On the Record
The e-bulletinCommunity Legal Centres:
Community, Compassion, Justice
Issue #5 September 2007
This is the fifth edition of On the Record,
the quarterly e-bulletin of the NSW Community Legal Centres. Community
Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent community organisations providing
equitable and accessible legal services. To find out more about CLCs in
NSW visit www.nswclc.org.au
For more information about On the Record,
or any of the events happening in the Community Legal Centres, contact
Jean Parker at the State Office of the Combined Community Legal Centres
Group (CCLCG) jean_parker@clc.net.au or phone 9212 7333
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Contents:
1. NSW Community Legal Sector:
8 new Aboriginal Legal Access Programs in Community Legal Centres
New Training Program underway for Community Legal Centres
2. Community Law:
Northern Rivers Community Radio Project
New Intellectual Disability Criminal Justice Project
Shoalcoast CLC wins a case against a car-yard
“Silken Threads” Multicultural Theatre performance raises awareness of domestic violence
Two new Homeless Persons Legal Service clinics up and running
3. Children, young people, and the law:
‘Expect Respect’ violence prevention project
Crime Prevention workshops for high schools in the Macquarie area
Legal information on group offences for youth workers
Children in Detention Advocacy Project (CIDNAP)
Two new Aboriginal Children’s Court Assistance Scheme Workers at Macquarie Legal Centre
Anti-bullying Legal Theatre in South West Sydney
Illawarra Legal Centre makes a submission to an inquiry into youth homelessness
4. Human Rights in Action:
Women’s employment rights website launched by the Inner City Legal Centre
Human Rights Advocacy Training in the Northern Rivers
Kingsford Legal Centre contributes to Timor Leste human rights training
Northern Rivers CLC makes a submission against proposed same-sex adoption law
Welfare Rights Centre makes a submission on changes to social security laws
Indigenous legal education program at Kingsford Legal Centre
Environmental Defenders Office challenge to development plan at Carlton United Broadway site
Access card proposal still fails the public interest test – PIAC submission
5. Publications:
Access for all – 3 publications from Womens’ Legal Services NSW
Campaigning and the Law in New South Wales – Environmental Defender’s Office
Street Rights NSW – newsletter of the Homeless Person’s Legal Service
Environmental Defenders Office weekly e-bulletin
6. Events and Developments:
Welfare Rights Centre relocates within Surry Hills
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre relocates to the CBD
North and North West Community Legal Service new street address
New website for Central Coast Community Legal Centre
Public Interest Advocacy Conference
Partnerships,
Prevention and Rural Action III: A conference for Aboriginal women of
all ages on Child Sexual Assault issues in Aboriginal Communities
What Difference can a human rights charter make? – Paper from the seminar
Environmental Defenders Office Northern Rivers Funding Renewal
Home Building Advocacy Service information seminar
Responsibility to Protect: An emerging international norm
Legal advice during APEC
7. What are the Community Legal Centres and What is CCLCG?
1. NSW Community Legal Sector:
8 new Aboriginal Legal Access Programs in Community Legal Centres:
In
December 2006 the Combined Community Legal Centres Group (NSW) (CCLCG)
received funding from the Public Purposes Fund to run the CCLCG
Aboriginal Legal Access Program (ALAP). ALAP is a state-wide program
which aims to enable better access by Aboriginal people to legal
services, increase the numbers of Aboriginal people receiving legal
services, improve and enhance the capacity of Community Legal Centres
(CLCs) to provide effective and culturally appropriate services to
Aboriginal people, and increase awareness among Aboriginal people of
their legal rights and the legal services available to them.
A
key component of the ALAP is a Grants Scheme open to all NSW CLCs for
projects which endeavour to meet the aims of the ALAP. In August
CCLCG awarded grants for the following new Community Legal Centre
Projects:
•
The Hawkesbury Nepean CLC Aboriginal Legal Access Service Program will
deliver services such as outreach programs, Community Legal Education
(CLE), casework and community development for laocal Aboriginal
communities.
