What is advocacy?
Advocacy is active support for an idea or a particular cause that helps to shape the agenda of governments and society.
Advocacy can occur at several levels–within your own community/local council, at state level or at the national or international level.
If you are interested in giving feedback about how the homeless system works, Council to Homeless Persons is developing a register of consumers who we can contact for surveys and focus groups.
You can email Cassandra Bawden, PESP Team Leader, or contact her on 8415 6210 if you are interested in participating or want some more information.
Other community service sectors also have consumer advocacy opportunities. For example:
- The Association of Participating Service Users (APSU) is a Victorian consumer representative group for people who use alcohol and other drug services
- Youth Affairs Council of Victoria Inc. (YACVic) is the peak body and leading policy advocate on young people’s issues in Victoria. YACVic has a Youth Reference Group.
- The Self Advocacy Resource Unit (SARU) resources and assists Victorian self-advocacy groups in Victoria for people with an intellectual disability, an acquired brain injury or complex communication support needs. SARU can connect people to a relevant self-advocacy group.
- The Mental Illness Awareness Council (MIAC) is the peak Victorian non-government organisation for people who have experience with a mental illness or emotional distress and are the forefront of consumer participation in the mental health sector.
- The Victorian Public Tenants Association (VPTA) is a peak body for all public tenants across Victoria and represent the collective views of public tenants across the state to government.