Bringing community voices to the heart of Parliament

Decisions made in Parliament House can have profound outcomes far beyond Canberra. They shape whether community services have the resources they need, whether people can access care when and where they need it, and ultimately whether systems work fairly for everyone.

That is why bringing the voices of community service leaders directly to Parliament matters.

On 13 October, UnitingCare Australia held its annual Advocacy Day, bringing 24 leaders from across the UnitingCare network together at Parliament House to put advocacy into action. In 22 meetings with parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, network leaders brought the realities of frontline community services into the conversation, sharing the experiences of the people and communities they support and highlighting where Government action can make a meaningful difference.

At a time of significant change across aged care, disability, children and family services, and many other support structures, these conversations are critical. UnitingCare network leaders see the impact of Government decisions every day, so they understand where systems are working, but also where people are falling through the gaps.

Bringing this perspective directly to Federal decision makers is particularly important when inequality continues to shape who can access care, what care they receive, where they can find it and how long they must wait.

The UnitingCare network is uniquely placed to help drive this change.

These providers reach every part of the country, from the biggest cities to the most remote communities, and in some regions are the only care provider people can turn to. That reach gives the network both insight and the responsibility to bring these realities to Government and advocate for a system that leaves no one behind.

This insight was central in the conversations with parliamentarians, helping build momentum behind UnitingCare Australia’s 2027–28 Pre-Budget Submission and its call for earlier investment in care and support.

In collaboration with the network providers, UnitingCare Australia has laid out a set of policy asks that focus on ensuring people can get the help they need before their circumstances worsen or they are pushed into crisis. As the cost of care rises and support becomes harder to access, too many people are being left without help until they reach breaking point.

As an agency of the Uniting Church in Australia, UnitingCare Australia has a responsibility to bring these experiences into the national conversation and advocate for the people who are missing out.

Advocacy Day is one way to turn that responsibility into action.

By speaking with one voice in Parliament, the UnitingCare network can push for the changes needed to break down inequality as a barrier to care and build a fairer system for everyone.