Understanding advocacy, what it is, the aims of advocacy, different types of advocacy, who can be a great advocate, why an advocate may be needed, what an advocate can do, steps to engage an advocate and how to report an advocate if they are not representing your rights.

1. HOW AN ADVOCATE
CAN HELP YOU
Representing your rights

2. WHAT IS ADVOCACY?

3. What is advocacy?
Advocacy is the process of standing alongside an
individual who is disadvantaged, and speaking out
on their behalf in a way that represents the best
interests of that person.

4. What is the aim of advocacy?
The aim of advocacy is to bring about beneficial
outcomes in a way that enables the client to retain
as much control as possible over how it is carried
out.

5. Advocacy involves:
• Being on the individual’s side and no-one else’s ƒ
• Being primarily concerned with their
fundamental needs ƒ
• Remaining loyal and accountable to the
individual

6. Different types of advocacy
• Individual Advocacy
• Citizen Advocacy
• Systems Advocacy
• Parent Advocacy
• Self-Advocacy

7. WHO CAN BE A GREAT
ADVOCATE?

8. Who can be a great advocate?
• People you know such as parents, brothers and
sisters, relatives or friends

9. Who can be a great advocate?
• Paid staff members from voluntary community
based organisations

10. Who can be a great advocate?
• Volunteers from the community who are
supporting caring, responsible citizens

11. WHY AN ADVOCATE
MAY BE NEEDED

12. Advocacy is a mechanism to facilitate
client rights
Some people may experience difficulty speaking
up for themselves.

13. What does an advocate do?
An advocate may provide information and advice
in order to assist a person to take action to resolve
their own concerns, or may take a more active role
in representing the person’s rights to another
person or organisation.

14. Advocates can:
• Assist the client to access services
• Assist the client to change services
• Ensure that the service chosen is appropriate
• Communicate with the service provider
• Negotiate suitable resolutions where a complaint
or dispute has arisen

15. An advocate can support your right to:
• Information to inform decision making
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Respect and dignity
• Choice and control
• Quality services

16. An advocate can support your right to:
• Make and resolve complaints
• Non-discriminatory service
• Protection of legal and human rights, and freedom
from abuse and neglect

17. HOW TO REPORT AN
ADVOCATE IF THEY ARE NOT
REPRESENTING YOUR RIGHTS

18. How to report an advocate if they are
not representing your rights
• Make a complaint to the organisation they are
representing

19. STEPS TO ENGAGE AN
ADVOCATE

20. Steps to engage an advocate
1. Select your partners carefully
2. Be clear on your desired outcome
3. Never assume anything

21. Steps to engage an advocate
4. Set specific time lines as well as trial time
frames
5. Give written permission to act on your behalf
6. Allow for exit clauses

22. QUESTIONS