Advocacy Policy

Life Stream Australia recognises the right of Participants to have an informal or formal advocate or support person of their choice to accompany them through any procedures or negotiations with Life Stream Australia. An advocate or support person ensures that the Participant’s perspective is considered, and they have an opportunity to raise concerns or contributions to the organisation. They are also there to ensure that the Participant understands their rights and is supported in exercising them.  

Life Stream Australia can provide Participants with information on advocacy services available in their area. In circumstances where a suitable advocate cannot be sourced, it may be considered that a Life Stream Australia staff member may act as an advocate or support person for Participants. The staff member advocate must not be connected to or benefit from the services being offered or provided to the Participant. The staff member must receive written approval from the Chief Executive Officer or their delegate to undertake this role.  

Participants are encouraged to formally identify advocates through the completion of a Nomination of a Support Person/Advocate form. This form is to be completed when a Participant is nominating an informal support person, such as a friend. Parents or legal representatives are accepted as support people without the need to complete this form. The form should also be completed when Participants wish to change their nominated support person.  

WHO CAN BE AN ADVOCATE?  
If a Participant of Life Stream Australia has asked you to be their advocate, this means they would like you to support their engagement in a matter to be raised. You may be a family member or friend of the person, or a member of an advocacy service.  

Participants and prospective advocates should be aware that interpreters cannot be used as advocates, as they have a distinct role to play in interpreting communication between two or more parties.  

An employee of LSA cannot be an advocate for a Participant that they are connected to or benefit from the services being offered. 
In addition to the definitions noted above, there are two further types of advocates that may present as part of the organization: 

• Systems Advocate: An organisation or professional advocate who can act for an individual or group of individuals in an institutional setting.

• Legal Advocate: A nominated advocate whose role has legal status, for example, holding an Enduring Power of Attorney or be a Delegate of the Office of the Public Guardian. 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF A PARTICIPANT ADVOCATE
Being an advocate may mean your attendance or involvement could be required during assessments and reviews of the Participant’s NDIS plan, or should the Participant want a representative to communicate or negotiate with the organisation on his/her behalf regarding access to their personal information; lodging a concern; or any issue related to our service performance.  
Advocacy may involve speaking, acting or writing on behalf of an individual (or group) who has limited ability to exercise his/her rights. Advocacy is a mechanism to facilitate Participant’s rights, and you may be requested to support the Participant in exercising his/her rights, for example the right to: 
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Respect and dignity
• Quality services 
• Information to inform decision making 
• Choice and control
• Resolution of concerns
• Non-discrimination
• Protection of legal and human rights and freedom from abuse and neglect  

CHECKLIST FOR ADVOCATES  
As an advocate of a Participant, we ask you to be aware of the following and ensure that the Participant has given written authority for you to act on his/her behalf.  
• You inform us that you are acting as the Participant’s advocate  
• You support the engagement of the Participant  
• The Participant is aware of any issues and developments in relation to services they receive and which you, as their advocate, may be involved in  
• The Participant is kept informed of any developments in relation to the issue/s where you are representing their interests, and that any decisions will be made by the Participant  
• You encourage the Participant to provide feedback to you about the services they are receiving
• You are prepared to relinquish the role of advocate should the Participant wish this
• You avoid representing them in circumstances where there may be a conflict of interest
• You do not act as an interpreter for the Participant while acting in an advocacy role.  

For more information about the organisation's Advocacy Policy, reach out to any member of Team Life Stream and we can forward you a copy.

Advocacy Support Organisations

Queensland Advocacy for Inclusion
1800 130 582
​Website

First Nations people with disability
1800 718 969
Website

Brisbane Region
Speaking Up for You
07 3255 1244
Website
​
Rockhampton Region
Capricorn Citizen Advocacy Inc
(07) 4922 0299
Website​

INFORMATION COLLECTION AND STORAGE POLICY

To ensure we can provide the best possible supports, it is important for Life Stream Australia to gather and maintain some information about our Participants, Volunteers and Staff.  

In the modern world, Life Stream Australia has established cloud based storage for all information, either through our internal systems or contracted platforms.  For older information, the organisation contracts Iron Mountain Secure Data Facilities to ensure paper copies of old information is stored but accessible using their online platform.

The organisation understands the importance of data security, and maintains strict access protocols that limit the sharing of information to only those who need it.  Access to such data is removed when this changes.  The organisation has strict protocols about the storage information on personal devices (a big no no!), and in the event a staff member resigns, their access is either removed immediately, or their account monitored throughout their notice period.

Life Stream Australia is proud of the multi level security offered to all data storage and is confident the organisation can provide access to information swiftly, while also ensuring material is secure.

For more information about the organisation's Information Collection and Storage Policy, reach out to any member of Team Life Stream and we can forward you a copy.