BIAT and Systemic Advocacy
As a peak body, the Brain Injury Association of Tasmania has advocacy as one of its key roles. BIAT advocates to influence outcomes in public policy and resource allocation within government as well as the policies and practices of service agencies to ensure optimal results for people with acquired brain injury.
- BIAT provides systemic advocacy to achieve better outcomes for people with brain injury and their families
- BIAT looks at issues that impact on the lives of people with brain injury and lobbies government to affect change around those issues.
- BIAT advocates on behalf of BIAT members and all people with brain injury and their families.
Systemic advocacy is a term we use to describe our function as a voice to tell governments and other decision-makers about changes required to improve the service system for people living with or affected by brain injury.
Systemic advocacy work includes media, participation in committees, submissions to government policy review processes and direct representation to politicians and other key decision makers.
Examples of BIAT Systemic Advocacy:
- BIAT is a member of Neurological Alliance Tasmania (NAT); Deborah Byrne, BIAT executive officer, is the chair of NAT.
- BIAT is also a member of JusTas and the Tasmanian Family Violence Consultative Group.
- BIAT produces issues papers to raise awareness of topics of importance to brain injury, such as family violence.
- Prior to the 2017 State election BIAT wrote to all political parties in Tasmania outlining the issues facing people with brain injury and their families.