Citizen Advocacy Launceston has been assisting members of our local community since 1989. The Launceston Citizen Advocacy Program facilitates the establishment of Citizen Advocacy relationships for people with disabilities, who are vulnerable or at risk, in the North East region of Tasmania. This region encompasses the Launceston; Deloraine; Westbury; Georgetown; Scottsdale; and St. Helens areas. The office has a small number of professional staff who are guided by a voluntary Board of Management. The role of the Co-ordinators is to identify people with a disability who are most in need of advocacy, such as those experiencing social isolation or who may be at risk of neglect or abuse. We are funded by the Federal Department of Family and Community Services . Citizen Advocacy on a wider scale is an international movement for the rights and dignity of people with disabilities, with well over 100 programs throughout the world. Citizen Advocacy began in the U.S.A and Canada, and was developed by Dr. Wolf Wolfensberger in the 1960's in response to the concerns of parents who had family members with a disability who were asking the question "what will happen to my child when I am gone". Their aim was to ensure that adequate protection and advocacy for their family member would be maintained. In Australia the first Citizen Advocacy program was established in Perth in 1980.

Mission Statement | Philosophy | Strategic Objectives

 

Mission Statement

To establish and support voluntary, one to one, personal relationships that will; promote, protect and defend the personal well being and interests of people with disabilities, in order to enhance their acceptance and inclusion as valued citizens in our community.

Philosophy

People with disabilities are entitled to a quality of life based on the same normative rights, freedoms and opportunities as enjoyed by other citizens. People with disabilities have a wide variety of needs for representation and relationships which can be met by citizen advocates. The protégé and the advocate are matched to provide the best 'fit' between the protégé's needs and characteristics, and the advocate's skills, commitment and characteristics. In order to support the development of effective advocacy relationships, a Citizen Advocacy program must be independent and separate from agencies who may operate direct services involving (potential) protégés'. In order for citizen advocate's to effectively represent protégés' needs, they must be free to develop a primary loyalty to protégés' and to act as independently and with as little conflict of interest as possible in meeting protégé needs. Citizen advocates should see themselves as supported by the Citizen Advocacy Program, but: a) independent of the advocacy office itself, b) independent of any of the agencies or settings which provide services for the protégé; and c) independent from the family of the protégé in those instances where family interests are not in the protégé's best interests. At all times and in all ways the program must project and promote positive images in relation to people with disabilities. Valued thoughts, words, and activities are needed to meet this important social responsibility.

Strategic Objectives

Citizen Advocacy Launceston have adopted the following objectives:

• 1. To ensure participation by people with disabilities in the life of the community.
• 2. To promote self-reliance among people with a disability.
• 3. To open up opportunities for companionship and warmth between people with disabilities and other members of the community.
• 4. To provide a means through which the wishes and needs of people with a disability can be made known to the rest of the community.