Become a Long-Term Advocate
Role description
Are you someone who believes in fairness, friendship, and standing alongside others?
We’re looking for compassionate, dependable people to become long-term advocates—volunteers who are matched with a person who has an intellectual disability to build a strong, lasting connection and help safeguard their rights, voice, and wellbeing.
Right now, we’re specifically seeking advocates for:
- A woman in her mid-30s living in South Auckland
- An elder gentleman living in West Auckland
If you live nearby and are open to developing a meaningful one-to-one relationship based on trust, respect, and consistency—we’d love to hear from you. Full training and ongoing support are provided.
Flexible hours
South & West Auckland
Your tasks
Every advocacy relationship is unique — shaped by the needs of the protégé and the strengths of the advocate. You might:
- Spend time with your protégé socially — going for a walk, grabbing coffee, or attending community events
- Encourage and support them to try new experiences, such as joining a local class, learning a new hobby, or exploring their interests
- Support them to speak up, access services, or understand their rights
- Act as a friend, ally, and consistent presence in their life
- Help others see your protégé’s value and potential
- Stand with them in situations where they might otherwise be overlooked or excluded
- Raise concerns on their behalf if they are in danger or not being treated fairly
Your requirements
(what you bring)
We welcome advocates from all walks of life. You don’t need to be an expert — just someone who cares. Ideally, you will:
- Be over 21 years old (exceptions may be made depending on the match)
- Be open-minded, reliable, and respectful
- Have good communication and listening skills
- Be available to commit to a long-term match (typically a year or more)
- Be willing to learn about disability rights, inclusion, and the role of a citizen advocate
- Attend an orientation and occasional support meetings or training
- Agree to a police vetting process and basic reference checks
Most importantly, you believe in the value of every person and the power of standing beside someone with trust and heart.
How to apply
- Apply online: Fill out the application form
- Initial chat: We’ll contact you for a brief chat to discuss the role and your suitability.
- Training: If your application is successful, we’ll provide comprehensive training which involves 3x 2 hour orientation and induction sessions. Plus, ongoing support from the programme Coordinator.
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