What we do
Whittlesea Community Legal Service
Our legal team takes pride in grounding its approach
and priorities on the needs and experiences of the local
community and throughout 2013-14 legal advice and
casework formed the backbone of the team’s work. Day-time,
evening and outreach appointments were all made available
to ensure that our lawyers were accessible to as many in our
community as resources allowed.
Outreach
Over the past year, the outreach program has continued
to build relationships with five locations in the City
of Whittlesea: Mill Park Community House, Anglicare
Victoria in Lalor, Laurimar Community Activity Centre in
Doreen, Uniting Care Kildonan in Epping and Plenty Valley
Community Health in Whittlesea.
Over 450 appointments were made available at outreach
locations in the financial year 2013-2014. The outreach
locations at Plenty Valley Community Health and Mill Park
Community House demonstrate the greatest need with the
highest number of cases open in these locations.
Based on assessed client need, we have now negotiated a
new arrangement with Anglicare Victoria in Lalor to provide a
monthly Community Legal Information session to female clients
with casework appointments scheduled in the afternoon.
The WCLS and Greensborough Family
Relationship Centre Partnership (GFRC)
Our partnership with the GFRC ensures that local people have
access to quality legal advice as they navigate through the
dispute resolution process and we have consolidated both
our relationship with the GFRC and the services provided
there. Information sessions, advice, casework, and assistance
during family mediation have been key aspects of the work
undertaken and the demand for the services provided by this
partnership continues to increase.
6
“
At WCC I am continually
involved in helping and
witnessing other people
make a difference to the
lives of many on all scales
and through different
avenues. My favourite
WCC memory from this
year is being able to sit in
with Chris Ryan and watch
how he engages with
legal clients. The hands on
experience was exciting and
valuable.
”
Haylee,
Legal Service Volunteer
“
If it wasn’t for WCC I
wouldn’t have gained the
confidence to enter the
professional industry and
gained skills necessary for
the justice system.
”
Joylyn & Thao,
Legal Service Volunteers