Advocacy Process at SGH

Advocacy is about supporting and empowering people to understand their rights, express their wishes, and make informed decisions about the care and services they receive.

It ensures that the voices of individuals are heard, especially when they may be vulnerable, confused, or facing barriers to communication.

Advocacy can involve helping someone raise a concern, navigate health and aged care services, or ensure their care aligns with their values and preferences.

Importantly, advocacy promotes dignity, respect, and person-centred care, and plays a vital role in safeguarding the wellbeing and autonomy of people using health and aged care services.

South Gippsland Hospital is committed to ensuring individuals are supported in their right to advocacy in all service areas.

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy means getting help to speak up.

An advocate is a person who can help you:

Understand your rights
Say what you want
Fix problems with your care.

Why You Might Need an Advocate

You might need help if:

You are not happy with your care
You don’t understand something
You want to change your care
You think your rights are not respected
You feel unsafe or worried.

An advocate can help you, your family, or your carer.

Who Can Help?

You have the right to choose an advocate of your choice. The advocate may be a friend, family member or a Professional advocate from one of the services listed below.

Professional services are free, private and safe.

Elder Rights Australia and the Aged Care Advocacy Line (toll free)
Telephone: 1800 700 600 (Free call)
Visit the Elder Rights website

Elders Rights Australia can help you:

Know what to expect from your aged care
Recognise abuse
Understand the type of aged care options available and the related costs
When you need help making decisions.

Gippsland Disability Advocacy
Gippsland Disability Advocacy can help individuals with disabilities through advocacy, information and referral.
Telephone: 03 5175 0444
Visit the Gippsland Disability Advocacy website

Office of the Public Advocate
The Office of the Public Advocate’s purpose is to promote and protect the rights and interests of people with disability.
Telephone: 1300 309 337
Visit the Public Advocate office website

Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN)
OPAN can help you:

Talk about your aged care
Solve problems
Learn about your rights
Speak to aged care services

Telephone: 1800 700 600 (Free call)
Visit the OPAN website

Senior Rights Victoria
Offers a confidential advisory service to help prevent elder abuse.
Telephone: 1300 368 821
Visit the Senior rights website

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission
The Commission helps with complaints about residential and home-based aged care services.
Telephone: 1800 951 822
Visit the Aged Care Quality website

Office of the Health Complaints Commissioner
The Office manages questions and complaints about health services in Victoria.
Telephone: 1300 582 113
Visit the Health Complaints Commissioner website

Advocacy about a specific need
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has a useful list of agencies that can provide advocacy around specific needs – eg. housing; services who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; multicultural services.

Find out more about Advocacy. Visit the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website.