Advocacy Training and Development Program
The Course in Military Advocacy is for members of Ex-Service Organisations (ESO) which offer advocacy services to serving and ex-serving members of the armed forces and their dependants. The program is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Veterans' Affairs.
The Course in Military Advocacy is available through the Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP).
The Baseline Study of Current and Future Availability of Ex-Service Organisation Advocacy Services Research Project was commissioned by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to collect data on the capacity of the advocacy workforce.
The study was completed by the University of NSW in May 2021 and released on 22 October 2021. Nearly 600 advocates and nearly 60 ESOs responded to the voluntary survey to provide data for the researchers. Respondents were from across the advocacy community.
The information presented in the independent research report is available to ESOs, DVA, and others for planning evaluation purposes for advocacy services and advocates.
Some more information and a link to the copy of the research report is at www.dva.gov.au/about-us/overview/research/veterans-advocacy-research-project
DVA recently announced that the ATDP’s Strategic Governance Board and Capability Framework Management Group will discontinue and be replaced by a new approach. What does this mean for the delivery of training under the ATDP?
The changes to the management of the ATDP do not include any changes to the current ESO model of managing and delivering their volunteer and paid advocacy services.
There is still some planning to do but it is expected that the changes will have very little impact on the delivery of training in the short term. The ATDP will still rely on hardworking volunteers to deliver the training and assessment programs, which will continue to run as scheduled. In the longer term, the RTO will take on more of the training management, including assessment, but this is also not expected to significantly impact on the way advocates are trained under the ATDP. The new arrangements are part of the evolution of the ATDP, and set it up to continue delivering high quality accredited training for new and ongoing advocates for the foreseeable future.
Further information will be provided via the ATDP website (web.atdp.org.au) as these changes are implemented.
DVA has a range of personal monitoring technologies available to eligible veterans and widow/ers.
Accessing and installing a personal monitoring system may be suitable for older veterans and widow/ers if they are self-isolating to protect themselves from exposure to COVID-19.
DVA veterans and widow/ers can access fully-monitored 24-hours a day, seven days a week personal response systems in their home or as mobile pendant personal response devices that are designed to keep them safe at home and when out and about. The initial and ongoing costs are covered by DVA if these devices are arranged through DVA.
Personal response devices can be tailored to an individual’s needs, giving the person being monitored the comfort that assistance is never far away and reassuring family and friends that their loved one is able to access help easily, if it is needed.
This Information Pack outlines broadly what our volunteer advocates and advocate support officers do to assist our members and clients. (TEXT)
You will find out about:
The Information Pack can be downloaded as a Word Template and you can customize it for your ex-service organisation or Veterans Support Centre and distribute it electronically - or print out hard copies for your members.
The Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant encourages Australians to recognise and acknowledge the unique nature of military service and to support veterans and their families. The Oath, Veteran Card and Lapel Pin underpin the Covenant and provide further recognition and easier identification of veterans.
Read it hereVeteran & Family Advocates Seminar
Central Coast COP
Compensation Advocate- Case Conference- June 2022
RSL Vic- Veteran Services
Communication Skills Workshop
RSL Vic
Central Coast/Hunter/Newcastle Community of Practice
Central Coast COP
ASIST workshop
RSL Vic
Interviewing techniques workshop
RSL Vic
Compensation Advocates- Case Conference- July 2022
RSL Vic
Mental Health First Aid workshop
RSL Vic