Acclaim Otago (Inc)

Acclaim Otago (Inc) is a support group for injured New Zealanders and their families. We are an incorporated society based in Dunedin with members throughout New Zealand. Established in 2003, we have been advocating for systemic change to improve the lives of injured people ever since. We are active in the area of human rights in New Zealand. We are a completely independent body with our own constitution and management. Our committee consists of 12 members; all are volunteers and the majority are disabled by injury (9) with the remainder having a spouse or child with a disability caused by injury. To our knowledge, Acclaim Otago is the only organisation in New Zealand specifically designed by and for persons with disabilities caused by injury. Since 2005, Acclaim Otago has had a seat on ACC’s Consumer Outlook Group, which provides advice to the ACC CEO on issues facing consumers and for the last year has been a member of the Advocates and Representatives Group (ARG) providing direct input into policy and strategy at ACC. We have good working relationships with Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum and seek to work collaboratively to improve the experiences of injured New Zealanders. We hope we have been able to make a difference, no matter how small, in each and every one of our member's lives. Living with an injury and its effects is not easy. Together we can make a difference.