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Illawarra Legal Centre (ILC) workers and Wollongong University’s Law Faculty collaborated on a Young People and Fines project.
The ILC Children’s Court Assistance Scheme (CCAS) workers along with other local workers identified the significant problem of young people having fines that accrued in some cases into significant debt.
Even with the State Government’s recent policy and legislative reforms to the Fines Act, which included more flexible payment options, guidelines for issuing official cautions, a restructured review process and new Work and Development Orders (WDOs) allowing those who live with the greatest disadvantage to work off their fines, more reform is needed.
To promote the changes the Illawarra Legal Centre has produced a Frequently Asked Questions sheet and wallet card on the new Work and Development Orders (WDOs) that are a key aspect of these reforms.
WDOs require a young person to do work, or training or undertake counselling with an approved person or organisation.
The young person with fines debt will need to contact an organisation or health care profession to support them seek a WDO. Together they make a plan that is submitted to the State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO).
If the organisation or health care professional where the young person wants to work or do training is not already “approved” by the SDRO they will need to apply for this status.
The University of Wollongong funding for research and the production of these valuable education resources on young people and fines will benefit many young people and the broader community.
For copies of the educational materials on fines please contact the ILC on 42761939.
Further Information on the Fines Project: contact Sharon Callaghan on 42754702
Having your say during this year’s Anti-Poverty Week was made easy as scribes from the Illawarra Legal Centre recorded your concerns ready to send to relevant decision makers.
On Friday 16th October 2009 between 9am and 1pm outside the Wesley Church on the Mall in Wollongong, letter writers noted public concerns about issues of poverty and social hardship. Stamped addressed envelopes were provided to send those concerns to relevant government representatives.
On this day last year around 70 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.
These issues are basic human rights for all Australians.
The Illawarra Legal Centre’s Anti-Poverty Week activity is about giving ordinary people in the street a voice.
The recommendations in the new Youth Justice Coalition report ‘Bail Me Out’, NSW Young Offenders and Bail are fully supported by the Illawarra Legal Centre Children’s Court Assistance Scheme (CCAS) Coordinator, Sharon Callaghan.
The report notes that the population of young people on remand in juvenile justice detention centres in NSW increased by 32 percent between 2007 and 2008. This does not seem in keeping with the principle that detention for young people should be the last resort.
According to the Bail Report breaching bail conditions was a key reason many young people were in court and 66 per cent of those young people who did breach their bail conditions did not commit new offences or fail to appear in court. Some breaches were defined as “technical” breaches.
Lack of housing options was a problem for young people remaining on remand due to be released on bail. Unsuitable accommodation could extend the time a young person remained in detention.
Illawarra Legal Centre workers call for strategies that divert young people from detention. Also, additional supported accommodation, community based work and training programs targeting young offenders and long term funding for youth support services.
See the Youth Justice Coalition Bail Me Out Report at http://www.yjconline.net/BailMeOut.pdf
The Illawarra Legal Centre’s (ILC) Competition for an Aboriginal artist to design and produce an artwork for display at the front of the ILC building at 7 Greene Street, Warrawong is now completed.
Local artist Kevin Butler won the prize with his piece “One Race Per Planet”. His work successfully reflected the theme of the competition based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights statement in “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”.
“The ILC wanted signage that was welcoming to Aboriginal community members and improves the appearance of the ILC building,” said Jody Clark, Aboriginal Legal Access Worker at the ILC.
The ILC sincerely thanks the artists for their wonderful contributions.
The competition was made possible by the support of Wollongong City Council’s Cultural Services that included a donation of $1,600.
Highly commended awards went to Jasmin Sarin and Richard Groves.
The Youth Achievement Award was taken out by Stuart Larkins and the People’s Choice Award went to John Hilton Green’s painting “Dignity”.
“One Race per Planet” will be digitally transferred to sheet metal and mounted at the entrance of the Illawarra Legal Centre.
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Last updated on Tuesday, 9 Dec 2008 |