Advocacy seeks to ensure that people are able to speak out, to express their views and defend their
rights. Advocacy is about empowerment, autonomy, citizenship and inclusion. An advocate is someone
who can both listen to you and speak for you in times of need (Kelley, 2006)
Having an Acquired Brain Injury often means that your opinions and ideas are not taken seriously, or
that you are not offered the opportunities and choices you would like. Being labelled with a diagnosis
of Acquired Brain Injury is often linked to poverty, unemployment and exclusion from everyday life. For
those who already experiencing discrimination, having an Acquired Brain Injury creates another barrier
to social inclusion. It can make voicing opinions, wants and needs almost impossible.
Headwest’s advocacy goals are to:
• Help people to understand their human, legal, and service rights;
• Support people to express their views and concerns and to defend their rights;
• Enable people to access information and services and to explore their options.
• Help people learn to exercise their rights to get what they need; and
• Facilitate people to become advocates for themselves and their peers.
Headwest does not only support people with an ABI. It also supports the people that care for them.
The effects of brain injury on the patient may be equalled or even surpassed by the effect on the
patient's family. Brain injuries are known for causing extreme stressors in family and interpersonal relationships (Igou, 2009). Headwest advocacy services are available to these people to help look
after the best interest of people with an ABI.
An advocate might help you access information you need, or go with you to meetings or interviews,
as a supportive presence. In some cases, you might want your advocate to be more active. An
advocate might write letters on your behalf, or speak for you in situations where you don't feel able
to speak for yourself.
An advocate respects the views and wishes of the person they advocate for, without judgement, and
believes in their right to access information, representation, services and opportunities. Headwest’s professional advocates hold university degrees and have been trained in listening and negotiating skills.
They also have knowledge of the basic legal framework and provision of mental health and community
care services.
Friends, family and mental health professionals can all be supportive and helpful, but this may be difficult
for them if you are doing things they disagree with, even though it's what you want. Health and social
services staff have a 'duty of care' to the people they work with, which means that they can't support
you in doing things that they think will be bad for you. But an advocate is independent, and will represent
your wishes without judging them or putting forward their own personal opinion (Kelley, 2006).
‘I am worried about my Centrelink meeting to assess my disability pension. I wish I had some support!’
‘It’s me against the hospital. I need somebody to help me feel stronger and more secure. I want
someone to help me express myself.’
‘I don't need someone to help all the time. But I like to know that there is someone I can call, when I
do need help.’
• Individual (more information)
• Self / Peer (more information)
• Systemic (more information)
Also see New Initiatives