What is Advocacy?

ADVOCACY CAN BE DEFINED AS:

• “the act of pleading for, supporting or recommending; active espousal”
  Random House Dictionary, 2013
• “public support for or recommendation of a particular cause or policy”
  Oxford Dictionaries, Oxford University Press
• “active support, especially of a cause:
  Collins English Dictionary, 10th ed., 2009

Advocacy is about influencing people and institutions – particularly decision makers (political, corporate or organizational) and the general public to support a cause or a course of action. It is about change.

It is about helping people – as an advocate for an individual person requiring access to supports and services, or as an advocate for a cause affecting a number of people.