Advocacy Training and Development Program
Event Date : 8-Jun-20222pm
Closing at 7-Jun-20223.30pm
Organizer : RSL Vic- Veteran Services
Venue : Online event
Address : 293 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Convenor : Marie-Claire Blin (mblin@rslvic.com.au)
This is a continuous development initiative by RSL Victoria to assist Advocates to continue with their professional development in the context of their work with Victorian veterans. It allows them an opportunity to reflect on practice and develop a sophisticated understanding of the role of Advocate in assisting veterans improve their wellbeing. It is designed to mirror both the ATDP learning objectives, as well as improve RSL Victoria Advocates’ ability to progress the aims of the RSL Victoria Resilient Veterans Strategy, currently in development.
Case Conferences will occur every month and all RSL Victoria Advocates will be invited. We envisage that in future any ATDP qualified Advocate in Victoria will be invited, including those who work at Legacy Melbourne and other ESO. This will increase the opportunity for learning of material from different perspectives and allow for further collaboration between ESO.
The objectives of the event are to:
1. Increase collaboration and learning amongst Advocates both within RSL Victoria and across the ESO sector.
2. Enhance Advocates’ understanding of management of complex cases.
3. Increase familiarity with Government compensation legislation (all Acts).
4. Increase understanding of psychosocial aspects of veteran wellbeing.
5. Increase understanding of the DVA framework for wellbeing in veterans.
Ways in which learning will occur:
Each month, two Advocates will be invited to share a case study that is complex in nature, either due to legislative aspects or psychosocial aspects. Advocates will provided a template for presentation of the case (thus improving their presentation skills) and asked to reflect in a balanced way on actions which were and were not successful.
• The Senior Advocate (Level 4 Compensation qualification) will provide input on the case in regard to legislation.
• The Social worker will provide input on the case regarding psychosocial and mental health aspects.
• All attendees will be expected to participate, contribute their own experiences with veterans who have similar challenges, and reflect on their experience helping veterans.
• All Advocates will develop more understanding of RSL Victoria and other Victorian ESO service offerings.
Delivery mode:
- This case conference will be delivered via RSL Victoria’s Microsoft Teams application.
- This will allow Advocates across the State to attend.
- conferences will be held in person to allow for Advocates to network.
Assessment method:
- All attendees will be required to identify 1-2 areas of Advocacy work where they could try out new ideas raised in the case conference. These will be documented on reflective practice sheets.
- Advocates will be required to present one of their cases at least once per year.