Peer Advocacy

1. Introduction: What is Peer Advocacy?

Peer Advocacy is about standing alongside people and amplifying lived experience to create change. It means supporting individuals to speak up, navigate services, and make informed choices - while also bringing collective voices into conversations that shape policy, community initiatives, and service design.

At Balance, advocacy is always grounded in respect, empowerment, and the belief that people’s stories and perspectives deserve to be heard.

2. Why It Matters

Peer Advocacy ensures that lived experience is not just heard, but actively shapes the services and systems that affect our lives. It challenges stigma, promotes equity, and makes sure decisions are grounded in real needs rather than assumptions. Advocacy empowers individuals to speak up with confidence, while collective voices drive change across communities. At Balance, we believe that when people share their stories and perspectives, they create pathways to more responsive, respectful, and effective support for everyone.

3. Types of Peer Advocacy

We Offer

• Individual Advocacy
  One on one support to help you navigate services, speak up in meetings, and make informed choices. Peer advocates stand alongside you, ensuring your voice is heard and respected.
• Collective Advocacy
  Bringing people together to amplify shared experiences and concerns. Collective advocacy strengthens community voices, influencing service design, local initiatives, and policy conversations.
• System Advocacy
  Working with organisations, agencies, and decision makers to embed lived experience into transformation. System advocacy ensures that services and structures reflect the realities of the people they serve.

4. How It Works

Peer Advocacy at Balance is always led by lived experience. Our trained peer advocates stand alongside you, not speaking for you, but supporting you to share your own voice in the way that feels right.

Advocacy can be as simple as helping with a meeting or navigating a service, or as involved as joining a collective project to influence wider change. Every step is confidential, respectful, and empowering, with the goal of making sure your story and perspective are heard where they matter most.

5. What You Can Expect

When you engage in Peer Advocacy, you’ll find a safe and supportive space to share your story. Peer advocates walk alongside you, offering encouragement and practical help with navigating services or speaking up in meetings. You’ll be respected, listened to, and empowered to express yourself in the way that feels right for you. There are also opportunities to join collective advocacy projects, where your voice contributes to wider community change.

6. Practical Information

Peer Advocacy sessions are held in safe, welcoming community spaces across Whanganui. We choose venues that are accessible and comfortable, so you can feel supported when engaging in advocacy. Details about upcoming advocacy opportunities, meeting times, and locations are regularly updated - you can find the latest information on our What’s On page.

Contact details to request peer advocacy:

• Email:
• Phone:

7. Ongoing Maintenance

• Upcoming peer advocacy sessions
• Monitor contact details