Capital Region Community Services (CRCS) plays a significant role in advocating for the community in the ACT and its surrounding border regions. Our efforts are strategic, systemic, and social, making a significant impact on the sector we serve. We take advocacy seriously and do both research and community engagement to ensure we have all the available facts and are aware of the consequences of our actions. The CEO, with the Board’s support, regularly identifies systemic issues that CRCS should have a clear position on and the capacity to advocate for.

We take a proactive approach to address the needs of our community, advocating for their rights and needs, ensuring they are heard and represented. The organisation’s efforts are vital to promoting equity and social justice.

In addition, all participants, carers, and other stakeholders have a right to use an independent advocate in their dealings with CRCS. Participants accessing services may nominate an advocate to interact with us and/or make decisions on their behalf. We can also support you to access advocacy services and in some circumstances, CRCS may advocate on your behalf if you have asked us to and if it is appropriate.

An advocate can be a relative or friend, an employee or an independent advocate from an advocacy service or other organisation.

For more information about advocacy and CRCS, please contact 02 6264 0200 or email contact@crcs.com.au

Important contacts for Independent Advocates in the ACT

The Public Advocate of ACT

Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 1:00pm and 2:00pm – 4:30pm
Telephone: 02 6207 0707
National Relay Service: 131 450
TTY users phone: 02 6207 0130
Speak and Listen Service: 1300 555 727
Email: pa@act.gov.au

Public Trustee and Guardian of the ACT

Open weekdays from 9.00am – 4.30pm
Telephone: 02 6207 9800
Visiting in person: 221 London Circuit Canberra City, ACT 2600
Postal address: Public Trustee and Guardian, PO Box 221, Civic Square, ACT 2608