Step #2. Who should you advocate to?

Who you actually need to talk to in resolving an issue can sometimes be very confusing. If the reason you are advocating is because of a particular organisation, then you should contact that organisation first to start the resolution process. Remember, you must always give the service provider or organisation a reasonable opportunity to resolve the issue. It will be helpful to become familiar with the complaint process of the organisation you are dealing with.

In some cases you may not have been previously dealing with a service or organisation. The issue in this instance may be that you are not able to organise a vital service, or you have not received some information that you really need. You may have to contact a Government Department or an independent organisation (such as a Union or specific Advocacy group). If you are not sure who to contact, please click here to view a service directory list of contact details in specific categories to assist you in finding the most appropriate service. If the people you call can't assist you, make sure you ask them if they know of anyone who can.

Always remember to make notes of the names of people you speak with, what you spoke about, and the date you spoke with them. Keep these notes somewhere safe along with any other information you may have gathered.