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The Barwon Community Legal Service maintains a strong commitment to community legal education and community development as part of its overall social justice strategy. We can provide Community Legal Education on a range of legal topics to community groups and workers in the community organisations.
The Service’s approach is a strategic linking of casework with community legal education and law and policy reform work. Community development enables community members to be better informed, to have an active voice to seek solutions for the issues affecting their lifes. We actively promote the empowerment of the community and changes to the law in response to community issues and contribute to law reform through our state and national Community Legal Centre network.
Community Legal Education (CLE) aims to:
- Raise community awareness about the law and legal
processes;
- Increase the ability of the community members to understand and
critically assess the impact of the law and the legal system;
- Improve community members’ ability to participate in the legal
system;
- Create a climate that promotes participation in the law-making
process and inspires efforts to pursue law reform through
collective action.
CLE can be undertaken in a number of
ways:
- through workshops, lectures and presentations
- using information kits, pamphlets and multimedia CDs
- broadcasting on community radio
- publications in newspapers or magazines
- by discussion, film, theatre and games that facilitate
learning
CLE provides information and opportunities to ask
questions, share ideas and develop strategies that may address gaps
in the legal system.
Learning about various legal processes may assist someone to find a
solution to a legal problem before it becomes difficult,
complicated and possibly expensive.
CLE can influence law reform work and make broad systemic
change.
A guide to the services of the Barwon Community Legal Service.
Legal Problem Solving & Referral – a guide for community workers: case studies & legal problem solving, complaint mechanisms, role of Legal Aid and Barwon Community Legal Service.
General Law – including motor vehicle accidents, discrimination, traffic offences, neighbourhood disputes and Wills and Power of Attorney.
Social Security – appealing against a Centrelink decision, making a complaint and debts.
Family Law – divorce, parenting issues and child support.
Child Support – how the Scheme works, debts & arrears, income estimates.
Family Violence Intervention Orders –how to obtain an order & the court process.
Criminal Law – the court process, victims of crime.
Police powers and young people.
Generally, the Service requires 4 weeks notice from any group seeking a Community Legal Education workshop.
To discuss or request a tailored workshop, a series of workshops, or for more information contact our Community Education and Development Worker phone 1300 430 599.