Law for Community Workers

This is Part 7 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness and to people with lived experience of homelessness. We acknowledge the traditional owners of...

This is Part 6 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness and to people with lived experience of homelessness. We acknowledge the traditional owners of...

In this episode, Legal Aid NSW family lawyers Sarah and Claudia will explain what’s new in Care and Protection in NSW including: Reforms that started on 15 November 2023 around ‘active efforts’ that need to be made by DCJ Changes that started in November 2022 around presumptions to remove children Changes to early intervention and early referral to legal advice through the Legal Assistance for Fam...

This is Part 5 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness and to people with lived experience of homelessness. We acknowledge the traditional owners of...

In this episode, Stephanie Hawes from Legal Aid NSW chats to Madeleine Causbrook from the Employment Rights Legal Service about their service and a case study on sexual harassment in the workplace. Legal services: Employment Rights Legal Service: www.erls.org.au and 02 8004 3270 Kingsford Legal Centre website: www.klc.unsw.edu.au  and 02 9385 9566 Legal Aid NSW's Respect At Work Legal Service: 02...

This is Part 4 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness. We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which this episode was made, the Gadig...

On 1 July 2023 a number of employment law changes commenced, including an increase to the National Minimum Wage.   In this episode, Giles from Legal Aid NSW’s employment law team , describes: some of the most significant changes, how to check if you’re getting paid the correct amount (use this tool from the Fair Work Ombudsman: A.C.T Pay Calculator - Find your award (fairwork.gov.au) ), how to hav...

Your Will is an important legal document outlining your wishes for when you pass away. It details:  who you want to receive your assets  who you want to receive specific personal and heirloom items  any religious or cultural arrangements for your funeral  who you want as a legal guardian for any children under 18 years  who you choose to be your executor when you pass away.  As an Aboriginal perso...

This is Part 3 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness. In this 3rd episode, Bridget from the Community Legal Education Branch speaks to Beverly Bak...

Strata Collective Sales and Advocacy Service This episode talks about being a tenant in a strata managed property and being an owner living in a strata managed property. Marrickville Legal Centre offers free legal advice and assistance to the community of the inner-west, south-west, southern suburbs of Sydney, and beyond. There are 1.5 million people living in our key catchment: that’s 30 per cent...

The Animal Defenders Office (ADO) is a national non-profit community legal centre that specialises in animal law. The ADO was incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory in late 2013. In 2017 we were formally recognised and accredited by the Australian National Association of Community Legal Centres as part of the National Accreditation Scheme ("NAS") Phase 2. On 11 May 2022 we were formally...

In this episode, we visit the South West Sydney Legal fair and chat to different organisations about the things you should know about their service and the ways that community workers can make referrals.  The South West Sydney Legal Fair is a free legal information event hosted by Legal Aid NSW and the Vietnamese Australian Lawyers Association.   The groups interviewed in this episode are:  Vietna...

What they do: Protect Country and culture Protect habitats and wildlife Tackle climate change Sustainable water sharing Promote healthy communities Defending the defenders They run bold and ground-breaking environmental cases to protect our natural world. They can help you and your community use the law to protect the environment. Their team of dedicated and expert lawyers, scientists, communicato...

The Welfare Rights Centre opened its doors in 1983 as part of the community legal centre movement in Australia that began in response to scarcity of affordable legal assistance available to marginalised members of society. Originally co-located with Redfern Legal Centre, the Centre opened its own premises in 1985. Since then it has experienced changes in location, staff, funding sources, law and p...

Financial Rights Legal Centre is a specialist centre providing free financial counselling and legal advice to help people resolve financial difficulties and disputes with credit and debt, banking, bankruptcy, debt collection or insurance problems.   We offer our services through 4 telephone services available to the general public:   National Debt Helpline (we answer half of the calls in NSW) Mond...

In this episode of our Law for Community Worker podcast series we talk with Madi from the Mid North Coast Legal Centre about the consequences of making a court election when you receive a fine. Madi also talks about other options available to people when they receive a fine and why court electing is not always the best choice.   Mid North Coast Legal Centre: https://mnclegal.org.au/ Phone: 02 6580...

In this episode, Stephanie Hawes explores a recent case run by Redfern Legal Centre where the validity of some COVID fines issued by New South Wales Police was examined. We hear from the senior lawyer Sam Lee about the legal aspects of the case as well as the outcome and its effect on the community. We then chat with Rohan Pank, the plaintiff in the case, about his experience and journey to the Su...

The Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) is a non-profit community based legal centre located in Kings Cross, NSW. The centre has been providing FREE legal services to residents in the inner city, surrounding areas Northern Beaches, and LGBTIQ Communities since 1980. Areas Serviced: Areas Serviced - Inner City Legal Centre (iclc.org.au)   Website: Home - Inner City Legal Centre (iclc.org.au) **scroll do...

The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre provides free legal assistance for homeless and disadvantaged young people aged 25 and under. We are based in inner Sydney but can also help young people outside this area. The Shopfront was established in 1993 and is operated jointly by Herbert Smith Freehills, Mission Australia and The Salvation Army. The legal services are provided by Herbert Smith Freehills on...

Be Open. Be Ready. Be Heard. Advance care planning involves planning for your future health care. It enables you to make some decisions now about the health care you would or would not like to receive if you were to become seriously ill and unable to communicate your preferences or make treatment decisions. Advance care planning gives you the opportunity to think about, discuss and record your pre...

The Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL) was set up in 1994 as a specialist Community Legal Centre, working towards a world where people with disabilities are able to participate in all aspects of life. Our vision is of a society in which persons with disability live with dignity, and in which their human rights and fundamental freedoms are recognised, respected, protected and fulfilled. Ou...

Financial Rights Legal Centre is a specialist legal centre providing advice for anyone in financial distress. They are a Community Legal Centre based in NSW, but offering legal advice and financial counselling across Australia. We focus particularly on assisting low-income, marginalised or disadvantaged consumers who need help to solve complex problems and gain greater financial freedom. We also u...

The Financial Counsellor role sits within the Consumer Law Team, and the Financial Counsellor is available to receive referrals from the Civil Law division A Financial Counsellor can: Assess a client’s financial situation and advise on possible solutions. Make financial hardship applications, including requesting debt waivers. Provide advice for clients who are struggling to pay bills, meet basic...

This episode is being released on the International Transgender day of Visibility, Friday March 31st 2023 to  celebrate and support Trans and Gender Diverse people in our lives and communities.  The Inner City Legal Centre, in partnership with Dentons, offer the Trans and Gender Diverse Legal Service for transgender and gender diverse people experiencing legal problems. The service runs a fortnigh...

The Immigration Advice and Rights Centre (IARC) is a specialist, not-for-profit community legal centre (CLC) with over 35 years’ experience in migration law and policy. IARC’s vision is for a fair and just immigration system for everyone, regardless of means. IARC assists migrants experiencing vulnerability in NSW by providing free legal information, advice, and casework services. Our clients are...