Advocacy is Stronger Together: Partnering With Clients for Real Change

When we think about advocacy, it’s easy to picture a passionate speech at Parliament, a big protest, or a powerful submission to government. And while those moments matter, the truth is that advocacy often happens in much quieter, more personal ways, sitting alongside someone, navigating a confusing system, or supporting them to have their voice heard.

That’s what collaborative advocacy is all about. It’s not swooping in to “fix things” for someone. It’s about walking beside them, sharing power, and ensuring their voice drives the process.

Why Collaborative Advocacy Matters

Too often, advocacy slips into being done for people rather than with them. That’s where power gets unbalanced. Clients may feel sidelined, silenced, or dependent on others to “speak for” them.

But when we shift to a collaborative approach, something powerful happens:

• People feel respected and empowered.

• Their lived experience becomes the foundation for change.

• Advocacy becomes more sustainable, because it’s not just about one person pushing—it’s about collective strength.

Everyday Acts of Advocacy

Advocacy doesn’t always mean changing the law. Sometimes it’s helping a client fill out an inaccessible form. Other times, it’s standing beside them when they lodge a complaint, or co-writing a letter that tells their story in their own words.

These “small” acts can make a huge difference, not just in outcomes but in confidence. Each time someone leads their own advocacy, they build skills, courage, and agency for the future.

Navigating Barriers, Together

Systems aren’t always easy to navigate. There’s red tape, eligibility hoops, and sometimes outright discrimination. Collaborative advocacy means:

• Breaking down complex language into plain English.

• Mapping out who’s who in the system—who can help, who can escalate, and who needs to be challenged.

• Working side-by-side to push through barriers, rather than leaving someone to face them alone.

From Individual to Systemic Change

The beauty of collaborative advocacy is that it doesn’t stop with one person’s story. When shared safely and ethically, lived experience can shine a light on bigger systemic issues—unfair policies, inaccessible services, or discriminatory practices.

That’s where collective advocacy comes in: joining voices, amplifying stories (with consent), and pushing for structural change. It’s about turning a single spark into a fire for justice.

Allyship in Action

Being an advocate isn’t about being the hero of someone else’s story. It’s about being an ally, sometimes stepping aside so that the person most affected takes the microphone.

The guiding question is simple: Am I speaking with this person, or am I speaking over them?

Want to Learn More?

If you’re a community worker, peer worker, advocate, or case manager, our self-paced course Collaborative Advocacy: Partnering with Clients for Systemic Change might be just what you need.

In just two hours, you’ll explore:

• The foundations of collaborative, rights-based advocacy

• Tools for client-led planning

• Strategies for navigating complex systems together

• Pathways from individual advocacy to systemic change

You’ll also get practical resources like advocacy templates, system navigation maps, and case studies of lived-experience-led change.

Because advocacy is at its strongest when it’s shared. And when we walk alongside clients, rather than in front of them, we don’t just win better outcomes. We build dignity, power, and justice that lasts.

Join the conversation on collaborative advocacy by becoming a member of The Hub: www.tcwh.com.au/the-hub