Ongoing Advocacy

Prior to 2024 PASAT's ongoing advocacy service was offered as a membership scheme. Parents or other interested parties would pay a one off enrolment fee to access lifelong advocacy support on behalf of their family member. This payment option ceased for new enrolments in 2023. PASAT continues to provide lifelong advocacy for hundreds of members and families enrolled from 1967 - 2023 under this scheme.  ​ Lifelong advocacy has two support levels: 1. Pre Support​ A member is classified as Pre Support while their parents are living. It is assumed that during their lifetime (while able) the parent/s will be their son or daughter’s primary Advocate. The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust commits to a minimum of biannual contact with all Pre Support members and families, though in the first year or two of enrolment and whilst establishing a relationship the Trust delivers more than this. This contact includes keeping vital records up to date and current, and importantly establishing and maintaining a relationship with the member. ​Should a parent become unable to advocate for their family member due to age, ill health or other factors, an application may be made to the Trust Board for consideration for Early Full Support. If approved, the member then begins to receive advocacy support at the same level of Full Support. ​Pre Support is funded through the payment of a subscription of $140 per annum, and is a pre requisite to Full Support unless both parents are deceased. ​Where siblings who live at the same address are enrolled in the Trust, a discount may be applied to the second and subsequent enrolments of 50%. ​2. Full Support A member transitions to Full Support after the death of their last surviving parent or other contributor. The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust commits to delivering a minimum of quarterly advocacy support visits, and up to 12 hours of advocacy annually. The frequency and duration of these visits will be dictated by the needs and plans made with the person and their supporters. Extra support/advocacy can be provided as necessary in times of crisis. The Advocates role is to work with the member and all those involved ‐ other agencies and individuals ‐ who are in contact to ensure the member enjoys a high standard of health and wellbeing. The Regional Advocate will: ​* keep an eye on the Member’s general health and well-being; checking that education, work, accommodation and leisure activities are all going well. * Check that the Member access to their money for day to day expenses and that any longer term financial interests are being protected. * Discuss any difficulties or issues that the Member may need help with * Raise and work through those issues with others involved, including service providers, to find a positive solution * Support the member to self-advocate, or advocate with and on behalf of our Member to ensure the best possible outcome. While this payment option is no longer available, there are several members enrolled for lifelong advocacy who are yet to pay their Full Support Enrolment Fee in Full. The Full Support fee rates are updated every three years to stay in line with inflation. The current rates are communicated to members as appropriate annually. The Full Support Enrolment Fee is carefully calculated as advised by professional Actuaries, so as to be sufficient to fund full advocacy support for a member for the duration of their life. It takes in to consideration the age of the member when enrolling, current life expectancy predictions, and the potential growth of the fee through investment. The Full Support Enrolment Fee may be refundable**. Where siblings who live at the same address are enrolled in the Trust, a discount may be applied to the second and subsequent enrolment fees of 50%. There are several options for the method of payment of the Full Support Enrolment Fee: * By lump sum payment * By annual instalments for a term of 5 or 10 years. (Please note: other terms may and arranged on a case by case basis). * By monthly payments for a term of 5 or 10 years * Deferred Payment by Testamentary Will – Please note that when this option is selected the Enrolment Fee Payable will be the current fee applicable at the time of death. It is the Trust’s policy to increase fees every three years to allow for CPI adjustment. An invoice will be issued annually on the anniversary of enrolment advising of the current fee rate. Where there is insufficient funds or failure to provide for the enrolment fee within the Will, membership will be cancelled. * ​Advocacy may also be purchased through a Discretionary Trust. By this method, a family only pays for the advocacy delivered each year, instead of a lifetime in advance. The rest of the Discretionary Trust may be applied for the general well-being of the member, and as defined at the time of establishment. Please note, the balance of the Discretionary Trust must be at least the value of the Immediate Full Support Fee at the time support commences. **If a fully paid member is withdrawn from the Trust while still on Pre Support the membership fee may be up to 100% refundable. If a member is withdrawn when on Full Support, the membership fee will be non‐refundable.