Individual Advocacy
Individual advocacy involves supporting clients to have their voices heard, their rights respected, and their needs met within financial systems or services. Financial mentors act as advocates when clients face barriers, complex financial decisions, or interactions with organisations such as banks, creditors, or government agencies.
| Key Aspect | What It Involves |
| Empowering clients | help clients understand their options, rights, and responsibilities so they can make informed decisions. |
| Speaking up on behalf of clients | communicate with third parties to support access to services, resolve disputes, or address unfair treatment. |
| Maintaining client-centred focus | ensure advocacy aligns with the client’s goals, preferences, and consent, not the mentor’s agenda. |
| Navigating systems | assist clients to understand complex financial, legal, or organisational processes affecting their wellbeing. |
| Protecting rights and wellbeing | ensure clients are treated fairly and ethically, especially when they are vulnerable or at risk. |
Individual advocacy enables financial mentors to support clients in overcoming barriers, asserting their rights, and achieving financial stability while maintaining respect, autonomy, and empowerment.
We continue to advocate for our clients’ financial rights, interests, and wellbeing in their interactions with creditors, service providers, and systems.
In practice, this means:
- speaking up for clients when they face unfair or discriminatory treatment
- supporting clients to advocate for themselves when appropriate
- challenging decisions or practices that harm client interests; and
- ensuring clients understand their rights and options.
See: All About Advocacy Module on Community Heart.