Advocacy for Inclusion

"providing individual and systemic advocacy to improve life for people who have a disability"

Information Sheet

(Printer friendly version - PDF)

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is information, education, representation and, where necessary, referral*.

(Referral means seeking another organisation to support you if required)

An Advocate Will:

• Listen to you and your concern.
• Work with you to identify the issues they can help you with.
• Work with you to identify and prioritise the main issues.
• Provide you with information on ways to address and work through your issues.
  (We may not be able to solve things always)
• Stand beside you if you want assistance to speak up
• Assist you if you want to try to solve your issues yourself.
• Speak for you if you are unable or need help to speak for yourself.
• Help you to identify and understand the importance and possible outcomes of taking action.
• Refer you to other agencies if the advocate is not able to help you.

ADVOCACY IS NOT COUNSELLING, CASE MANAGEMENT OR SUPPORT WORK

An Advocate Will Not:

• Speak for you without your consent
• Do something that you have not agreed to.
• Speak to someone without your permission.
• Take control from you.
• Keep information from you.
• Assist you to do anything illegal.
• Assist you to do anything which may cause harm to yourself or to someone else.

If you need an advocate or would like any further information on advocacy please contact Advocacy for Inclusion

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"working with people who have a disability, families, friends and others for a more inclusive society"