Advocate
Use your passion for helping others to make a real difference in peoples’ lives.
Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right now
Job growth
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5-year projection
Salary
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Typical salary
Job satisfaction
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Job opportunities
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Jobs in SEEK right now
Salary
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Typical salary
Job growth
-
5-year projection
Job satisfaction
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What's it like to be an Advocate?
Advocates work to improve the wellbeing of people in need. They help people to understand their rights and access support and resources needed to resolve problems in their life.
Tasks and duties
- Helping clients to understand their rights and resolve problems.
- Acting as a facilitator and mediator between clients and community services.
- Working with community organisations, agencies and groups to develop and improve services.
- Developing action plans, compiling case records and creating reports.
- Gathering information on behalf of others.
- Contributing to the development and improvement of pilot projects and policies.
- Conducting case interviews with individuals and families.
- Maintaining close contact with clients and service providers to monitor client progress.
- Helping clients to improve their self-advocacy skills.
- Advising clients on the best courses of action available.
Advocates need a high degree of empathy and a drive for helping others. They work in many different aspects of community services including aged care, mental health, disability, law, women’s rights, immigration and child protection services.
How to become an Advocate
You usually need a relevant qualification in social work, community services or a related field to work as an Advocate. An equivalent amount of experience in your chosen field may substitute for a qualification in some cases. Background checks are essential.
- Complete a relevant tertiary qualification. This could be a Bachelor of Social Work. This usually takes three to four years and includes a workplace placement to gain experience. Other relevant university majors include health and law. Alternatively, complete a Diploma of Community Services (CHC52015) which usually takes two years and includes a placement.
- Ensure you have a current police check and Working with Children Check before commencing your placement or applying for work.
- Develop your knowledge of ethics and policies in your chosen field to increase your ability to advocate for those in need.
- Consider joining a professional association, such as the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Membership may be available while studying.
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Find out how your salary compares with the average salary for Advocates.
Latest Advocate jobs on SEEK
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Skills and experience employers are looking for
Having the right skills and experience can make you an in-demand applicant. Advocate employers on SEEK are looking for job seekers with expertise in the following areas.
Source: SEEK job ads and SEEK Profile data
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Latest Advocate reviews
May 2021
Reviewer's Qualification
Bachelor of Social Science
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Medium (20-199 employees)
Specialisation
Aged and Disability
The good things
The ability to assist people to exercise their rights and have a supportive person looking out for them, so they are not ignored or lost in the system
The challenges
Most people who require an advocate have exhausted all other options and they can be quite vulnerable. Some can shown aggressive traits but it is generally not aimed at the advocate but through them
Read more
May 2021
Reviewer's Qualification
Master of Social Work
Experience
1 – 4 years
Organisation size
Small (1-19 employees)
Specialisation
Social work
The good things
Giving back to the community and supporting those in need is very rewarding. The appreciation shown from some participants is humbling and makes you want to go to work.
The challenges
Demanding participants require good people skills and plenty of patience.
Read more
Source: SEEK role reviews
SEEK has not verified the truth or accuracy of these comments and does not adopt or endorse any of the comments posted on this page.SEEK collects and posts the comments for what they are worth and for information purposes only to assist candidates to find employment through seek.com.au
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