Disability communications
PR and campaigns with the disability sector.
Upstride Agency is a social change communications agency that works with Australia’s national disability organisations, including DANA, Inclusion Australia and CYDA. Over the past three years we have also coordinated media for Australia’s Disability Representative Organisations (DROs) at big national moments, from the Disability Royal Commission to NDIS reform. We deliver PR, media strategy, campaigns and ongoing communications support, with people with lived experience at the centre of every story.
5+ years
working with DANA, including the Disability Royal Commission and 2026 NDIS reforms
2m+
Australians reached for CYDA ahead of the Royal Commission
2.3m+
media reach for the National Disability Research Partnership
What we do
Media and PR for advocacy
National media releases, targeted pitching and media liaison, so your issue reaches the people who decide.
Awareness campaigns
Campaigns that change how the community responds to disability, like My Card, My Voice for the National Assistance Card.
Lived-experience talent support
Accessible media guides, interview briefs and preparation, so people tell their own stories with confidence.
Ongoing and overflow support
Hours-bank retainers that cover leave, recruitment or a big reform moment, working inside your channels.
Accessible content
Content packs, social, video and web copy written in plain language, for people with disability, members and stakeholders.
Strategy and training
Communications strategy, and media and AI training for disability organisations and their teams.
National reform moments
- Disability Royal Commission. Media strategy and support for DANA, CYDA and a coalition of national disability organisations, including the final report.
- NDIS Review and the Government response. Joint media plans and spokespeople in every state and territory, ready on the day.
- NDIS Senate inquiry. Media support for DANA through the recent Senate inquiry.
- 2026 NDIS reforms. Ongoing PR and communications support for DANA through the current changes to the NDIS.
- National disability research. A national media launch for the National Disability Research Partnership’s research fund, with 2.3m+ media reach.
Who we work with
- Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA)
- Inclusion Australia
- Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)
- National Disability Research Partnership
- Arts and Disability Network Australia
- National Assistance Card
- Outlook Australia
- Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance
- Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion (QAI)
Case studies
Disability · Ongoing
Disability Advocacy Network Australia
Communications partner
5+ years of ongoing support
Disability · 2019-2026
Children and Young People with Disability Australia
Advocacy media and communications
2.28m Australians reached by our 2019 inclusive education media
Disability · 2019-2026
Inclusion Australia
It’s Doctor Time! and seven years of support
198,040 people with an intellectual disability, families and supporters reached by It’s Doctor Time!
Disability · Community · Energy and environment · 2025
Outlook Australia
Social enterprise PR and content
7News Melbourne coverage of the CDS 2nd birthday
Disability · Health · 2021-2025
Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance
Time Won’t Wait: young onset dementia media
13 media items in five weeks
Disability · Education and research · 2026
National Disability Research Partnership
Research fund announcement
2.3m+ media reach
Disability · 2023-2026
Disability Representative Organisations
Disability Royal Commission and NDIS media
4 national reform moments
Disability · 2025
National Assistance Card
My Card, My Voice
130+ media mentions
Disability · 2025
Arts and Disability Network Australia
National network launch
2,000+ outlets reached
Disability · 2020-2021
Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion
Communication strategy and accessible website
WCAG 2.0 AA accessible website
Common questions
Do you specialise in disability communications?
Yes. Disability is a core part of our work. We support national disability organisations including Disability Advocacy Network Australia, Inclusion Australia, Children and Young People with Disability Australia, Arts and Disability Network Australia and the National Assistance Card, with PR, campaigns and ongoing communications support.
Have you worked on the NDIS and the Disability Royal Commission?
Yes. We have supported Disability Advocacy Network Australia (DANA) for more than five years, including media for the Disability Royal Commission, the NDIS Senate inquiry and the current NDIS reforms. We also coordinated media for a coalition of national disability organisations for the Royal Commission final report and the NDIS Review.
Can you help with a big reform announcement at short notice?
Yes. We plan ahead for announcement days, prepare spokespeople and lived-experience talent, and can step in as overflow support for your team when a report or reform lands.
Who leads the stories you tell?
People with disability. We work with people with lived experience as spokespeople and case studies, and prepare them for media in a way that suits them.
Do you work with national organisations?
Yes. Most of our disability work is national, including Disability Advocacy Network Australia, Inclusion Australia and Children and Young People with Disability Australia.