The City of Greater Geelong Aged and Disability Services Department is committed to informing clients' of their rights. To this end we provide the following information about advocacy.
WHAT IS AN ADVOCATE?
Advocates work to support and empower individuals, assisting them to self-advocate where possible.
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 persons rights to another person or organisation.
WHO CAN BE AN ADVOCATE?
An advocate can be a family member, prime carer, legal representative trusted friend or someone from an agency that provides advocacy services.
Your Care Manager at the City of Greater Geelong may be able to provide you with advocacy assistance or refer you to one of the agencies that specialise in this service.
WHY USE AN ADVOCATE?
In our democratic society, it is vitally important that any difficulty in personally exercising rights does not mean that these rights no longer apply.
Using an advocate will ensure that your rights are upheld and that you are not disadvantaged due to disability, age and cultural or linguistic diversity.
You have the right to utilise an advocate of your choice to act on your behalf at any time.
WHEN TO USE AN ADVOCATE
Whilst many clients can successfully advocate on their own behalf there are some people who may experience difficulty speaking up for themselves.
Where a person experiences difficulty the use of an advocate may: - assist you to access services
- assist you to change services
- ensure appropriateness of services
- communicate with service provider staff
- negotiate suitable resolutions where a complaint or dispute has arisen.
AGENCIES THAT PROVIDE ADVOCACY SERVICES:
ADEC (Action on Disability in Ethnic Communities)
Ph: 9480 1666 or 1800 626 078
Email: info@adec.org.au
Barwon Disability Resource Council
Phone: 5221 8011
National Aged Care Advocacy Program
Ph: 9602 3066 or
1800 700 600 Country areas
email: rcr@rcr.org.au
Office Of The Public Advocate
Ph: 9603 9500 or 1800 136 829
www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au
Valid
Phone: 9416 4003
Villamanta Legal Service
Phone: 1800 014 111
(Information service relating to disability legal issues)
FOR FURTHER ASSISTANCE FROM COUNCIL, PHONE: 5227 0270.
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