•
The Northern Rivers CLC Mirrung Ngu Wanjarri Program will undertake
family violence work, engage in community consultations, legal advice
and CLE outreaches, and develop improved service delivery strategies
for local Aboriginal communities.
•
The Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre Creating Spaces
Program will support Aboriginal women and their children in accessing
their legal, social and cultural rights to be free of sexual abuse and
violence.
•
The Environmental Defender’s Office Ltd (NSW) Caring for Country will
focus on improving the delivery of environmental law services to
Aboriginal people in NSW.
•
The Illawarra Legal Centre Aboriginal Legal Access Worker Project will
target the needs of Aboriginal clients with a credit and debt focus.
•
The Macarthur Legal Centre Indigenous Legal Outreach Project will
facilitate a consultation process to develop appropriate legal service
delivery model for local Indigenous People and provide legal advice and
community legal education to Indigenous people in the Macarthur region.
•
The Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre Indigenous legal Access and
Violence Prevention will provide education to local Aboriginal
communities about legal issues relevant to both violence prevention and
redress for victims.
•
The Kingsford Legal Centre La Perouse Outreach Service will open an
Outreach Clinic for the Indigenous Community who live in the Kingsford
Legal Centre catchment area.
CCLCG
would like to thank all centres who expressed interest in the ALAP
Grants Scheme and congratulate all the centres which received grants.
For further information on the ALAP, including the Grants Scheme,
please contact Renee Williamson, ALAP Coordinator at the CCLCG State
Office on 02 9212 7333 or Renee_Williamson@clc.net.au.
New Training Program underway for Community Legal Centres:
In
the June edition of OTR we announced the Public Purpose Fund has funded
the CCLCG Training Program up to June 2008. This program is being
designed in recognition of the already skilled staff within Community
Legal Centres (CLCs), to further enhance their skills as well as making
training more accessible to Centres in Regional, Rural and Remote areas.
In
dealing with the very diverse group of clients that come through the
CLCs, the staff already have a vast array of skills and experience
between them and the training program is being designed to further
share and enhance these skills.
Since
the Combined Community Legal Centres Group employed our Training
Program Coordinator in May, a training needs analysis has been
conducted within the CLC Sector. Now a Learning and Development plan is
being created to explore non-traditional learning strategies to meet
the practical training needs of the Centres. For more information
contact Joanna Mantziaris at the State Office on
joanna_mantziaris@clc.net.au
2. Community Law:
Northern Rivers Community Radio Project:
Northern
Rivers Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) recently joined with
the North & North West Aboriginal Tenants Advice & Advocacy
Service to produce the community radio project ‘minute tips for
tenants’. This project involved the joint production of 18 one minute
radio ‘sound bites’ or ‘tips’ on tenancy matters. The project is
currently negotiating for free airtime on local community radio
stations.
New Intellectual Disability Criminal Justice Project:
The
Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS), in collaboration with
other members of the Coalition for Intellectual Disability and Criminal
Justice, is currently working on a project on alleged offenders with
intellectual disability in the NSW Local Courts system.
There
are a high proportion of people with intellectual disability coming
into contact with the criminal justice system. Often their
offending is due to a lack of support services. Alleged offenders
with intellectual disability may be imprisoned for want of appropriate
recognition of their disability, a lack of court processes that can
adequately explore diversionary options, and the unavailability of
support services.
This
project will identify the problems and make recommendations for reform
including a model for the diversion of alleged offenders from the
criminal justice system.
A
copy of a briefing paper which outlines the draft report can be
obtained by contacting Linda Steele at IDRS on (02) 9318 0144 or
lindas@idrs.org.au. Linda would be interested in any feedback -
either issues covered in the draft report itself or on any of the
various conferencing and diversionary mechanisms currently operating in
the NSW criminal legal system.
Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre wins a case against a car-yard
One
of Shoalcoast Community Legal Centre's solicitors appeared for a client
with a hearing impairment in the Local Court to defend a claim for
breach of contract. A local car-yard was suing the client and claiming
that because the client had said nothing about the mechanical state of
the car that he was trading in, the client was liable for the cost of
repairing mechanical faults in the car that were discovered by the
car-yard afterwards. The common law principle of "buyer beware" applies
in such cases, and in one of the shortest hearings on record, the
Magistrate ruled in favour of our client.
Later
that day the was found repairing the trim on the solicitor's car,
peeling off the gaffer tape and gluing all the trim back on! A most unusual yet genuine gesture of appreciation from a Shoalcoast client.
“Silken Threads” Multicultural Theatre performance raises awareness of domestic violence:
In
June Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre worked with “Silken
Threads”, a local multicultural women’s theatre group, to produce a
theatre workshop. This project aimed to raise awareness of domestic
violence issues among culturally and linguistically diverse community
members and service providers. The theatre performance used dance,
movement and acting to portray a variety of emotions and issues, and
highlighted some of the barriers and issues encountered in the delivery
of services to culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)
women. Theatre proved to be a great medium for getting messages
across to communities without an emphasis on the English language, and
encouraged self expression and creativity.
The
project was based on community consultations that occurred late last
year where women from the Northern Rivers multicultural communities
were consulted on the issues affecting their lives here in
Australia. Some of the issues identified were: domestic violence
and the need for support to be provided in a sensitive manner; the
experience of refugees; services not using accredited interpreters or
not using interpreters correctly; social isolation; and fear of
deportation or being sent to a detention centre. People from all over
the region and from many different national backgrounds attended:
Sudan, Thailand, Philippines, England, Singapore, China, Germany,
Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Japan.
Two New Homeless Persons’ Legal Service Clinics up and running:
The Homeless Persons’ Legal Service is pleased to announce that two new clinics have started.
Corrs
Chambers Westgarth lawyers will provide assistance from Norman Andrews
House (77 Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach) every Tuesday from 12:30 pm until
1:30 pm, starting on 24 July 2007. Deacons lawyers will provide
assistance from the Wayside Chapel (29 Hughes Street, Potts Point)
every Monday from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon, starting mid August 2007.
For further information, contact HPLS Co-ordinator Elisabeth Baraka on ebaraka@piac.asn.au or (02) 8898 6545.
3. Children, young people, and the law:
‘Expect Respect’ violence prevention project:
The
Northern Rivers Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Scheme is
part of the “Kids Really Count” Committee, which has developed a
community campaign known as ‘Expect Respect’. The Committee compromises
the Ballina/Byron Family Support Service, Bunjum Aboriginal
Corporation, Ballina and Mullumbimby Community Health and Legal Aid
Commission.
The
Project, funded through the Law and Justice Foundation, aims to prevent
violence by educating young people about healthy respectful
relationships in their personal lives. The project provides practical
information to young people on love, respect, abuse in relationships
and the avenues to get legal help.
The
campaign produced a television advertisement, information booklet,
stickers, and magnets to alert young people to the warning signs of an
abusive relationship and where to go for help, support and legal
options. The project was developed in response to research that
suggests young people were more likely to be subjected to violence than
older people, yet they were also least likely to contact services.
Crime Prevention workshops for high schools in the Macquarie area:
Macquarie
Legal Centre was successful in obtaining a grant from the National
Community Crime Prevention Programme to deliver a series of Crime
Prevention workshops to local high schools over a period of two years.
The first phase of this project involved conducting extensive research
into school students’ attitudes to crime in cooperation with the
University of Western Sydney. The series of three workshops will be
delivered to ten school groups over the next three school terms. The
first Prevention Workshops were held on 10th August with presentations
at Merrylands High School and Parramatta High School.
The
workshops were presented by Macquarie staff with the assistance of
actors from Powerhouse Youth Theatre. The professional actors present
two short role plays scripted around the theme Think…Then Drive, you
never know what’s around the corner. The role plays, which dealt with
driving issues identified as relevant in the earlier research, are
hard-hitting. Students then take part in interactive sessions that
tease out the issues raised in the role plays.
