Hi everyone! Great to see you here tonight 
I might start by introducing myself Here on the forums, I am the Community Manager. I am really excited to be here tonight to talk about one of my favourite topics.
A little bit about me, for more than a decade before I started at SANE I was a lived experience advocate, educator and Peer Worker. In fact, I would say that starting a career in advocacy was the turning point in my recovery.
One of my biggest passions is advocacy. As people with lived experience, we are the experts in our own experience and our stories have power.
From my early experiences in the mental health system many years ago, I saw early on the importance of knowing my rights, and using my voice to ensure my goals and my needs were front of mind in recovery planning.
In later years, advocating alongside others as a peer support worker, I learnt that we can be help others to advocate for themselves and empower those we are walking alongside. Advocating within services, I am constantly reminded and motivated by the power our stories and our knowledge can have in shaping services.
And that’s what I am here to talk about today! We will talk a bit about how you can advocate for your recovery goals and needs with services, friends and family. For those supporting a loved one, how you can support a loved one or advocate alongside. For those who are interested in taking the next step to advocate within services or on committees, we will talk about skills and resources for representation.
Great prompt @BPDSurvivor , that is actually our first question! 
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Question 1. What is advocacy and what does effective advocacy look like? @Daisydreamer
For the community, what has advocacy looked like for you?
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.
Help us push aside the stigma and discrimination surrounding complex mental health and change the way people talk about, and care for, mental illness.
SANE acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present.
SANE values diversity. We are committed to providing a safe, culturally appropriate, and inclusive service for all people, regardless of their ethnicity, faith, disability, sexuality, or gender identity.