Group of people with disabilities collaborating in a bright modern space
About VoiceAbility

We help people advocate for themselves.

VoiceAbility empowers people with disabilities to speak up and know their rights. We're committed to disability self-advocacy and human rights in Sydney.

Our story

Built on the belief that every voice matters

VoiceAbility was created because too many people with disabilities were being left behind — not eligible for the NDIS, not fitting other programs, not being heard in decisions about their own lives. We are proudly delivering projects for the Peer Support and Capacity Building (PSCB) grant for the NDIS. Together we're ensuring that people with disability keep accessing supports to build their skills and connect with others who have shared similar experiences. Learn more about the NDIS Peer Support and Capacity Building grant round at ndis.gov.au. Delivered by Ability Advocates Pty Ltd, VoiceAbility is a purpose-built curriculum integrating disability advocacy, psychology, and occupational therapy across five modules and four cohort streams. Programs are delivered across Western and South-Western Sydney in partnership with government, community, and education organisations.

Program impact

Building capacity across Western and South-Western Sydney

VoiceAbility is currently delivering programs across six local government areas, reaching people with disability from culturally diverse backgrounds, people facing housing insecurity, those navigating the justice system, and young people transitioning out of education.

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Cohort streams — CALD communities, long-term unemployment, housing insecurity, and justice and reintegration

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Curriculum modules delivered across all streams, from self-advocacy and identity through to peer leadership and community participation

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Local Government Areas currently served — Parramatta, Blacktown, Mt Druitt, Fairfield, Liverpool, and Bankstown

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Evidence overlays integrated into every session — trauma-informed practice, psychology, and occupational therapy

Meet our team

The people behind VoiceAbility

VoiceAbility is delivered by the Ability Advocates team — experienced practitioners in disability advocacy, peer support, and systems navigation.

Lorraine Salloum

Chief Executive Officer

Lorraine Salloum GAICD

Lorraine is a values-driven executive leader passionate about making a positive impact on vulnerable communities and social outcomes. With extensive executive and board experience in the social services sector, she founded Ability Advocates and leads VoiceAbility's licensed program delivery.

Rocio Martinez

Lead Psychologist

Rocio Martinez

Rocio is VoiceAbility's Lead Psychologist, bringing specialist clinical expertise to the program's psychology overlays — including CBT micro-skills, motivational interviewing, and positive psychology — ensuring every module is grounded in evidence-based practice.

Jennifer Boutros

Lead Occupational Therapist

Jennifer Boutros

Jennifer is VoiceAbility's Lead Occupational Therapist, overseeing the program's OT overlays including executive-function support, sensory regulation, functional participation, and environmental adaptation across all five modules.

Hiba Nadeem

Psychologist & Facilitator

Hiba Nadeem

Hiba works across both clinical and facilitation roles within VoiceAbility, applying psychological frameworks to workshop delivery with a particular focus on CALD participants and trauma-informed, culturally safe practice.

Dana Bazouni

Psychosocial Recovery Coach & Counsellor

Dana Bazouni

Dana supports participants as a Psychosocial Recovery Coach and Counsellor, helping people with psychosocial disability build stability, confidence, and practical capability through VoiceAbility's peer support and capacity-building streams.

Greg Stoupe

Employment Specialist & Counsellor

Greg Stoupe

Greg brings expertise in employment support and counselling to VoiceAbility, working with Long-Term Unemployed and justice-involved participants to build confidence, navigate workplace and community systems, and develop realistic pathways toward meaningful participation.

Sally Iskander

Systems Navigation Specialist

Sally Iskander

Sally is VoiceAbility's Systems Navigation Specialist, supporting participants to confidently navigate housing, health, NDIS, justice, and community services — turning complex systems into clear, manageable next steps.

Safety

We create secure spaces where people feel protected and supported to speak up.

Trust

We build genuine relationships through honesty, consistency, and keeping our commitments.

Choice

We respect your decisions and support you to make choices that matter to you.

Collaboration

We work together with you, not for you, to achieve the goals you set.

Empowerment

We help you build skills and confidence to advocate for your own rights and needs.

Cultural safety

We respect and honour your culture, identity, and unique lived experience.

Good news stories

What our partners say

VoiceAbility works in close partnership with government, community, and education organisations across Western and South-Western Sydney. Here is what some of our partners say about the program and its impact.

Working with VoiceAbility has allowed us to connect our clients with structured self-advocacy training that genuinely prepares them to navigate housing services and understand their rights. Participants arrive with more confidence and clearer language for what they need.

Homes NSW Specialist Response Team

Homes NSW Specialist Response

Homes NSW Specialist Response Team — Housing stream partner

VoiceAbility fills a critical gap for participants transitioning out of the justice system. The structured program builds confidence and gives people real tools for reintegration — skills they can use immediately in navigating community services and advocating for themselves.

DCJ Community Corrections

DCJ Community Corrections

DCJ Community Corrections — Criminal Justice stream partner

VoiceAbility's CALD stream is one of the most culturally responsive programs we have seen in this region. Participants engage deeply because the facilitation is adapted to how they actually communicate and learn.

Western Sydney Region Settlement Consortium

Western Sydney Settlement Consortium

Western Sydney Region Settlement Consortium — CALD stream partner

The transition support VoiceAbility provides to young people with disability is practical and empowering. Students leave with real skills — how to speak up, navigate services, and take one small step toward their goal.

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese and NSW Dept of Education — At-Risk Youth stream partner

Join Us in Building Self-Advocacy Rights

Whether you donate, volunteer, or participate in our programs, you'll help people with disabilities develop skills and claim their voice across Australia.