Legal information on group offences for youth workers:
The
Illawarra Legal Centre Inc has welcomed the education initiative of the
Children’s Legal Service of the Legal Aid Commission of NSW which has
provided the opportunity to present a workshop to Illawarra workers on
‘Joint Criminal Enterprise’ and group offences. This educational
workshop will give youth and community workers useful knowledge of
possible legal consequences arising from group offences. Importantly it
will outline exit strategies to pass on to young people who are at risk
of being caught up in group offences.
Children in Detention Advocacy Project (CIDNAP):
The
Public Interest Advocacy Centres’s CIDNAP project aims to reform the
way young people are treated by the criminal justice system. Free legal
advice and representation will be provided to young people who may have
experienced false arrest, unlawful detention, malicious prosecution or
the use of excessive force by police or security guards.
The
project has produced a poster and brochure for legal and community
centres. The card provides a quick checklist of the type of
circumstances in which the project can help. Clients referred to Alex
Grosart at Legal Aid NSW on 9219 5830. For copies of the poster and
cards please contact PIAC on 8898 6555 or piac@piac.asn.au.
Two new Aboriginal Children’s Court Assistance Scheme Workers at Macquarie:
In
July Macquarie Legal Centre welcomed Kevin Hinton and Leah Cruickshank
who have come on board as Aboriginal Children’s Court Assistance Scheme
Workers. In addition to providing court support the workers are
undertaking a legal needs analysis to identify gaps in services to
Aboriginal young people in the Court System. The needs analysis
will identify areas of need for Aboriginal young people involved with
the Children’s Courts. It is hoped by identifying these gaps, the scope
of the Children’s Court Assistance Scheme can be broadened to assist in
reducing the rate of Aboriginal Young People facing court. Leah
Cruickshank is in the early stages of writing up the literature review
for this project.
Anti-bullying Legal Theatre in South West Sydney:
South
West Sydney Legal Centre received a three-year Area Assistance Scheme
funding allocation to design and deliver anti-bullying legal theatre to
high school students. The community legal education programme entitled
Can You Hear Me, completed its second season in June 2007. To date 35
schools have participated, with performances to over 2,000 students.
Legal
theatre employs a forum theatre approach. This method utilises audience
participation and interaction as a vehicle to highlight issues,
stimulate constructive input and embark the audience on a journey of
resolution of the social and legal challenges presented by the theatre
scenarios. Can You Hear Me sets up three scenarios; one scenario for
each protagonist in the bullying cycle. The bully, the victim and the
bystander. The scenarios challenge and explore preconceptions and
stereotypes and investigate the layers, dynamics and characteristics of
bullying.
Formal
student feedback strongly indicated the programme is connecting with
and making an impact on students. 93% of students felt that the theatre
represented bullying in schools very well. The questionnaire also
asks students to outline how, if at all, the legal theatre has
influenced them to change their behaviour. Of the students who
identified themselves as bullies, the largest change in behaviour noted
was not to bully followed by be more patient with others and then try
harder to understand others. These three responses accounted for over
50% of total responses. Of students who identified themselves as the
victim, the largest change in behaviour was to talk about issues more
followed by seek help if needed and then not to just stand by. These
three responses accounted for 50% of total responses.
Teacher
feedback has also been excellent. Teachers continue to be amazed at how
successful the theatre is in engaging well-known school bullies to
participate and offer constructive input and solutions.
Additionally,
the theatre has been responsible for a number of students revealing
they are victims of serious bullying and/or domestic violence at home.
As a result, appropriate support and intervention has been made
available for these students.
Illawarra Legal Centres makes submission to an inquiry into youth homelessness:
The
Illawarra Legal Centre Inc joined other CLCs around the country in
submitting evidence to the National Youth Commission of Inquiry into
youth homelessness. CLC workers are well placed to see first hand the
diverse range of factors that contribute to family breakdown and
homelessness. An interim policy paper by the National Youth Commission
notes that funding arrangements based on corporate principles rather
than social need, has undermined service delivery that may prevent
homelessness.
