‘The advocacy training is the most helpful thing I have found around the community. I have gained a lot of knowledge and understanding on what advocacy is.’ 

An advocacy course for beginners

This one-day training course provides an introduction to advocacy, and how you can advocate for your issues to government. Participants will have the opportunity to plan an advocacy campaign around a real life issue from their work.

The course covers:

• What is advocacy and types of advocacy
• Advocacy tool kit
• How government works
• How to advocate for your issues with government
• Working with politicians
• Legal strategies in advocacy
• Planning an effective advocacy campaign around your issue
• Engagement and empowerment

Who typically attends?

Community workers, activists and campaigners who want to:

• Promote an issue, community or group
• Contribute to making public policy and changing laws
• Improve service delivery to particular communities or sections of the community
• Use or help others to understand how the system works.

What you’ll learn

The course provides you with the skills to ensure the rights and needs of consumers are maintained within the broader rights and needs of the general community. On completion of this training you will be able to:

• Obtain and analyse information about the needs of clients and issues of concern.
• Work with clients, communities and stakeholders to address identified needs.
• Advocate for client issues within formal decision-making structures.
• Represent the interests of the community in government decision-making forums.

Pick up units from the Community Services Training Package

All participants who complete the full day’s training will receive a certificate of attendance. If you have also completed PIAC’s other advocacy course, Effective Advocacy Skills and Strategies you can gain recognition of your skills by completing an assessment against two units from the Community Services Training Package. These units are nationally recognised and will provide you with future opportunities to complete formal qualifications.

PIAC will endeavour to accommodate any particular assessment needs related to cultural requirements, disability, language or remote location. Assessment is optional. The cost of assessment is included in the course fee.

PIAC is a Registered Training Organisation under the Australian Quality Training Framework. PIAC is registered by the NSW Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board to deliver training, conduct assessment, and issue the training qualifications Provide systems advocacy services CHCAD603A and Provide advocacy and representation services CHCAD504A.

The Provide Systems Advocacy Services competency from the Community Services Training Package is about advocating to ensure the rights and needs of particular interest groups are maintained within the broader rights and needs of the general community. The Provide Advocacy and Representation Services competency is about representing the interests of the community.

Want more information?

Please contact PIAC Training Officer, Kylie Coventry.