Law for Community Workers

Anyone who has had a Centrelink debt since 2003 can now claim money back from Centrelink under a new Scheme - but they need to act fast.

In this episode, Yolanda speaks with Dom Brown, a social security lawyer, about three major legal updates: the validation of income apportionment debts, the introduction of a new resolution scheme offering compensation payments, and expanded pathways for debt waivers, especially for people experiencing vulnerability.

What happens when a child stops attending or is excluded from school - and what are the legal consequences for families and schools?

In this episode, Yolanda takes a deep dive into school law in New South Wales, joined by legal experts Carey and Brodie. Together, they unpack how schools manage attendance and discipline, the legal obligations of parents, and what compulsory schooling orders actually mean in practice.

The conversation explores school exclusion in detail, including suspensions and expulsions, and the rights students have when these decisions are made. You’ll also hear about the complex social factors that sit behind non‑attendance, the respective roles of schools, Legal Aid NSW and community workers, and why early, supportive intervention can be critical in changing a young person’s life course.

00:03:18 - School attendance rules

00:05:17 - School refusal

00:09:18 - Compulsory schooling orders

00:24:57 - Carey's tips for community workers

00:27:40 - School discipline rules

00:29:49 - Bullying

00:31:37 - Suspension and expulsion legal issues

00:43:30 - Disability and discrimination

00:47:22 - Case studies

00:52:45 - Brodie's tips for community workers

Hard Conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW.

The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. 

The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable.

This first episode was recorded from conversations with social workers, community workers and lawyers from Legal Aid NSW Edler Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. Most of the people you will hear in this episode no longer work with these services. The Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre continue to provide services for older people.

You will hear from:

Download the transcript for this episode.

More information

Music by Gambirra 

Subscribe to the Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service e-newsletter

Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

Hard Conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW.

The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. 

The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable.

Download the transcript for this episode.

In this second episode we will hear from:

Other episodes of Hard Conversations:

More information

Music by Gambirra 

Edited by Jessica Sullivan and Yasmine Lewis: Legal Aid NSW

This series was made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. 

Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529.

Hard conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW.

The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. 

The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable.

In this 3rd episode we talk with Jenelyn Terkildsen about elder abuse in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. This episode was recorded when Jenelyn was working as a Multicultural Access Project Officer at ConnectAbility on the Central Coast NSW. This role no longer exists.

Download the transcript for this episode.

Other episodes of 'Hard conversations':

 More information

Music by Gambirra 

Edited by Jessica Sullivan and Yasmine Lewis: Legal Aid NSW

This series was made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. 

Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529

Hard Conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW.

The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. 

The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable.

In this 4th episode we talk with Diana Bernard. Diana is the former manager of education and special projects at the Seniors Rights Service.  The Seniors Rights Service continues to provide valuable services in the area of elder abuse.

Other episodes of Hard Conversations: 

 More information

Music by Gambirra 

Edited by Jessica Sullivan and Yasmine Lewis from Legal Aid NSW and Bernadette Nguyen from Audiocraft.

This series was made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. 

Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529

Hard Conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW.

The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. 

The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable.

In this 5th episode we talk with Maria Berry about elder abuse in rural and regional communities. This episode was recorded when Maria was previously a community development officer with the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN).

Download the transcript for this episode. 

Other episodes of Hard Conversations: 

 More information

Music by Gambirra 

Edited by Jessica Sullivan and Yasmine Lewis: Legal Aid NSW

Subscribe to the Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service e-newsletter

This series was made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. 

Please send your questions, comments and feedback to: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529

Hard Conversations is a 6-part podcast series exploring the complexity of elder abuse. It is produced by the Community Legal Education Branch of Legal Aid NSW.

The series was originally recorded several years ago. We have refreshed it because we thought that the conversations are still relevant and will assist anyone who wants to understand more about elder abuse. 

The people we talk with in this series generously shared their understanding of elder abuse, how they think about it in their communities, and ideas about how we can address it together. Many of them no longer work in the same roles and have moved on to other things. However, we think that their expertise, experience and insights remain relevant and valuable.

This final episode features Dr Kay Patterson AO – federal age discrimination commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) from 2016 to 2023.  In this informative and engaging interview, Dr Patterson talks with Mary Lovelock - solicitor in charge of the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service. 

This series has been made in partnership with the Legal Aid NSW Central Coast Elder Abuse Service, and the Central Coast Community Legal Centre. 

More information

Music by Gambirra 

Editing by Tiffany Dimmack - Audiocraft and Yasmin Lewis - Legal Aid NSW

Subscribe to the Legal Aid NSW Elder Abuse Service e-newsletter

Please send questions, comments and feedback to: [email protected]

Disclaimer: This podcast is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice. We recommend that you talk to a lawyer about any particular situation. The information is correct at the time of publishing but it may change. For more information, start with our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

Originally recorded for NSW Law Week, the Tenants' Union of NSW breaks down the latest changes to rental laws in New South Wales. 

Community Education Coordinator, Charlie Wilde chats to Principal Solicitor, Grant Arbuthnot about key reforms including changes to evictions, rent increases, pets, water efficiency requirements and more. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Watch the webinar of this episode.

Download the transcript. 

Disclaimer:

Disclaimer: This podcast is general information only and cannot be relied on as legal advice. The information is accurate at the time of posting but may have changed. If you need assistance about a particular situation, contact our team at LawAccess NSW via webchat at legalaid.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 888 529. 

In this episode, we introduce Do Your Own Divorce - a free, step-by-step online resource to help people in Australia apply for divorce through the Federal Circuit and Family Court. Designed to simplify the process, this tool is a valuable asset for community workers supporting clients through a divorce. We break down how it works, who it’s best for and how you can use it to provide clear, practical guidance—without the need for a lawyer.

Episode transcript: bit.ly/418RB2K

Please send questions, comments and feedback to [email protected]