4. Human Rights in Action:
Women’s Employment Rights Website launched by the Inner City Community Legal Centre:
The
website and report developed as part of the Women’s Employment Rights
Project (WERP) will be launched at NSW Parliament House on 23 October
by the Minister for Women, Verity Firth. The Website has received
very positive feedback and is a very worthwhile resource for CLC
clients. Check it out at www.iclc.org.au. click on publications, click the Women’s Employment Rights Project link and WERP will appear.
Inner
City Legal Centre is pleased to announce that the Office for Women has
provided funding of $125,000 for WERP for another year. The new
project will again monitor and collect case studies, provide 2 half day
telephone advice service, training as needed and continue to update and
enhance the website.
Human Rights Advocacy Training Resource in the Northern Rivers:
As
part of its community legal education work, Northern Rivers Community
Legal Centre has put together a ‘Human Rights Advocacy Training
Resource’. The Resource is aimed at supporting local high school
students to develop advocacy skills and act on equity issues they
identify within their school environment.
Students
at Richmond River High School have chosen to campaign aroun the issue
of homophobia. Having selected their human rights issue, the Northern
Rivers CLC education worker will now work with students to develop a
human rights advocacy plan, culminating with an awareness raising event
to be held at the school on International Human Rights Day.
Kingsford Legal Centre contributes to Timor Leste human rights training:
Kingsford
Legal Centre recently developed and presented a 5 day training in Timor
Leste for UNIFEM. The training included 2 days on the nature of
human rights and specifically the Convention for the Elimination of all
forms of Discrimination Against women (CEDAW) as well as 3 days on how
to prepare a shadow report. This arose out of the work which
Kingsford has done domestically in preparing Australia’s shadow
report.
The
project was funded by UNIFEM and the United Nations Office for Women,
in conjunction with Rede Feto, a local Timorese women’s NGO. It
was a lively and interesting time learning more about the reality of
life for Timorese women and the challenges which they face. One
of the barriers identified by the training participants was entrenched
views about the roles of men and women, as well as health issues
including high maternal mortality given that Timor Leste is the poorest
country in South East Asia with limited prenatal and postnatal care for
women.
There
were 30 participants in the sessions and it certainly provided an
opportunity to reflect on issues in common, such as violence against
women. Timor Leste, unlike Australia, has ratified the Optional
Protocol, which means that Timorese women can make individual
complaints to the CEDAW Committee. We are still waiting for this
to occur in Australia. Kingsford Legal Centre staff hope to continue
the relationship with Timor Leste NGOs and UNIFEM.
Northern Rivers CLC makes submission against proposed same-sex adoption law:
The
Federal Government intends to introduce the Family Law (Same Sex
Adoption) Bill into Parliament during the spring session, which aims to
prevent recognition of overseas adoptions in Australia by same-sex
couples. The Bill, if it becomes law, would refuse to grant a visa to
the child to enter Australia.
Northern
Rivers Community Legal Centre has been active in raising awareness and
lobbying against this Bill. The Centre has written to the Federal Labor
Leader, Kevin Rudd, and their local ALP Candidate for the upcoming
federal election to express opposition to the Bill and call on the ALP
to speak out against the Bill and refuse to support its passage through
Parliament.
The
Centre also issued press releases to local media on the issue and
participated in the National Day of Action on Same Sex Equality, a
rally/march held in Lismore on Saturday 11 August.
