A recent report by the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research concluded that there was no significant spike in domestic violence during COVID lockdowns. However, community legal centres say that crime data fails to capture the whole picture.
Today’s budget delivers a disappointing outlook for the future of access to justice in New South Wales and is a missed opportunity to address rising inequality and disadvantage.
The argument that acting on climate change is not core to community legal centres business no longer holds (if it ever did).
The Northern Rivers region is beset by soaring rental prices, social housing issues, and a crisis of housing instability and homelessness. Sally Latter, from the Northern Rivers Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, on why it's time to end no-grounds evictions and transform the housing system.
For over ten years, three community legal centres have provided free legal advice to women in prison. While the program helps women to stay connected to their communities and families, it has never received government funding.
LevelUP, an innovative project at Mid North Coast Community Legal Centre, provided vital support to young people exiting out-of-home-care. Programs like this ensure that fewer young people slip through the cracks and end up homeless, incarcerated, facing debt, or in danger.
This May, Community Legal Centres NSW will be holding a State Conference in Sydney. Everyone who works at a community legal centre across the state is invited to attend – tickets are free.
A new Underpayments Advice Clinic at Marrickville Legal Centre is combatting wage theft and helping workers seek justice. We spoke to Lucy Carroll and Jack Ding about what wage theft is, how to identify if you’re being underpaid, and their experience of the first few months of running the clinic.
Community legal centres provide free legal support to people going through tough times, mostly those experiencing financial hardship, social disadvantage, domestic or family violence or discrimination.
Funding for a key justice advocacy service in NSW is set to expire in June.
On the 30th Anniversary of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC), Community Legal Centres NSW stands in solidarity with the families of Aboriginal people who have died in custody. We support First Nations peoples’ repeated demands for systemic change.
In response to a motion in the NSW Parliament acknowledging additional Commonwealth funding for our sector, Members of Parliament took the opportunity to sing the praises of community legal centres. A number of MPs called upon the government to increase investment in community legal centres. MPs also recognised the vital services that we provide, the effective role we play in shaping progressive law reform, and the committed work of community legal centre staff.
A key part of Kingsford Legal Centre’s work is responding to the endemic issue of sexual harassment through a specialist state-wide clinic. Their Sexual Harassment Legal Service holistically responds to sexual harassment by providing better redress for people who have experienced sexual harassment, running community legal education sessions, and advocating for systemic legal and institutional change.
It is vital that everyone in New South Wales can access the community legal help that they need. That's why our 2021 Pre-Budget Submission focuses on ensuring equal access to justice for everyone in NSW. We're calling on the NSW Government to provide community legal centres with adequate funding so that we are able to help our communities facing financial hardship, disadvantage, discrimination, natural disasters, and domestic and family violence.
Community Legal Centres recommends the Committee rejects this Bill in its entirety. If passed, the Bill would deny children in our community the right to be seen, to be protected from discrimination and harm, and to be treated with integrity by teachers and schools.