The Welfare Rights Centre opened its doors in 1983 as part of the community legal centre movement in Australia that began in response to scarcity of affordable legal assistance available to marginalised members of society. Originally co-located with Redfern Legal Centre, the Centre opened its own premises in 1985. Since then it has experienced changes in location, staff, funding sources, law and policy. Throughout these changes, the Welfare Rights Centre has remained the lead service agency in NSW for social security law and policy.

The Welfare Rights Centre is a community legal centre specialising in social security law and family assistance law and its administration by Centrelink.

They provide free legal information, advice and representation to thousands of NSW residents every year who are adversely affected by Centrelink decisions. The Centre also provides education to improve knowledge and understanding about social security law in the community. They use the knowledge and experience they gain through their casework to advocate for reforms to the law and policy that would make the Australian social security system fairer for everyone.

They can advise people about their social security rights, entitlements and obligations and assist people through the social security review and appeals system, including Centrelink internal review and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. They provide all initial advice by phone.

Contact Information

Phone: 02 9211 5300 OR 1800 226 028 (toll-free from outside Sydney metro area)

Advice intake times

Monday: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Wednesday: 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

Website: https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/

Online Enquiries: https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/need-help

Community Legal Education: https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/community-legal-education

Facebook: Welfare Rights Centre NSW | Sydney NSW | Facebook

Twitter: Welfare Rights (@welfare_rights) / Twitter

Link to Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/DQPnNtnHXQJOSeT9oSQuifIj69Y?utm_source=copy_url 

Acknowledgments

The music in our Law for Community Workers on the go podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ 

Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

Financial Rights Legal Centre is a specialist centre providing free financial counselling and legal advice to help people resolve financial difficulties and disputes with credit and debt, banking, bankruptcy, debt collection or insurance problems.

We offer our services through 4 telephone services available to the general public:

National Debt Helpline (we answer half of the calls in NSW)

Monday to Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm: 1800 007 007

Credit & Debt Legal Advice line (NSW)

Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm: 1800 844 949

Insurance Law Service (national)

Monday to Friday 10am to 1pm: 1300 663 464

Mob Strong Debt Help (national)

Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm: 1800 808 488

We have a dedicated Caseworker Hotline available for caseworkers and financial counsellors

Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4.30pm: 1800 650 084

Financial Rights’ website has a new look: check the details below

Website: Home - Financial Rights Legal Centre

Caseworker Resources: Caseworker Resources - Financial Rights Legal Centre

Mob Strong: Mob Strong Debt Help (financialrights.org.au)

Workshops and Education: Workshops and Education - Financial Rights Legal Centre

Link to Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/-qYFBiO_auh1s_s6cHv7BTBO4uQ?utm_source=copy_url

 Acknowledgments

The music in our Law for Community Workers on the go podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

In this episode of our Law for Community Worker podcast series we talk with Madi from the Mid North Coast Legal Centre about the consequences of making a court election when you receive a fine. Madi also talks about other options available to people when they receive a fine and why court electing is not always the best choice.

Mid North Coast Legal Centre: https://mnclegal.org.au/

Phone: 02 6580 2111

Email: [email protected]

To find a community legal service near you www.clcnsw.org.au

Revenue NSW: https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/

Factsheets about driving offences - www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Driving laws in NSW - www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/demerits-penalties-and-offences

Road User Handbook to download and also available in 8 community languages www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-safety-and-rules/safety-updates-for-nsw-road-users/road-user-handbook 

Law Access Guided Pathways about Traffic Offences and FineFixer can be found here: https://legalhelp.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au/

Music: Blue Highway by Podington Bear 

Editing by Yasmine Lewis from Legal Aid NSW

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

Transcript: https://adobe.ly/3BuXLgi

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

In this episode, Stephanie Hawes explores a recent case run by Redfern Legal Centre where the validity of some COVID fines issued by New South Wales Police was examined. We hear from the senior lawyer Sam Lee about the legal aspects of the case as well as the outcome and its effect on the community. We then chat with Rohan Pank, the plaintiff in the case, about his experience and journey to the Supreme Court.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

The Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) is a non-profit community based legal centre located in Kings Cross, NSW. The centre has been providing FREE legal services to residents in the inner city, surrounding areas Northern Beaches, and LGBTIQ Communities since 1980.

Areas Serviced: Areas Serviced - Inner City Legal Centre (iclc.org.au)

Website: Home - Inner City Legal Centre (iclc.org.au)

**scroll down the above page to subscribe to their newsletter**

SLS: https://www.iclc.org.au/our-services/sex-worker-legal-service/

Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP): Home - SWOP Sex Workers Outreach Project

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 02 9332 1966                     Toll Free: 1800 244 481                 SMS-only number: 0476 857 342

Location:

Basement, Kings Cross Library,

Neighbourhood Centre

50-52 Darlinghurst Road

Kings Cross NSW 2011

Postal Address: PO Box 25, Potts Point NSW 1335

Link to Transcript: https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:10add599-f876-31c9-a427-e3e6141848e5  

Acknowledgments

The music in our Law for Community Workers on the go podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ 

Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre provides free legal assistance for homeless and disadvantaged young people aged 25 and under. We are based in inner Sydney but can also help young people outside this area.

The Shopfront was established in 1993 and is operated jointly by Herbert Smith Freehills, Mission Australia and The Salvation Army. The legal services are provided by Herbert Smith Freehills on a pro bono basis and our case work service is provided by Mission Australia.

We provide legal representation and advice to homeless and disadvantaged young people aged 25 and under.

We also have a case work service to provide social support and referrals to a range of other services.

