As a citizen advocate, you'll: Support individuals to engage in new experiences and opportunities. Encourage them to achieve their goals. • Encourage individuals to expand their circle of support and make new social connections. •Support individuals to understand and exercise their rights. Ensure they receive the services and supports they need to live their best life.

We offer a variety of roles to suit your interests and skills, including: • Long- term Advocacy: Advocate, friend, ally, mentor. Supporting Roles: Crisis advocate, advocate associate, board member

The need for Citizen Advocacy has evolved for many reasons: • Many people with disability have no one in their lives apart from paid support staff. • Many people with intellectual disability require support to with the practical challenges of everyday life. •The rights and opportunities of people with disabilities are often limited due to societal attitudes and barriers. • May have difficulty speaking up to access the same rights and resources most of us enjoy. • Many people with disability remain socially isolated with limited meaningful relationships.

Citizen advocates are people of all ages and come from all walks of life, each bringing their own range of life experiences and expertise. You do not need to have any special qualifications or experience. A citizen advocate is someone who: • Believes in the right of all people to be treated with dignity and respect. • Has a passion for social justice. • Does not look for material rewards for helping someone in need. • Is genuine about making a long term commitment to a person. • Has high expectations about what people with intellectual disabilities can achieve with the right support. • Demonstrates to the community by their actions and attitudes that people with disability have the same needs and interests as any other member of society. The role is not really suited to anyone looking for a very short-term or temporary experience as a volunteer.

How the recruitment process works • Contact us via email at [email protected] or through the Seek volunteer website • We’ll call you for a chat to discuss your suitability for the role We provide orientation and induction to the role if your application is accepted

Requirements for the role: NZ police check