Individual Advocacy
Individual advocacy is when an advocate partners with a person to strengthen their voice and support them to speak up for their rights, needs, and choices.
CoMHWA’s Independent Advocacy Service is funded by the Department of Communities to support people living with psychosocial disability or mental health challenges who may be finding it hard to have their voice heard or to navigate systems on their own.
Our advocates have lived and living experience of mental health challenges and distress. We draw on this shared experience to create understanding, build confidence, and offer both practical and emotional support.
Our aim is to work alongside you – not speak for you – by helping you explore your options, understand your rights, and feel supported to express what matters to you.
How can we help you?
Whilst we provide advocacy in relation to a range of issues, our team has a special interest and experience within:
- Mental health services (including hospital inpatient and community mental health)
- Access to justice
- Matters relating to Guardianship and Administration
- Accessing your medical records and understanding your rights under the Freedom of Information Act.
Unfortunately, our service cannot assist on matters relating to:
- NDIS
- Government payments (Centrelink, Disability Support Pension, etc)
- Employment
If our service is unable to assist you, we will explain why and do our best to find you a service that can.
Who do we support?
We are funded to support individuals with a psychosocial disability who are living in the Perth Metro area. Please contact us if you’re not sure if you meet these criteria.
Our advocates work directly with the individual, which means that we are unable to provide advocacy assistance to carers or service providers. Carers and service providers are welcome to assist individual consumers to contact the service.
Accessing support
Advocacy is focused on one issue at a time, but people are welcome to return for support with new issues as they arise.
How can we support you with Administration and Guardianship Hearings?
Accessing the service
Please note that wait-times for our Individual Advocacy Services are roughly six (6) weeks.
This means you can expect an Individual Advocate from CoMHWA to reach out to you within six weeks from the date you submit your referral form below.
Individual Advocacy Referral Form
If you are looking for alternatives to CoMHWA’s advocacy support, or mental health service navigation in general, we encourage you to reach out to Peer Pathways on 9477 2809.
Alternatively, please click here to download this handy resource on disability advocacy services.
If you’re unsure what kind of support you’re looking for, you are also welcome to call the CoMHWA office on 9258 8911 or email admin@comhwa.org.au and we can point you in the right direction.
Please note that neither CoMHWA Admin or Peer Pathways can provide direct advocacy services.
