Volunteer Citizen Advocate — Launceston & Surrounds

Citizen Advocate

Citizen Advocacy Launceston Region connects people with intellectual disability with local community members who are willing to build a genuine, long term relationship.

As a Citizen Advocate, you are matched one to one with a person who may have few unpaid people in their life to spend time with them, listen to them or stand alongside them when they need support.

About Citizen Advocacy

Citizen Advocacy is different from paid disability support.

Our advocates are ordinary members of the community who choose to build a freely given relationship with another person. Over time, that relationship can provide friendship, connection and someone independent who knows the person well and can help make sure their wishes and rights are respected.

Your Involvement

There are no rostered shifts or set weekly hours.

You and the person you are matched with decide what your relationship looks like. You might catch up for a coffee, share an interest, go somewhere together, have a chat or simply spend time getting to know each other.

As trust develops, there may also be times when you help the person understand their options, have their say or speak up alongside them.

How often you catch up may change over time depending on what works for you both.

Who Can Become a Citizen Advocate?

Citizen Advocates come from all walks of life and bring different skills, interests and life experiences.

You do not need qualifications or previous disability sector experience.

What matters is that you are someone who is:

• Reliable
• Willing to listen
• Respectful of another person’s choices
• Comfortable building a relationship over time
• Prepared to speak up when something is not right
• Interested in being involved because you genuinely want to be

Training and ongoing support are provided by Citizen Advocacy Launceston Region.

Important Information

❌ This is not a student placement, work experience opportunity or a way to meet Centrelink obligations.

✅ This is a long term, community based relationship with a person who may otherwise have few independent people in their life.

If that sounds like something you would genuinely like to be part of, we would love to hear from you.

📞 (03) 6331 2177