A team of First Nations lawyers will be offering free legal advice over common issues like fines, debt and housing at upcoming events in Bourke, Brewarrina and Enngonia.
Legal Aid NSW’s Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (CLSAC) and Family Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (FamAC) will be visiting Brewarrina, Enngonia and Bourke this week to help with a range of civil law issues including housing, Centrelink, NDIS, employment and more and family law issues such as separation and child custody.
The team – comprising lawyers, social workers and financial counsellors, travel thousands of kilometres each year to provide free legal and non-legal assistance across the state with issues like complaints about government, ID issues, consumer or contract issues and financial hardship.
Sue Phillips, Community Engagement Manager, said fines were a common issue in the region.
“We see a large number who have accrued significant fines debt and are struggling to pay this debt. We can often help these people with a payment plan, write off or to work off their debt through various activities through a Work and Development Order."
Ms Philips said many people were seeking help with predatory finance companies offering very high interest loans to vulnerable people, often described as ‘loan sharks.’
“A common issue we see in remote First Nations communities particularly in the Far West is companies offering solar panel financing with very high interest rates and people struggling to make the repayments,” she said.
The earlier people seek legal advice for issues related to housing, fines, Centrelink or other issues like employment, the better the outcome.
“We are urging people to reach out. We are here to help and you won’t know what options you have until you reach out,” she said.
Ms Phillips said the service partners with a range of stakeholders to improve access to justice in regional and remote Aboriginal communities by working directly with those communities.
“Our work forms a critical part of Closing the Gap by helping to resolve First Nations people’s legal problems including addressing the overrepresentation of First Nations people in custody.”
Anyone who needs help can contact CLSAC on 1800 793 017 or FamAC on (02) 9407 2941.
Outreach details:
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Thursday 22 October
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9am-1pm at CatholicCare – 38 Mertin St, Bourke (Free BBQ provided)
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Wednesday 21 October
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10am-2pm at Murrawari LALC – 17 Fourth Ave, Enngonia (Free BBQ provided)
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Tuesday 20 October
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9am-12pm at Brewarrina Child & Family Centre – Wilson St, Brewarrina &
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12.30pm-4.30pm at Brewarrina Visitor Information Centre – Bathurst St, Brewarrina
Sue Philips is available for interview.
Contact details:
Media contact | Georgia Clark | 0438 606 092 | [email protected]