Website: The Shopfront | Darlinghurst | Shopfront Youth Legal Centre

Factsheets: Legal information for youth workers | The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre

Contact:

Hours: 9.00am - 5.30pm Monday - Friday  (Arrangements can be made outside these hours if necessary)

Address: 356 Victoria Street, DARLINGHURST  NSW  2010  (near corner of Liverpool Street)

Phone: (02) 9322 4808

(Messages can be left on this number after hours. There is also an option to be put through to a solicitor for urgent legal advice, but please note we do not provide a 24-hour hotline)

Email: [email protected]

Link to Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/bK-YRGSV9ea633FJGGX19chXzSU?utm_source=copy_url

Acknowledgments

The music in our Law for Community Workers on the go podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ 

Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

Be Open. Be Ready. Be Heard.

Advance care planning involves planning for your future health care. It enables you to make some decisions now about the health care you would or would not like to receive if you were to become seriously ill and unable to communicate your preferences or make treatment decisions.

Advance care planning gives you the opportunity to think about, discuss and record your preferences for the type of care you would like to receive and the outcomes you would consider acceptable. Advance care planning helps to ensure your loved ones and health providers know what matters most to you and respect your treatment preferences.

Phone: 1300 208 582

Contact Us: Contact us - Advance Care Planning Australia

Website: Advance Care Planning Australia

Training and Education: Training and education - Advance Care Planning Australia

Subscribe to the Newsletter: Advance Care Planning Australia (list-manage.com)

Order Resources (plans, wallet cards, fact sheets etc): Order or print support materials - Advance Care Planning Australia

Link to Conversation Starters: Starting the conversation - Advance Care Planning Australia

Link to the Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/9uALOZf7JJjsZ03x6j4pexZC1xY?utm_source=copy_url

Acknowledgments

The music in our Law for Community Workers on the go podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

The Australian Centre for Disability Law (ACDL) was set up in 1994 as a specialist Community Legal Centre, working towards a world where people with disabilities are able to participate in all aspects of life.

Our vision is of a society in which persons with disability live with dignity, and in which their human rights and fundamental freedoms are recognised, respected, protected and fulfilled. Our purpose is to work towards the realisation of our vision by providing persons with disability and their associates with specialist legal assistance in our designated practice areas, and by undertaking complementary community legal education, continuing legal education and policy and law reform activities.

Website: Home - Australian Centre for Disability Law

Contact Us: Contact - Australian Centre for Disability Law

Learning Together: Education - (disabilitylaw.org.au)

Talk Up: Talk Up! – Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability to know and understand their legal rights (fpdn.org.au)

Link to Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/F41DcD5c_O3ILrSfWzrVLEWedww?utm_source=copy_url

Acknowledgments

The music in our Law for Community Workers on the go podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/

Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

Financial Rights Legal Centre is a specialist legal centre providing advice for anyone in financial distress.

They are a Community Legal Centre based in NSW, but offering legal advice and financial counselling across Australia. We focus particularly on assisting low-income, marginalised or disadvantaged consumers who need help to solve complex problems and gain greater financial freedom. We also use our experience helping individuals to argue for improved consumer protection laws and a fairer marketplace.

Website: Home - Financial Rights Legal Centre

Contact Numbers:

 National Debt Helpline: 1800 007 007    Monday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm

(Online Chat available 9am to 8pm)

Credit & Debt Legal Advice line (NSW only):     1800 844 949    Monday to Friday 10am-1pm

Insurance Law Service:     1300 663 464    Monday to Friday 10am-1pm

Mob Strong Debt Help:    1800 808 488    Monday to Friday 9.30am-4.30pm

Training and Workshops: Workshops and Education - Financial Rights Legal Centre

Factsheets: Fact Sheet Index - Financial Rights Legal Centre

Debt Collection Factsheet: Dealing with Debt Collection - Financial Rights Legal Centre

Facebook: Mob Strong, Debt Help - Home | Facebook

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fin_Rights_CLC

Link to Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/VaxBkEXM5LP-i6LvIo-K-zCwqvs?utm_source=copy_url

Acknowledgments

The music in our Law for Community Workers on the go podcasts is Blue Highway by Podington Bear licensed under Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial 3.0 Licence

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ 

Legal Aid NSW has met all our legal copyright and intellectual property obligations in the preparation of these podcasts.

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529. 

This is a special edition of Law for Community Workers in which we speak to the Defence and Veterans Legal Service about the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide.

Bridget from the Community Legal Education Branch speaks to Yolanda D’Aquino about the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide and some imminent deadlines for people who wish to participate to request a private session with the Royal Commission or to make a submission to the Royal Commission.

28 April 2023 is the last date on which someone can request to have a private session in the Royal Commission.

13 October 2023 is the last date on which someone can make a submission to the Royal Commission.

Use the links below to find out more information about what we talked about in this episode.

Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide

To contact the Royal Commission:

Email:[email protected]

Telephone: 1800 329 095 or +61 2 5122 3105, 9:00am to 5:00pm AEDT Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

For a free-of-charge translator or interpreter phone the Translating and Interpreting Service- external site on 131 450. Ask to be connected to 02 5122 3105.

Royal Commission website:

https://defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au/

To request a private session:

https://submissions.defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au/general/request-for-a-private-session/

To make a submission: https://submissions.defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au/general/submissions/

Defence and Veterans Legal Service Ph. 1800 33 1800

Home — Defence and Veterans Legal Service (defenceveteranslegalservice.org.au)

Subscribe to their newsletter here:

Subscribe to our newsletter — Defence and Veterans Legal Service (defenceveteranslegalservice.org.au)

For crisis support:

Triple zero(000)

Contact your nearest Emergency Department

Suicide Call Back Service

Open Arms

Defence All-hours Support Line

Lifeline Australia

Nightly text line

0477 131 114

Beyond Blue

Editing by Yasmine Lewis from Legal Aid NSW

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 www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or on 1300 888 529.