Youth Advocacy

When we see something in our society that we think is unfair, we often want to tell other people and get them to care too so that the issue may be fixed. This is called advocacy. Advocacy is when we support, promote, and defend the rights, needs and interests of a person or group of people as well as a cause or policy. Anyone can be an advocate and advocacy can take many forms.

Advocacy is especially important in supporting those who are chronically disadvantaged and vulnerable. When the problem affects lots of people and we want to make a change across a country, state or even the world – this is called systemic advocacy.

There are people all around you facing challenges like homelessness, poverty, and disadvantage. They need resources and support.

As a community member, you can help make a difference. Imagine the feeling of knowing you helped someone in need, contributed to a fairer society, or even inspired others to take action. That’s the power of advocacy. By becoming an advocate, you can raise awareness, and push for solutions.

Your small actions create a big difference. Imagine the ripple effect of your actions.

• You raise awareness by talking to your friends and family.
• They learn more about the issue and become interested.
• Together, you participate in an advocacy campaign.
• Your actions inspire others to get involved.
• Policies change, resources are allocated, and lives are transformed.

By becoming an advocate, you’ll also develop valuable skills that will benefit you throughout your life. These include:

• Communication
  • Learn to articulate your ideas clearly and persuasively.
• Problem-solving
  • Develop critical thinking skills to find solutions to complex issues.
• Leadership
  • Take initiative and inspire others to join your cause.
• Research
  • Become an expert on the issues you care about.

Advocacy is about changing the world and it empowers you to become a more confident, informed, and impactful individual.

Advocacy plays an integral role in much of what we do at Sacred Heart Mission. There are many ways we advocate on behalf of our community, including by raising public awareness of key issues through petitions and events, writing to the media and politicians, or working with like-minded organisations towards joint goals.

Some of the ways Sacred Heart Mission advocates on behalf of our community are:

• • Participating in research and evaluation
  • Working collaboratively with other like-minded organisations and peak bodies, sharing knowledge, and working towards joint goals.
  • Raising public awareness of key issues through signing and sharing petitions or holding events.
  • Writing directly to the media or politicians

• Contributing to Victorian and Commonwealth inquiries, such as Royal Commissions

As mentioned before, anyone can be an advocate, no matter their age or background. And there are many ways you can be an advocate, some are more straight forward, and others more complex. Advocacy around homelessness can be:

• Having conversations with friends and family to raise awareness, break down stereotypes and judgments and bring attention to the issue
• Changing the way we talk about homelessness by using more humanising language – they are a person experiencing homelessness, it doesn’t define who they are
• Fundraising for or donating to an organisation that is working in the area of homelessness
• Attending events during awareness weeks like Homelessness Week or Anti-Poverty Week
• Attending an organised march or protest
• Writing letters or emails to your local government members to bring attention to the issue at a government level
• Creating or signing petitions to push for change
• Continuing to educate yourself on the issue of homelessness through the news and other media forms

No matter how big or small, the action you take can make a difference!