News&Events

News and Events

Have Your Say at the Anti-Poverty Stall

Having your say during this year’s Anti-Poverty Week will be made easy as scribes will record your concerns ready to send to relevant decision makers.

On Friday 17th October 2008 between 9am and 12 noon outside the Wesley Church on the Mall in Wollongong, letter writers will note down public concerns about issues of poverty and social hardship. Stamped addressed envelopes will be provided to send those concerns to relevant government representatives.

On this day last year around 150 people sat down to talk, write and dictate their concerns so they could be forwarded to those who shape public policy and make decisions that affect our lives.

There was deep concern about the lack of affordable housing, rising household debts and the need for comprehensive health care including dental treatment. Letter writers noted the need to close the gap between the rich and the poor by putting more money into essential services and infrastructure.

This Anti-Poverty activity is about giving ordinary people in the street a voice. Please come and have your say.

For further information contact Sharon Callaghan on 42754702

Young People and Fines Project

The Illawarra Legal Centre’s (ILC) Children’s Court Assistance Scheme (CCAS) has identified the need for information to be available for young people on the laws relating to fines.

Significant numbers of young people have incurred large debts through being fined. Many of the fines are for travelling without a ticket but others include public order offences that incur on-the-spot fines.

The ILC in collaboration with Wollongong University Law Faculty workers and students will undertake research on existing work around fines, identify the basis and context for current laws around fines and investigate alternate approaches that reduce the negative impact of fines on young people. Recommendations from this work will be submitted to relevant authorities.

This project will produce education resources for young people and community sector workers outlining the serious consequences for young people incurring large debts.

For further information contact Sharon Callaghan on 42754702

Anti Poverty Week at Wollongong TAFE

Illawarra Legal Centre will invite students participating in Wollongong TAFE’s Healthy Student Lifestyles event to talk about poverty and how early legal information and advice on tenancy and credit and debt matters can reduce financial hardship. The Illawarra Legal Centre will have an information stall and assist students write letters to our civic leaders regarding their concerns about poverty.

This event takes place at Wollongong TAFE Thursday Campus canteen area on the 16th October 2008 between 10am and 1pm.

For further information please contact Sharon Callaghan on 42754702

Summary – ILC Submission – Homelessness Green paper

The Illawarra Legal Centre (ILC) contributed a submission to the Federal Government’s Green Paper ‘Which Way Home: A New Approach to Homelessness’. The submission focused on approaches and strategies that aim to prevent homelessness as reflected in the work of the ILC.

The ILC called for an urgent increase in sufficient affordable housing and amongst other points emphasised the importance of:

- long-term funding arrangements;

- a holistic approach to service provision; and

- community development and engagements through grassroots programs and community events.

Funding Boost for Community Legal Centres (CLCs)

Illawarra Legal Centre staff and management welcome the recent announcement by the Commonwealth Attorney General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, that Community Legal Centres will receive a funding boost.

The national Community Legal Centres work to increase access to justice for the most vulnerable members of the community.

The community based legal centres have strong community links and facilitate volunteer programs including out of business hours legal advice.

An additional $10 million for the national Community Legal Centres network will assist this important sector continue their innovative work with those in the community who face the greatest social and financial hardship.

The Illawarra Legal Centre has over 20 years experience providing community based legal services and welcomes new funding for this important work.

Sharon Callaghan
Community Legal Education Worker
Ph 42 754702

Acknowledgement for a valuable contribution

The Combined Community Legal Centres Group (CCLCG) Award was granted to local solicitor Linda Wright at the annual Justice Awards presented by the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW.

Linda Wright has offered her services as a volunteer solicitor to the Illawarra Legal Centre’s free legal roster for 22 years and for eighteen years Linda has served on the management committee, most of that time as Deputy Chairperson.

The Illawarra Legal Centre Inc is one of the 200 community legal centres nationwide that provide free legal advice and representation to those in the community who face the greatest social and financial hardship.

“Linda has shown extraordinary commitment to the Illawarra Legal Centre with over 22 years of active involvement not only in a management capacity but as a volunteer solicitor”, says Dr Judy Stubbs, Chairperson of the Illawarra Legal Centre Inc.

“Linda’s insight and dedication to making justice accessible to those who need it most has been a valued contribution to the Centre’s work”, Ms Stubbs said.

Linda Wright is a partner with DGB Lawyers and regularly leaves her office after a day’s work to see Illawarra Legal Centre clients on a Thursday night at the Wollongong City library.

Her voluntary role as Deputy Chairperson on the management committee has promoted strong participation and sound decision making that have helped shape a dynamic community based legal centre.