Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP)

Course in Military Advocacy

The Course in Military Advocacy (CiMA) is available to individuals nominated and endorsed by an Ex-Service Organisation (ESO) who offers free advocacy services to serving and ex-serving members of the armed forces and their dependants. The program is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Please click on this link for further information about the Course in Military Advocacy which is available through our partnering Registered Training Organisation (RTO), Major Training Services (RTO 90748).

Trainees must be nominated by their sponsoring ESO using the online nomination form on the ATDP portal then once this is accepted by ATDP, trainees must complete the online enrolment form, also available through the ATDP Portal, to be formally enrolled with the RTO.

Trainees must be affiliated with a nominating ESO for the duration of the Course in Military Advocacy. Nomination and affiliation are at the discretion of the ESO. If an ESO of trainee cease their affiliation with each other at any stage of the training program, the trainee will be unable to until the ESO reinstates its endorsement or an alternative ESO makes a nomination.


Help us support the veteran community by volunteering as an advocate or advocate support officer.

This Information Pack outlines broadly what our volunteer advocates and advocate support officers do to assist our members and clients.

You will find out about:

  • The benefits of volunteering as an advocate or advocate support officer,
  • More about our advocates and advocate support officers’ roles,
  • What commitments our volunteers are making,
  • The training and support we and the Advocacy Training and Development Program (ATDP) provide, and
  •  What insurance cover is provided to advocates by the Veterans’ Indemnity and Training Association (VITA)

The Information Pack can be downloaded as a Word Template and you can customize it for your ex-service organisation or Veterans Support Centre and distribute it electronically - or print out hard copies for your members.

Improved ATDP Communications. Newsrooms & Newsletters

Newsrooms

There are five sections on the ATDP website providing up-to-date information to the advocacy community. (These can be found on the main menu, under News and Information)

  1. ATDP Newsroom - this newsroom provides messages to the ATDP affiliated community about ATDP specific activities, and other important information relevant to the provision of the Course in Military Advocacy.
  2. ATDP Statistics - this section provides statistical information regarding the ATDP program. 
  3. DVA Updates - this section provides updates from DVA news and DVA business sections. 
  4. DVA Businesslines - this section contains DVA Businesslines which provide information about changes and updates in DVA legislation, policies and programs which may be of interest to the advocacy community.
  5. DVA QUEST Videos – this section contains DVA QUEST training videos which provide information about changes and updates in DVA legislation, policies and programs which may be of interest to the advocacy community.

Newsletters

There are two regular newsletters supporting the advocacy community. (These can be found on the right of this page, under ATDP Communications)

  1. Advocacy News – this is an online regular newsletter distributed twice annually in June and December providing information to the advocacy community about changes and updates in government legislation, DVA policies and programs.
  2. ATDP Update – this is an online regular newsletter distributed bi-monthly providing information to the ATDP affiliated community about ATDP specific activities, and other important information relevant to the provision of the Course in Military Advocacy.

The ATDP update is automatically emailed to all ATDP advocates, trainees and ESO Authorised Persons.

If you would like to be included in the subscriber list for the Advocacy News, please enter your preferred email address into the SUBSCRIBE text box at the bottom of this page.

You can unsubscribe from the mailing lists at anytime.

For more information please contact ATDP.Communications@dva.gov.au

Maintaining the ATDP Advocacy Register (AR)

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There are many benefits for keeping the ATDP Advocacy Register (AR) up-to-date. The register is a source where veterans (and those seeking help from advocates) can come and search for a local advocate. The individual advocate names are protected and are not displayed in the search results, however, the ESO contact person is listed together with the advocates’ level of qualifications. The AR is managed by the ESO Authorised Person/s who needs to regularly update the contact details. The ESO Authorised Person can also add/remove advocates from their ESO as necessary.

There is a requirement to update the register once every twelve months to remain current and visible on the register. If you have any questions about the AR please look at our Frequently Asked Questions on the Advocacy Register (advocateregister.org.au) or email ATDPenquiries@dva.gov.au

648 advocates with qualifications through ATDP
This is the number of individuals currently authorised by ESOs in the Advocacy Register as available for their advocacy services. These individuals may work for more than one ESO and may be available for more than one type of advocacy.
View a video on ATDP RPL process
CPD Upcoming Events
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ATDP assessment programs or workshops by invitation

Compensation L1 C&A

26-Mar-2024 (Online) 3 Days

Compensation L1 C&A

9-Apr-2024 (Online) 3 Days

Combined C1/W1 - Mod 3

16-Apr-2024 (Lovett Room, Level 8 Gnabra Building DVA 21 Genge St Canberra ACT 2601) 3 Days

Combined C1/W1 - Mod 3

30-Apr-2024 (Online) 3 Days

Compensation L1 C&A

7-May-2024 (Online) 3 Days

Wellbeing L1 C&A

14-May-2024 (Online) 2 Days

Compensation L2 C&A

21-May-2024 (Online) 3 Days

Compensation L1 C&A

4-Jun-2024 (Online) 3 Days

Wellbeing L2 C&A

11-Jun-2024 (Online) 3 Days

Compensation L3 C&A

18-Jun-2024 (Online) 4 Days

Quick Links

ATDP ENDORSED CPD EVENT APPLICATION FORM


This form is to be used by the event convenor to apply for ATDP recognition of a CPD event.

Click here

How to Guides


Look here for notes on the operations of ATDP and for 'How to' Guides

Click here

Manage Your ESO


Click here

To speak with someone at DVA, call 1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)


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