individual Advocacy (supporting people with any disability type), NDIS Appeals (assistance with appealing NDIS decisions), New Leaders and Peer Support (LAPS - leadership and peer support programs), My Home My Choice (housing options education), Let's All Play (sports participation for young people with disability), and Colour My Way (disability arts program). All programs are free of charge and designed to help people with disability become empowered, make their own decisions, speak up for themselves, and achieve maximum independence and quality of life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Advocacy Free, confidential one-on-one advocacy support for people with intellectual disability in Western Sydney, helping them uphold rights, resolve disputes, and access services such as the NDIS, healthcare, housing, and education.
• Systemic Advocacy Advocacy work that addresses broader policy, service-system, and rights issues affecting people with intellectual disability, delivered in conjunction with the national DANA network and other allied bodies.
• Peer Support and Member Groups Peer support groups and member activities that connect people with intellectual disability to share experiences, build skills, and collectively advocate for their rights.
• Community Education and Workshops Workshops, forums, and community education sessions that build awareness of disability rights, self-advocacy skills, and inclusion among people with intellectual disability, families, carers, and service providers in Western Sydney.

Quantifiable outcome

• All programs are free to participants
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of New South Wales (UNSW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAS partners with UNSW on multiple research projects including GeneEqual (genetic testing for people with intellectual disability), self-advocacy well-being research, school experiences research, sex education research, and social inclusion studies. Board member Professor Iva Strnadova leads research from UNSW.
• GeneEqualcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch project on genetic testing for people with intellectual disability, co-developed with UNSW. Staff member Skie Sarfaraz presented at NSW Parliament about this project.
• People with Disability (PWD)minorOthersNational peak disability rights and advocacy organisation listed as a support service referral option for clients.
• Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA)minorOthersPeak body for people from non-English speaking background with disability in NSW; listed as support service referral option.
• Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS)minorOthersCommunity legal centre in NSW working with people with intellectual disability; listed as support service referral option.
• Let's All Play Partner Sports ClubsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor5 grassroots sports clubs in West and South Western Sydney being supported to engage participants with intellectual disability. Also seeking endorsement from 4 large national sporting clubs.
• Disability and MeminorOthersEducational resources about disability referenced on SAS website.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Northcott: One of Australia's largest registered NDIS disability service providers offering accommodation, therapy, and supported employment across NSW; a much larger incumbent in the same disability service space.

Direct peers

• IDEAS NSW: NSW disability advocacy and information service providing individual advocacy and NDIS-related support; directly comparable service mix to SAS's Individual Advocacy and NDIS Appeals offerings in the same geography.
• People with Disability Australia (PWDA): Australia's peak national disability rights and advocacy organization representing people with all disability types; comparable to SAS's individual advocacy mission and is a formal referral partner.
• Inclusion Australia: National peak body for people with intellectual disability and their families; the most direct intellectual-disability-focused peer to SAS, operating federally rather than at the state level.
• Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS): NSW community legal centre specializing in advocacy and legal support for people with intellectual disability; directly comparable legal-advocacy offering and listed as a formal SAS referral partner.
• My Choice Matters: NSW organization supporting people with disability (particularly intellectual disability) to exercise choice and control, including in housing and NDIS planning — directly comparable to SAS's My Home My Choice and NDIS Appeals services.
• NSW Council for Intellectual Disability: State-level advocacy organization for people with intellectual disability in NSW; operates a similar systemic advocacy mandate and shares the same geographic catchment as SAS.
• Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (MDAA): NSW peak body providing advocacy for people with disability from non-English speaking backgrounds; shares the same individual advocacy service category and referral network as SAS.

Emerging players

• Centre for Disability Studies (UNSW): University-based research and inclusion unit that is a formal research partner of SAS; not a direct advocacy competitor but operates in the same disability ecosystem and shares board members.

Regional players

• VALID (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability): Victoria's equivalent self-advocacy organization for people with intellectual disability; offers the same peer-led advocacy model in another Australian state and is the closest direct analogue to SAS outside NSW.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SelfAdvocacySyd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJNG8c0MAw7DeNK_jlLs1WQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SelfAdvocacySydney
• Instagraminstagram.com/selfadvocacysydneyinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/self-advocacy-sydney-inc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Self Advocacy Sydney Inc