Welfare Rights Centre is a community legal centre specialising in social security and family assistance law.
We help people who have a problem with Centrelink.
Please sign our petition to secure urgent government funding.
Today is National Sorry Day.
We are sorry as we reflect on the deep loss, grief and suffering that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have endured since colonisation.
We are sorry for the individual and intergenerational trauma resulting from the removal of First Nations children from their families, their communities and their Country. We are sorry that the opportunity for a voice to recognise and speak up for First Nations people was rejected at the referendum.
We want more to be done to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children stay with their families. We call for Centrelink to ensure First Nations people can access their services so that struggling families are fully supported.
We want a responsive social security system that ensures a bright future for all First Nations kids!⠀
Today is National Sorry Day.
We are sorry as we reflect on the deep loss, grief and suffering that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have endured since colonisation.
We are sorry for the individual and intergenerational trauma resulting from the removal of First Nations children from their families, their communities and their Country. We are sorry that the opportunity for a voice to recognise and speak up for First Nations people was rejected at the referendum.
We want more to be done to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children stay with their families. We call for Centrelink to ensure First Nations people can access their services so that struggling families are fully supported.
We want a responsive social security system that ensures a bright future for all First Nations kids!⠀
May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month. We at the Welfare Rights Centre would like to thank the mercyfoundationaus for awarding us grant funding for our First Nations Domestic Violence and Centrelink community workshop.
This project will upskill Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community services to navigate and access Centrelink support for First Nations people experiencing domestic and family violence.
We look forward to telling you more about this project as we move forward.
May is Domestic and Family Violence Prevention month. We at the Welfare Rights Centre would like to thank the mercyfoundationaus for awarding us grant funding for our First Nations Domestic Violence and Centrelink community workshop.
This project will upskill Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community services to navigate and access Centrelink support for First Nations people experiencing domestic and family violence.
We look forward to telling you more about this project as we move forward.
We made four short videos about common Centrelink issues to support First Nations people to navigate Centrelink, access income support and obtain free legal advice.
This video focuses on the factors that Centrelink focus on when determining if you`re a member of a couple or not, and what to do if they want to know more about your relationship status.
These videos have been created by our First Nations Access Officer in consultation with our Aboriginal Advisory group and we hope you will share them with your colleagues and networks.
You can watch the rest of the video on our website through the link in our bio 💛
We made four short videos about common Centrelink issues to support First Nations people to navigate Centrelink, access income support and obtain free legal advice.
This video focuses on the factors that Centrelink focus on when determining if you`re a member of a couple or not, and what to do if they want to know more about your relationship status.
These videos have been created by our First Nations Access Officer in consultation with our Aboriginal Advisory group and we hope you will share them with your colleagues and networks.
You can watch the rest of the video on our website through the link in our bio 💛
This week is National Volunteer Week, and we at the Welfare Rights Centre understand more than anyone the value of volunteers.
Between our administration, communication, Practical Legal Trainee, graduate secondee and pro bono solicitor volunteers and our Board, we are surrounded by a world of support which is always approached with grace, skill and generosity.
We thank all who have and who continue to volunteer with us.
For information on how you can become a part of our wonderful volunteer team, head to our website through the link in our bio 💙
This week is National Volunteer Week, and we at the Welfare Rights Centre understand more than anyone the value of volunteers.
Between our administration, communication, Practical Legal Trainee, graduate secondee and pro bono solicitor volunteers and our Board, we are surrounded by a world of support which is always approached with grace, skill and generosity.
We thank all who have and who continue to volunteer with us.
For information on how you can become a part of our wonderful volunteer team, head to our website through the link in our bio 💙
Welfare Rights Centre is very grateful to have received significant funding from 2020 following the bushfires, Covid, the floods and a great focus on family and domestic violence.
We used this funding to innovate.
- We set up our First Nations Access Program.
- We helped more women escaping family and domestic violence.
- We increased services to the thousands of people needing help navigating Centrelink.
- We’ve been sharing our expertise with community workers so that they can also help people with Centrelink problems.
But by 30 June 2024, much of this temporary funding is coming to an end, which means all of this work will be significantly reduced or end completely.
This is not what we expected to see in the first Federal Budget following the Robodebt Royal Commission.
To maintain our current service levels we need:
• $160,000 for our advice and casework services
• $120,000 for our First Nations Access Program
• $120,000 for our community worker training program
• $125,000 for our community worker hotline
Welfare Rights Centre’s current situation underscores is that one-off “hits” of funding are not the right way to respond to crises when we’re already not meeting demand. There needs to be a permanent underlying increase in funding to community legal centres.
Please sign our petition and donate via the link in our bio 💜
Welfare Rights Centre is very grateful to have received significant funding from 2020 following the bushfires, Covid, the floods and a great focus on family and domestic violence.
We used this funding to innovate.
- We set up our First Nations Access Program.
- We helped more women escaping family and domestic violence.
- We increased services to the thousands of people needing help navigating Centrelink.
- We’ve been sharing our expertise with community workers so that they can also help people with Centrelink problems.
But by 30 June 2024, much of this temporary funding is coming to an end, which means all of this work will be significantly reduced or end completely.
This is not what we expected to see in the first Federal Budget following the Robodebt Royal Commission.
To maintain our current service levels we need:
• $160,000 for our advice and casework services
• $120,000 for our First Nations Access Program
• $120,000 for our community worker training program
• $125,000 for our community worker hotline
Welfare Rights Centre’s current situation underscores is that one-off “hits” of funding are not the right way to respond to crises when we’re already not meeting demand. There needs to be a permanent underlying increase in funding to community legal centres.
Please sign our petition and donate via the link in our bio 💜
Yes, you can appeal a Centrelink debt caused by financial abuse.
Centrelink recognises economic (financial) abuse, such as withholding or control of a person’s money in their definition of domestic and family abuse.
Victims/survivors of domestic abuse can be lumbered with substantial debts if the perpetrator:
• lied about/hid income or assets
• stole money
• forced victim to hide relationship/income
• children not returned after visitation
Appeals can be difficult and stressful. You will have to provide evidence.
Not all Centrelink debts should be appealed, there can be risks.
If you need support and help with Centrelink, contact Welfare Rights Centre through the link in our bio 💜
Yes, you can appeal a Centrelink debt caused by financial abuse.
Centrelink recognises economic (financial) abuse, such as withholding or control of a person’s money in their definition of domestic and family abuse.
Victims/survivors of domestic abuse can be lumbered with substantial debts if the perpetrator:
• lied about/hid income or assets
• stole money
• forced victim to hide relationship/income
• children not returned after visitation
Appeals can be difficult and stressful. You will have to provide evidence.
Not all Centrelink debts should be appealed, there can be risks.
If you need support and help with Centrelink, contact Welfare Rights Centre through the link in our bio 💜