Welfare Rights Centre makes submissions on changes to Social Security laws:
The
Welfare Rights Centre made written and oral submissions on the
exceptionally strict eligibility requirements for people who are
claiming Carer Payment in respect of care they give to a disabled
child. Welfare Rights argued that the legislation needs to better
target carers whose capacity to work is affected by the care they must
provide, and to make claim requirements and the review process less
burdensome. The submission can be accessed at www.welfarerights.org.au
Welfare
Rights Centre have also made submissions in relation to the
Government’s controversial attempts at the “financial management” of
Social Security recipients in the Northern Territory, and of other
Australian parents. The submission pointed out that the raft of
legislation unfairly discriminates against all people living within the
declared Northern Territory areas as they, unlike people outside of
those areas, are unable to appeal some decisions made about their
payments beyond the Centrelink internal review process. That
means they will not be able to appeal to the Social Security Appeals
Tribunal or beyond. This submission was made particularly
difficult because people submitting were only given three days to
prepare submissions. The Welfare Rights Centre’s submission can be
viewed on their website: www.welfarerights.org.au
Indigenous legal education program at Kingsford Legal Centre:
As
a part of our commitment to Indigenous legal education, Kingsford
continues to host winter school Indigenous students. This is part
of a UNSW program encouraging high school students to consider
university careers. Kingsford Legal Centre welcomed 19 students
from around Australia considering studying law. They were very
enthusiastic and keen to learn about the work of the Centre.
Kingsford
Legal Centre is also currently running an Indigenous first year course
for 5 students, focusing on client communication skills. This
course includes a general introduction to the legal system with various
visits to the Local Court, Legal Aid and other legal centres.
Students are also taught interviewing skills and interview clients to
develop their oral and written communication skills.
Environmental challenge to development plan at Carlton United Breweries Broadway site:
Matthew
Drake-Brockman, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO)
and barristers Francis Douglas QC and Jason Lazarus, challenged the
validity of the Minister for Planning's approval for a concept plan for
the redevelopment of the former Carlton United Breweries site on
Broadway in Sydney. The Land and Environment Court Class 4 proceedings
were dismissed on 13 August.
The
concept plan proposed a large residential and commercial development.
Mr Drake-Brockman alleged that the Minister failed to adequately
consider the principles of ecologically sustainable development, and in
particular the impact on climate change. Other grounds of challenge
included that the Director-General failed to include in his report a
statement relating to compliance with the environmental assessment
requirements for the proposal, and the Director-General issued
environmental assessment requirements for the proposal before the
concept plan application was even submitted.
This judgment reinforces concern about the large discretionary power permitted to the Minister under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, and the weakness of the requirement to merely ‘consider' ecologically sustainable development.
Access card proposal still fails the public interest test:
The
Federal Government still plans to introduce the controversial Access
Card, though the time frame for putting the relevant legislation before
the Parliament is still unknown. Various commentators claim that the
proposal is off the agenda until after the Federal Election. In the
interim, the Federal Government has released Exposure Drafts of the
Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007 and the Human
Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) (Consequential Provisions) Bill
2007. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) has held ongoing
public interest concerns about the proposed Access Card. In its
submission by Carol Berry, PIAC outlines its concerns with the Exposure
Drafts of the legislation, along with its concerns in regard to the
proposal as a whole: http://www.piac.asn.au/publications/pubs/subexpdrft_20070823.html
5. Publications:
Access for all – 3 publications from Women’s Legal Services NSW:
On
August 22nd Women’s Legal Services NSW celebrated “Access for All“
–launching three important publications that address women’s access to
justice. Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, officially
launched the three publications at parliament House, in Sydney:
Long Way to Equal
An
update of “Quarter Way to Equal” addressing the barriers to access to
legal services for migrant and refugee women in Australia.
Partnerships Prevention & Rural Action II
A Conference report on Child Sexual Assault Issues in Aboriginal communities. Lake Burrendong. 17th – 21st May 2004.
Women’s Legal Services NSW Pictorial Pamphlet
A
pictorial pamphlet about Women’s Legal Services NSW, produced with
Streetwize Communications for women who identify as culturally and
linguistically diverse (CALD) and who have minimal English literacy.
If
you would like to order any of the above publications please contact
Sharon Kingshott at Women’s Legal Services NSW,
Sharon_Kingshott@clc.net.au or 02 9749 7700.
