Self-advocacy is crucial in many aspects of life, from health care to social welfare. If individuals do not self-advocate, negative experiences or poor health outcomes may result. This course is ideal for social workers, counsellors, community workers, mental health workers and anyone needing to assist people to identify their own needs and rights.
Support and Facilitate Self-Advocacy is an online professional development course that will provide the knowledge you need to help others develop self-advocacy skills.
In this professional development course, you learn about group advocacy, mental health advocacy, civil and consumer rights, legal and peer support, and the SODAS five-step decision-making process.
You will also learn how to document and proofread important documents, understand the legal system, deal with bureaucracy and peak industry bodies and develop a person’s self-advocacy strategy and arguments.
On completion of this course, you will feel confident to support a person to advocate for their rights to enhance health care, employment and life outcomes.
Course Structure
Unit 1- Promote and facilitate self advocacy
- Strategic questioning to clarify advocacy issues
- Advocacy and mental health
- Strategic questioning to clarify advocacy issues
- Focus and observation questions
- Feelings and visioning questions
- Change and alternative questions
- Personal inventory and support questions
- Personal action questions
- Providing information on self advocacy
- Group advocacy
- Assisting people to identify their own needs and rights
- Basic human rights
- Freedom of speech
- Choice of where to live
- Protection from abuse or neglect
- Culture religion and language
- Civil rights movement
- The rights of consumers and carers
- Australian privacy principles
- Personal disclosure
- Details to be recorded for informed consent
- Providing information on rights
- System advocacy
- Individual advocacy
- Legal and peer advocacy
- SODAS – Five step decision-making process
- Documenting options
- Proofreading documents
- Advocacy planning
- Advocacy issues and choices
- Community attitudes and stigma
- Potential barriers and relevant strategies
- Lack of credibility
- The legal system
- Linguistic difference
- Literacy issues
- Resistance to change
- Dealing with bureaucracy
- Intimidation and fear
- Lack of self-confidence and self-esteem
- Potential barriers and relevant strategies
- Fear of negative outcomes
- Being seen as an aggressive troublemaker
- Developing a person’s self-advocacy strategy and arguments
- Contacting key people for support
- Consider the individual’s skills and strengths
- Provide opportunities for practising self-advocacy
- Roleplays
- Practicing written communications
- Identifying and utilising self-advocacy/resources
- Identifying peak industry bodies
- Support individuals to document circumstances and events
- Follow-up and reflecting
- Identifying further strategies
- Provide additional advocacy support
- Assertive communication skills
- Tactics and strategies
- Develop promotional materials
- Planning a successful promotion
- Dignity of risk
- Person as their own expert
- Raising awareness about barriers
Study Hours
Estimated duration 15 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment
Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.
Testimonials
This course was great. I have learned so much and have already used my learnings to help others. I like the idea of being online as this fits in with my workload.
Judith | Bonbeach, VIC | Support and Facilitate Self-Advocacy
About Us
Graduation
A Certificate of Attainment and Statement of Results will be issued upon successful completion of this course.
How to Enrol
Enrol Online: Enrol Now
Enrol via Live Chat (Business Hours)
Enrol via Telephone 1300 76 2221 (Business Hours)
Enrol via Purchase Order/Tax Invoice
Enrolling Multiple Staff?
To enrol multiple staff, please complete the Employer Enrolment Form. We’ll be in touch within 60 minutes during business hours!
Payment Options
Visa, Mastercard, BPAY and EFT/Direct Deposit. Please allow 1-2 Business days for processing for EFT and BPAY.
Course FAQs
Why Choose Australian Online Courses?
- Professional development that is widely recognised and respected;
- Improve your employment opportunities;
- Study online, anywhere via our elearning system;
- High-quality professional development programs written by industry experts;
- All course materials provided online – no textbooks to buy;
- Unlimited tutor support via email;
- We offer twelve (12) months’ access, with extensions available upon application (fees apply);
- Course may be tax deductible; see your tax advisor.
Are there any entry requirements or pre-requisites?
There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18. In some circumstances, enrolments from younger people may be considered. Please complete the AOC Parent Guardian Consent Form prior to enrolling and submit here.
Are there any computer requirements?
To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.
When can I start this course?
You can start within 60 minutes during business hours when you enrol and pay in full with a credit card!
Credit card: Within 60 mins during business hours.
BPAY: Within 1-2 working days.
Internet Banking: Within 1-2 working days.
Cheque/Money Order: Upon receipt of mailed cheque.
How is this course delivered?
This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.
Do I need to attend classes or undertake any work placements?
No. All courses are delivered online via our LMS and there are no work placement requirements in this course.
What support can I expect from Australian Online Courses?
Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.
I am an international student. Can I enrol into this course?
Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.
Career Pathways
Future growth
Strong
Unemployment
Low
Professional Development for:-
- Social workers
- Counsellors
- Community workers
- Mental health workers