New Domestic Violence Service for Central Coast Launched
Announcement posted by Divorce 27 Feb 2018
Attorney-General Christian Porter announced the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Domestic Violence Unit in Wyong as part of a $3.4 million Commonwealth grant. Mr Porter said, “This model of bringing together specialist legal and social support services is already working very well across Australia and that is why we are establishing even more units across Australia.”
Speaking at the inauguration on February 21, 2018, Mr Porter said it was one of six new domestic violence units being established across Australia with funding of $3.4 million to bring together legal and social support services in one place, providing a much greater level of support to those in urgent need.
The event was attended by Watts McCray Solicitor Ms Michelle Meares from their Erina office in her capacity as member of the Central Coast Law Society Committee. The Central Coast Domestic Violence Unit will join the twelve existing units which currently assist victims of family violence across the state by providing free legal advice, referrals, representation and social support.
The unit will provide coordinated and intensive legal and social work support to clients who are at serious threat and who have complex legal and social needs including providing frontline legal assistance to women and children alongside the Apprehended Domestic Violence Order lists at Wyong Local Court.
Mr Porter said the Turnbull Government was committed to action to address issues of family violence. “The new domestic violence units build on the Government’s record investment of more than $1.7 billion over five years for legal aid commissions, community legal centres and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, including $20 million already being provided for the existing 12 specialist domestic violence units and five health justice partnerships established in 2016 under the Women’s Safety Package,” he said.
Dedicated lawyers who understand the effects of trauma will attend apprehended domestic violence order list days at Wyong Local Court each week, identifying and offering immediate free help to victims of domestic violence. In addition to their work on the frontlines, lawyers will deliver intensive casework for clients facing legal issues including divorce, child abduction and financial abuse.
Beyond the courtroom, a dedicated social worker will support vulnerable clients who have experienced domestic and family violence, whether by helping women and children keep a roof over their head, contacting Centrelink on their behalf or connecting them with counsellors.
Watts McCray Lawyers has offices in Sydney, Canberra, Central Coast, Parramatta, Norwest, Brookvale and Frenchs Forest. The law firm provides services such as child support, prenuptial agreements, child custody, divorce and property. They have helped thousands of Australians move forward with their lives following adversity that often presents itself in cases of domestic violence.
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To contact Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Domestic Violence Unit call 9219 6300 or email domesticviolenceunit@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
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