An advocate is someone who can support a person to have a voice or understand a situation or decision they may have to make. Some of the things and advocate can do are as follows:
- Listen to the person’s views and concerns;
- Help the person explore their options and rights (without advising them in any particular direction);
- Give the person information to help them make informed decisions;
- Help the person contact relevant people, or contact them on their behalf; and
- Accompany and support the person in meetings or appointments.
An advocate will not:
- Give their personal opinion;
- Solve problems and make decisions for the person; or
- Make judgements.
Advocates can be independently appointed by the person, or on the person’s behalf and can be informal (for example, a family member or friend) or formal (for example from an independent advocacy organisation) in nature.