All About Advocacy

An important component of the building financial capability toolbox is the ability to advocate on a client’s behalf.  Advocacy in this context might include:

• upholding the rights of the client
• supporting a client in being heard or to receive services/information. In particular, in dealings with government agencies such as IRD and WINZ or agencies such as debt collection, loan operators and creditors
• influencing change in political and bureaucratic processes on behalf of the people we may represent, at an organisational level.

Objectives

At the completion of this module, you will be able to:

• identify the types of advocacy
• identify the role of an advocate
• understand the elements required to successfully advocate for a client
• advocate on behalf of a client in person
• advocate on behalf of a client via telephone.