News & Media Releases - Advocacy Australia

GLOBAL ASBESTOS AWARENESS WEEK (1–7 April)

March 31, 2026

This week, Advocacy Australia’s Asbestos Education Committee is reminding Australians that asbestos remains one of Australia’s most significant and ongoing public health challenges. More than 4,000 Australians lose their lives each year to asbestos-related diseases – around three times the national road toll – with cases continuing to rise. According to the Australian Mesothelioma Registry Report (2025), diagnoses of malignant mesothelioma have increased year-on-year for both men and women, with experts predicting this trend will continue due to the ongoing disturbance of legacy asbestos in the built environment. The data highlights a critical shift: With 1 in 3 Australian homes…

Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT) Enquiry

March 27, 2026

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Advocacy Australia acknowledges Philip Donato for formally requesting an inquiry into the Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT). This request represents a critical step towards addressing long-standing concerns around the management of forensic patients and ensuring victims’ voices are appropriately recognised and considered. Advocacy Australia has been advocating for such an inquiry since launching our Justice For Biddy petition in 2024, which Phil sponsored. It shone a spotlight on the injustices victims face in their interactions with the MHRT and the broader implications for community safety. This progress would not be possible without the courage and persistence of victims and families…

Deadly DIY: Home Renovations Linked to 51% of Mesothelioma Deaths

November 3, 2025

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November is National Asbestos Awareness Month – Friday 28 Nov is Asbestos Awareness Day 2025 With around 4,000 Australians dying from an asbestos-related disease annually, (more than three times the national road toll), and the death toll continuing to rise, National Asbestos Awareness Month (November) aims to save lives by alerting Australians to the dangers of asbestos that lurks in 1-in-3 Aussie homes. Conducted by the Asbestos Education Committee, the annual national campaign educates Australians about the ongoing dangers of legacy asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) that can remain in any home built before 1990 by providing free tools and resources at asbestosawareness.com.au. If…

✨ TRIPLE GOLDEN TARGET AWARD WINNERS 2025 ✨

October 30, 2025

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We are deeply honoured to announce that Advocacy Australia’s Justice for Biddy campaign, nominated in three categories, has been recognised with three national awards at the Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA) 2025 Golden Target Awards – Australia’s most prestigious celebration of strategic communication and public relations excellence. 🥈 Silver: Not-for-Profit Campaign of the Year 🥉 Bronze: Public Affairs & Advocacy Campaign of the Year 🥉 Bronze: Not-for-Profit Team of the Year This recognition stands as a powerful testament to the strength of justice, determination, and passion, proof that when truth is pursued with courage and compassion, change truly is…

Triple Finalist Honour for Advocacy Australia at Golden Target Awards

October 1, 2025

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We are incredibly honoured to announce that today Advocacy Australia has been named a triple finalist in the Communication and Public Relations Australia annual 2025 Golden Target Awards, Australia’s oldest and most prestigious public relations and communications awards. Our Justice for Biddy campaign has been recognised in two categories: Public Affairs & Advocacy Campaign and Not-for-Profit Campaign. With our Co-founders; Clare Collins and Alice Collins – “The Collins Girls”, proud finalists in the Not-for-Profit Team of the Year category. The Golden Target Awards applaud the crème-de-la-crème of strategic thinking, creative execution, and communication excellence nationwide. In 2022, our Asbestos Education…

Advocacy Australia Founder Clare Collins Named Volunteer Of The Year: Sydney & Eastern Suburbs

August 13, 2025

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Advocacy Australia is proud to announce that our founder, Clare Collins, this week was recognised with two prestigious honours at the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards – Sydney City and Eastern Suburbs Region, hosted by The Centre for Volunteering. Clare was named both the Senior (Over 65) Volunteer of the Year and the overall 2025 Sydney City–Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year, in recognition of her exceptional dedication to supporting victims of serious crimes and their families, and her tireless advocacy for asbestos education and awareness. The awards ceremony, held at Club York in Sydney’s CBD, was a moving…

AdOz Named Best Social Justice Advocacy Organisation In Global Awards

July 27, 2025

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We are proud and deeply honoured to announce that Advocacy Australia has been named Best Social Justice Advocacy Organisation – Australia at the Global 2025 Non-Profit Organisation Awards, presented by Acquisition International. This award recognises organisations driving meaningful, lasting change across the globe. We are humbled to be acknowledged for our unwavering commitment to advancing awareness, promoting equity, and advocating for social justice. At Advocacy Australia, we remain firmly dedicated to giving a voice to victims of crime when they are silenced, standing alongside those whose experiences have too often been ignored. Our work also extends to preventing future harm…

Saving Lives Through Awareness: $18K and Counting Raised in Leah Smith’s Honour Through National Asbestos Awareness Raffle & Auction

June 12, 2025

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At 8:45am on Friday 13 June, the founder of the national “Ride in Shorts for Leah” initiative, Phillip Smith of Balberra (Mackay), and his dedicated team of supporters will be at the Clermont Courthouse in honour of Leah Smith to draw the raffle winners in their latest asbestos awareness and fundraising campaign activities to help save lives. When mother of two, 49-year-old Leah Smith lost her battle with malignant mesothelioma on 22 August 2024, Leah’s husband Phillip, their family and friends began their life-saving mission to prevent other families from suffering the same tragic fate as Leah had. Devastated when…

Community Rally Demands Justice Reform: 24 Women Killed in 19 Weeks – Counted as Statistics – Remembered as Lives Lost

May 9, 2025

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TOMORROW, Saturday, 10th May at 12pm, the aunt of 18-year-old murder victim, Emerald Wardle, will be co-hosting the Community Rally Against Violence in Newcastle, to honour her niece and all women and children who fall victims of heinous crimes. “So far this year, 24 women in Australia have been murdered, and by the time we rally, that number could sadly be higher. This is a heartbreaking reality we can no longer ignore,” said Ms Smith. “On Saturday we’ll be walking and calling for critical change to the justice system that failed Emerald, our family and many other victims of violent,…

Beware Asbestos Risks Following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred’s Flood Devastation

March 11, 2025

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In the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, heavy rains and flooding have caused extensive damage across Southeast QLD and Northern NSW, displacing thousands of people and leaving homes, businesses, and properties severely affected. As communities wait for floodwaters to recede and rainfall to ease before beginning cleanup, homeowners, businesses, and rural property owners are urged to be aware of potential asbestos risks in damaged structures and debris. Cherie Barber, Ambassador for the National Asbestos Awareness campaign is urging those impacted to be wary of potential dangers posed by damaged asbestos-containing materials found in homes, buildings, structures and flood debris that…

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