Campaigning and the Law in New South Wales – Environmental Defender’s Office NSW:
This
plain English guide is an essential companion for those interested in
learning about their legal rights to protest, and how to make informed
decisions when participating in protest and campaign actions. The
publication examines laws governing campaigning as they apply in a wide
range of circumstances, such as on the street, in forestry areas and on
Commonwealth land. It is a practical source of information that is
intended to help guide campaigners through the various aspects of
campaigning in NSW including: Campaign planning and protest action;
Speaking out in public; General criminal offences and powers; Arrest
and detention; Bail; and Preparing for court.
Cost:
$20, 112p. For more information about this publication, please contact
Tisha Dejmanee on (02) 9262 6989, or education@edo.org.au
Street Rights NSW:
Street
Rights NSW is the newsletter of the Homeless Persons' Legal Service
(HPLS).
Edition 7, August 2007 can be read at: http://www.piac.asn.au/publications/pubs/StRights7_20070827.html
Environmental Defenders Office weekly e-bulletin:
The
Environmental Defenders Office NSW produces a weekly e-bulletin which
covers a wide range of developments in environmental law and publicises
events. To read the e-bulletin or subscribe go to: http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/bulletin/bulletin.php
6. Events and developments:
Office Relocations:
Welfare Rights Centre relocates within Surry Hills:
The
Welfare Rights Centre is a community legal centre specialising in
Social Security law and policy and providing free information, advice
and representation about Social Security law and its
administration. For the last 15 years the Welfare Rights Centre
operated out of an office in Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. The Centre has
moved is now located around the corner at 102/55 Holt St, Surry
Hills. The telephone numbers and email addresses have remained
the same. The new office is wheel-chair accessible:
Welfare Rights Centre
102/55 Holt St
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Ph: (advice) 9211 5300
Ph: (admin) 9211 5389
Ph: (toll free) 1800 226 028
Fax: 9211 5268
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre relocates to the CBD:
The Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC) has moved from Surry Hills to Kent Street Sydney:
Immigration Advice and Rights Centre
Level 5, 362 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Ph: (advice) 9262 3833 (Tuesday and Thursday 2-4pm only)
Ph: (admin) 9279 4300
Fax: 9299 8467
Email: iarc@iarc.asn.au
Website: www.iarc.asn.au
North and North West Community Legal Service relocates:
North and North West can now be contacted at:
107 Faulkner Street Armidale NSW 2350
PO Box 857 Armidale NSW 2350
Ph: (admin) 02 67728100
Ph: (advice) 1800 687 687
Fax: 02 6772 8107
Email: nnwcls@gmail.com
New website for Central Coast Community Legal Centre:
Congratulations to Central Coast CLC on their new website: www.centralcoastlegalcentre.org.au
Public Interest Advocacy Conference:
This
year is the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of the Public
Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC). To mark the occasion PIAC is holding a
conference that will focus on the development of public interest
advocacy in Australia and its future direction and challenges.
Date:
18 & 19 October 2007
Place: Wesley Centre, Pitt Street, Sydney.
Keynote address: The participation of civil society in Australian
democracy
Prof Larissa Behrendt, Director, Jumbunna House of Learning,
University of Technology Sydney. For more information or to ensure you
receive program and registration details as they become available,
please send an e-mail to conference@piac.asn.au.
Partnerships,
Prevention and Rural Action III: A Conference for Aboriginal women of
all ages on Child Sexual Assault issues in Aboriginal Communities:
This
conference is for Aboriginal women to 'gather' and 'yarn' about Child
Sexual Assault issues in Aboriginal communities and work together to
find solutions.
The
Conference aims: 1. To provide a positive space for Aboriginal women
both young and old to come together and yarn about the issues that we
go through in our communities about sexual assault. 2. To provide
information on the law about child protection and procedures and the
process for reporting child abuse. 3. To yarn about the legal rights of
children who have been victims of crime, and the services available. 4.
