Have your say
You’re allowed to have a say on the things that are happening in your life. As you get older, you’ll get more and more say on bigger decisions. For now, the adults in your life have to decide the important stuff, but knowing what you want is a big part of their decisions. So, you might want some support to understand what’s happening, make sense of how you’re feeling, and make sure the adults in your life listen to you.
Sometimes adults make decisions you don’t like. You might want to know why a decision was made and if it can be changed. You might want to let someone know how their decision made you feel. Some decisions can even feel unfair, wrong or unsafe, and you might want some support to figure out what to do next.
It’s important to have someone in your life who you trust to be your advocate!
Who can be an advocate?
An advocate can help in different ways:
- Someone in your family/whānau
- Someone who looks after you (like a caregiver)
- Someone from Oranga Tamariki that you trust and get along with
- Your teacher, or another adult in your life
- A Kaiwhakamana from VOYCE
If you’d like support from a VOYCE Kaiwhakamana, get in touch!
Advocating for yourself!
Click on the pictures below to find out more:
Support: Reach out to someone you trust
Resolution: Feeling ok about what’s decided and why it has to be that way
Influence: Have a say on decisions that are made about you
Voice: Figure out how you feel and what you want and share this with the right people
Understanding: Find out what’s happening / your rights / options
