Advocacy
Internal Advocacy
An advocate is a person who will listen to you, help you to make decisions about what should happen in your life and help you to make those decisions work by speaking on your behalf.
An advocate makes sure that people who provide support to you, respect your rights and will speak out for you if your needs are not being met.
You can ask anyone you know well and trust to be your advocate. For Example:
- A member of your family or a friend you can trust
- A person from a formal advocacy service
One of the many benefits of our membership program, Aurora Disability Services will provide Advocacy by supporting and/or speaking on the behalf of people with disabilities and their families. The Association is an individual advocate engaged by means of a collective response.
The Association has three advocacy services:
- Individual Advocacy is one-on-one support for you
- Self Advocacy is when you speak for yourself and decide when and what you want now and in the future
- System Advocacy is when we help you with other services
External or Independent Advocacy Services
The Association supports advocacy through other independent and external organisations. If you want someone to act on or speak on your behalf, we will help you find an advocate by directing you to the contact details of an external advocacy provider.
We encourage to you bring your advocate to your initial consultation as well as during the assessment and planning processes.
Your advocate is welcome to any meeting or to speak on your behalf. If you change your advocate, we ask you to please inform us, so we can update your information and ensure that we speak to the correct person.
If you would like to find out more about Advocacy in our area please contact:
Advocacy Tasmania
‘Your say’ advocacy is all about helping you to be heard and understood. If you are unable to speak for yourself, or find it difficult, an Advocate can help you.
We can provide information about your rights and help you to deal with problems or complaints.
Speak Out
Speak Out is a state-wide advocacy service for people with disability.
We are also a membership organisation for people with intellectual disability.
We aim to develop a respectful and inclusive community for people living with a disability. We do this by promoting and defending rights through our advocacy work, good governance that includes people with intellectual disability; and building the capacity of communities.
Did you Know?
The NDIS also has information about advocacy - including a disability Advocacy Finder! The National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 Act acknowledges the important role of advocates (including independent advocates) and other representatives of persons with disability; and requires registered NDIS providers to cooperate with, and facilitate arrangements for, advocates (including independent advocates) and other representatives of persons with disability who are affected by complaints or incidents and who wish to be independently supported in that process by an advocate or other representative.
