Become a more effective advocate

Learn how to be more effective in your advocacy work in this practical one-day course designed for community workers, advocates and campaigners. The interactive workshop format uses small group problem solving, role-play, and case studies. There are no prerequisites for attending this training. The course covers:

Lobbying skills

• Tips for effective lobbying and delegations
• Determining the target
• Goals, allies and opponents, lobbying kit, follow up
• Tips for lobbying politicians, bureaucrats and corporations.

Negotiation skills

• Principles of interest based negotiation
• Using emotions in negotiation
• Planning negotiation

Media skills

• Planning your media message
• What makes a good story?
• Writing effective media releases.
• Working with the media

Who typically attends?

Community workers, activists and campaigners who want to:

• Promote an issue, community or group.
• Contribute to making public policy and reforming laws.
• Improve service delivery to particular communities or sections of the community.

What you’ll learn

The course aims to assist individuals and communities to develop the knowledge and skills to be effective advocates, and to help 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:

• Advocate for, and facilitate the implementation of strategies developed to represent community and client issues within broad social, political and community 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, Introduction to Advocacy and Campaigning you can gain recognition of your skills and 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 Administrator, Karen Kwok.