A number of passers-by stopped to take information on a range of topics including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, human rights and asylum seekers, human rights and Indigenous people and human rights and poverty. People also took advantage of prepared pro forma letters that they could fill in with their own details and send to local members of parliament.

It should be remembered that many of the things we take for granted - such as adequate housing, fair and equitable health care and good public education are not equally available to all Australians. Many of our fellow citizens continue to live with great social and financial hardship. Every day should be human rights day!

You can still have your say by using the pro forma letter below.

Human Rights Day - Have Your Say on 9 December

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Congratulations Illawarra and South Coast Tenants Service

The Illawarra & South Coast Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (ISCTAAS) have done it again!

During the Regional Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Program Network meeting in Bathurst in November 2011, ISCTAAS walked away clutching three highly coveted awards.

Leah Janetzski from the south coast office received a TAAP award for her performance in the Tribunal against a repeatedly recalcitrant real estate agent, while the service as a whole received a Gnomie, and retained the Golden Warren for the second year running.

The Golden Warren recognises the collective contribution into tenancy policy and law reform, whilst the Gnomie acknowledges the service's contribution to Residential Parks matters.

Congratulations to the entire tenancy team who work tirelessly in their aim to achieve justice for tenants in the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Highlands regions.

 

Young People, Fines Debt and Work and Development Orders

2011 UPDATE

The NSW Attorney General recently announced the Work and Development Order scheme would be permanent from 1 July 2011.

Mr Ryan Park MP, Member for Keira, speaking in NSW Parliament for the Fines Amendment (Work and Development Orders) Bill 2011 stated that:

The Illawarra Legal Centre deals with some of the most disadvantaged people in the community ... Sharon Callaghan from the ILC told me countless stories of how work and development orders help in trying to get young people in particular back on the straight and narrow... In doing so, this prevents them from reaching the point where they fall into a disadvantage cycle.

The Illawarra Legal Centre has been a lead agency for the Work and Development Order (WDO) pilot project. Over the last two years a number of printed resources have been produced and distributed. See our list of publications, under "young people" for details.

A great deal of work went into producing the resources that are primarily for workers who are in contact with people seeking a WDO. These materials have received very favourable comments from government and non-government organisations.

The WDO scheme has been promoted throughout the youth and community sectors via mainstream media, education sessions, mail and phone outs, public forums and community newsletters.

Work and Development Orders give people an opportunity to contribute and participate in valuable programs while reducing or eliminating their fines debts.

The WDO opportunities flow through to ongoing work, study and training opportunities for participants with significant benefits for local communities.

CLIENT SATISFACTION SURVEY

During May and June 2011 the Illawarra Legal Centre conducted a phone survey to assess our clients' level of satisfaction with our service.

Overwhelmingly the survey results were positive and all staff, management committee and volunteers are to be congratulated on such encouraging results. Valuable feedback was given on how we could improve our service delivery. These comments have been taken on board.

The full report can be viewed here: Client Satisfaction Survey Final Report

LAW WEEK 16 - 22 MAY 2011

Launch of "Money Matters" Booklet

The Illawarra Legal Centre recently marked Law Week with the launch of Money Matters - a guide to consumer rights for people in NSW.

Money Matters aims to help community services refer people to places where they can get the right information. It is written in plain English and covers areas such as banking, credit cards, loans, debts, mobile phone contracts and fines. There is also a comprehensive list of government and non-government agencies with their contact details.

The booklet was produced with financial assistance from the NSW Office of Fair Trading. It is a great resource for local community services and caseworkers to assist them to refer clients to appropriate services.

Money Matters will be distributed to a wide range of community and welfare services. Copies are available at no charge by contacting the ILC on (02) 4276 1939.

 

Seniors Week 2011 -  Where There's a Will ...

25 March 2011

The Illawarra Legal Centre used Seniors Week this year to remind older people of the need to plan ahead.

The Centre held an information stall in Wollongong Mall on Friday 25th March.

The stall, as always, was set up in front of the Wesley Church to take advantage of Friday market-day crowds.

Around sixty people made enquiries about a range of legal matters, including making a will, power of attorney, guardianship and Centrelink pensions as well as general legal information.