For Veterans and Families
Choose an advocate with confidence - choose an IVA Accredited Advocate
Before you choose an advocate, remember you have choices. You do not have to use an advocate. You can choose to:
- deal directly with DVA, CSC or any another agency,
- ask a family member or trusted person to support you, or
- choose an advocate to help.
If you do decide to go with an advocate, the right advocate can help you understand your options, prepare a claim, connect with wellbeing support or challenge a decision. Choosing an IVA accredited advocate, who works for an organisation with IVA membership gives you assurance that you are choosing an advocate whose training, professional standards and scope of practice are clear.
Note: IVA does not provide advocacy services directly. Our role is to set professional standards, accredit and support advocates, and provide a complaints and assurance framework.
IVA includes advocates working through free services and fee-for-service (F4S) providers. The service model does not, by itself, tell you whether an advocate is the right fit. The important questions are training, scope, experience, professional standards, transparency and whether you feel comfortable working with the person.
If you use a paid provider, ask for a clearly explained written cost agreement before work begins. It should explain what is included, how fees are calculated, whether additional stages cost more, and what happens if you end the engagement.
Important: IVA accreditation gives you information and assurance about training, standards and accountability. It does not guarantee the outcome of a claim, review or appeal.
Use the Advocacy Register (Advocacy Register) to search for organisations with qualified wellbeing and compensation advocates.
Looking specifically for IVA Member Organisations?
Select “Find Organisation” and then use the drop down list to find “Institute of Veterans Advocacy Members”.
You can then search and find organisations that are IVA Members
When searching by your post code and looking for an IVA Advocate
A table will appear and you can see organisations near you, what types of services they offer (Free or F4S, which means fee for service)
If you want the assurance of having an IVA Member Organisation, with IVA Accredited Advocates, you can see whether the organisation is an IVA member by looking for “IVA Member” in bold under the organisation name, and looking for how many IVA Accredited advocates, they have in the “No. of IVA Accredited Advocates Column”
Feeling a bit unsure? Reach out to IVA via the contact form on our website and we can confirm IVA accreditation and W and C levels for you.
You should expect respectful communication, clear information, appropriate confidentiality and work within the advocate’s training and authority. If you are concerned about an IVA member:
- raise the issue with the advocate or their organisation where you feel safe to do so
- keep copies of relevant emails, agreements and documents
- contact us to make a complaint to the IVA in accordance with our Complaints Handling Procedure
IVA considers complaints in accordance with its complaints and disciplinary framework. Making a complaint does not replace any rights you may have to complain to the advocate’s organisation, DVA, a professional regulator (for example a law society) or another relevant body or even to take legal action.
Why choose an IVA Advocate?
The advocate’s IVA title is linked to a defined level and stream of training in the Course in Military Advocacy (CiMA).
IVA Accredited Advocates must meet applicable continuing professional development requirements before their accreditation is renewed.
IVA members agree to follow IVA’s Constitution, By-Laws, Code of Conduct and applicable professional standards.
IVA members are subject to, and must cooperate with, IVA’s complaints and disciplinary framework
Individual members must maintain appropriate professional indemnity insurance and satisfy IVA that they are fit and proper persons.
An IVA Accredited Advocate who provides advocacy must be linked to a current IVA Organisational Member, supporting accountability at both individual and service level.
Choose what type of advocacy support you need. Wellbeing or Compensation - what help do you need?
When you are looking for an advocate, you will see the letters W and C. These describe the advocate’s training stream - not the quality of the advocate. An advocate may hold qualifications in one or both streams. Compensation training does not automatically mean the person is trained in wellbeing advocacy, and wellbeing training does not qualify a person to prepare compensation claims.
Help navigating services and support
- information and referrals for health, rehabilitation, housing, transport, household assistance and education
- support to understand transition and community services
- referrals for medical, financial, legal, police, bereavement and other assistance
- help to identify the right service and agree practical next steps
Help with claims, reviews and appeals
- preparing and lodging initial liability, compensation and income support claims
- help understanding a DVA decision and available review options
- preparing review or appeal material
- representation before the Veterans’ Review Board or Administrative Review Tribunal, where the advocate holds the required level
What level of support do you need? Understanding IVA advocate levels
The level tells you the type of work the advocate is trained to undertake. It is a scope-of-practice guide, not a star rating. Choose the stream and level that matches the help you need.
Important: A title alone may not show the advocate’s stream. For example, an Accredited Advocate (MIVA) may be W2, C2 or qualified in both. Check the Advocate Register or ask the advocate to confirm their current W and C qualifications.
|
IVA title |
Training |
Typical scope |
What this means |
|
Associate Advocate |
W1 |
Wellbeing support under supervision |
Trained to help identify wellbeing needs, information and referrals while working under the direct supervision of a suitably qualified advocate. |
|
Associate Advocate |
C1 |
Initial claims under supervision |
Trained to help prepare an initial compensation claim while working under the direct supervision of a suitably qualified advocate. |
|
Accredited Advocate (MIVA) |
W2 |
Independent wellbeing advocacy |
Trained and assessed to provide wellbeing advice, referrals and practical assistance without direct supervision. |
|
Accredited Advocate (MIVA) |
C2 |
Independent initial claims |
Trained and assessed to prepare initial liability, compensation and income support claims without direct supervision. |
|
Senior Accredited Advocate (SMIVA) |
C3 |
Reviews and Veterans’ Review Board matters |
Holds advanced compensation training for review and reconsideration work and representation before the Veterans’ Review Board. |
|
Principal Accredited Advocate (PIVA) |
C4 |
Administrative Review Tribunal matters |
A C4-qualified advocate of high standing and demonstrated experience, trained for representation before the Administrative Review Tribunal. |
|
Fellow of the IVA (FIVA) |
Varies |
Varies |
Fellow of IVA is a professional distinction recognising exceptional service. It is not a separate scope-of-practice level, so you should still check the person’s W or C training.
|
What training or assessment sits behind the levels?
Competency may be achieved through the ATDP training pathway or through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Either way, the advocate must be assessed against the same competencies set out in the Course in Military Advocacy (which is also referred to as the ATDP Program).
Level 1 generally includes mandatory eLearning, facilitated common-skills and stream modules, and practical and knowledge assessment. Level 2 and above generally include workplace experience under mentor guidance, eLearning, workplace evidence logs, and a consolidation and assessment program.
Tips for choosing an advocate
Do you need help finding services, lodging an initial claim, reviewing a decision, or appearing at a tribunal?
Match W or C and the training level to the work you need. The highest level is not automatically the best fit.
Ask whether the person is an IVA Accredited Advocate. You can ask to see their membership certificate, which will show you what accreditation and W and C levels the person has.
Ask whether they have handled similar matters, who will do the work and how long they expect the next steps to take.
Check the advocate’s W or C stream and training level. Whether they are an IVA Member or not, you can ask them to show you evidence of their qualifications. This is completely fine; don’t feel embarrassed or intimidated. It’s your right to check these things!
Advocacy may be free or fee-for-service (F4S). Check whether fees are payable and ask questions to understand the fee structure. Where fees are payable, do not feel rushed into signing a costs agreement – you can take your time and ask to take the agreement away to consider further.
Make sure they have professional indemnity insurance just in case anything goes wrong.
Ask how they communicate, how often they will update you, how your information will be protected and whether you can involve a family member or support person.