Royal commission vital to family violence response, community lawyers say

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

A submission released today by the State peak for Victoria’s 50 community legal centres has made more than 60 recommendations to the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

‘This royal commission is a vital opportunity to strengthen Victoria’s response to family violence to better protect women and children, including through better access to free legal help and improving the specialist capacity of our courts,’ said Dr Chris Atmore, senior policy adviser with the Federation of Community Legal Centres, today. Continue reading →

Community legal centres engage in family violence royal commission

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

The Federation and many of our member community legal centres are engaging in Victoria’s Royal Commission into Family Violence.

Community Law Blog will be posting related news and publishing centre submissions as they become available.

Victorian community legal centres help more than 100,000 people every year. Nearly 40 per cent of new cases opened each year relate to family violence.

For media inquiries, please call Darren Lewin-Hill on 0488 773 535.

Vulnerability set to rise as Federal Government redefines legal need

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

The media spotlight on the 2015 Federal Budget may have dimmed, but its full impacts on the vulnerable are still very much on the line for those seeking free legal help.

If you are facing family violence, trying to navigate family law, at risk from homelessness or tenancy issues, debt, fines, discrimination, or unfair treatment in the workplace, that could well mean you.

The Federal Government says a new five-year agreement now being negotiated with States and Territories to fund the free legal services that tackle these problems must be in place before 1 July. Continue reading →

“Savings” from means-testing free legal help will increase the risk for women facing family violence

Posted on June 2, 2015 by Federation of Community Legal Centres

A Federal Government proposal to means test free legal help from community legal centres will increase the risk for women facing family violence, according to the Federation of Community Legal Centres.

The proposal is included in a new funding agreement with States and Territories that Prime Minister Tony Abbott is expected to send to Premiers and Chief Ministers within days. Continue reading →