To look at the best ways we can deal with sexual assault issues in our
communities. 5. To strengthen Aboriginal women of all ages in our
communities so they can work together as a team and have better support
and links to other communities and service providers in NSW. 6. To take
our concerns to the government.
15th-19th
October 2007 Lake Burrendong via Wellington NSW Any enquiries about the
conference, please contact Rene Adams (Conference Coordinator): Phone:
(02) 9749 7700 or 1800 639 784 Email: rene_adams@clc.net.au Mail:
Women's Legal Services NSW, PO Box 206 Lidcombe NSW 1825
What Difference Can a Human Rights Charter Make?
The
NSW Charter Group along with community legal centers had Lord Robert
Walker from the UK address a crowd of 80 people on 21 August
2007. He spoke about the reception the Human Rights Act has had
in the UK among the legal profession, the public and the media.
Approximately a third of the cases coming before the House of Lords now
have a human rights aspect to them. Lord Walker spoke about the
positive significance of some cases in which the Act has enabled rights
to be protected on issues such as refugee issues, rape cases, children
rights and transgender rights. Copies of his paper are available from
the NSW charter group (www.nswcharterofhumanrights.org).
Environmental Defenders Office Northern Rivers Funding Renewal:
The
EDO has been advised that our Northern Rivers Office has gained the
continued generous support of the NSW Law Society's Public Purpose
Fund. Funding has increased so as to support an addition to our Lismore
office team, with a community legal education and outreach officer. The
EDO are greatly indebted to the ongoing enthusiasm and support of the
Public Purpose Fund, which provides a substantial foundation for our
ongoing work to empower communities to protect the environment.
Home Building Advocacy Service information Seminar:
Macquarie
Legal Centres’ Home Building Advocacy Service (HOBAS) recently held its
first information seminar in conjunction with the Office of Fair
Trading. The seminar covered the Office of Fair Trading’s dispute
resolution process, lodging an application at the Consumer, Trader
& Tenancy Tribunal, producing evidence, negotiation and settlement
advice. The seminar was well-received and the Minister for Fair
Trading, the Hon. Linda Burney attended.
Responsibility to Protect - An Emerging International Norm:
Mr
Gareth Evans, the current president of the International Crisis Group,
addressed a forum organized by Community Legal Centres and Australian
Lawyers for Human Rights on 28 August 2007. 100 people filled the
room at Corrs Chambers Westgarth to hear about the Responsibility to
Protect. The responsibility to protect populations from genocide,
ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity is an
international commitment by governments to prevent and react to grave
crises. Mr Evans gave an insightful overview of the obligation
and what needs to be done to implement it. Copies of his paper are
available at www.nswclc.org.au
Legal advice during APEC:
The
Combined Community Legal Centres Group (CCLCG) organized training
on 27 August 2007, for 25 lawyers from community legal centers, Legal
Aid, Aboriginal Legal Services and private firms on the relevant APEC
related laws, and how to advise clients affected by the APEC
powers.
A
group of progressive Sydney lawyers provided free legal advice for
members of the community effected during the APEC week. For more
information contact Alison Aggarwal on alison_aggarwal@clc.net.au
7. What are the Community Legal Centres and What is CCLCG?
Community
Legal Centres (CLCs) are independent community organisations providing
equitable and accessible legal services. NSW CLCs work for the public
interest, particularly for disadvantaged and marginalised people and
communities. Community Legal Centres not only provide legal advice and
assistance, but also encourage and enable people to develop skills to
be their own advocates. We promote human rights, social justice and a
better environment by advocating for access to justice and equitable
laws and legal systems. Centres work towards achieving systemic change
through community legal
education, and through law and policy reform.
The
Combined Community Legal Centres Group (NSW) Inc (CCLCG) is the peak
body for (CLCs) in NSW. We are resourced by a small State Office which
is funded by the NSW Government. CCLCG has 39 member organizations
including generalist and specialist community legal centres. For more
information on the NSW Community Legal Centres or CCLCG go to www.nswclc.org.au or call 9212 7333.
