Law for Community Workers Legal Aid NSW CLE (Community Legal Education) Branch

This is Part 6 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness and to people with lived experience of homelessness.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which this episode was made and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
In this 6th episode, Bridget from the Community Legal Education Branch speaks to Olivia who works in Legal Aid NSW’s homeless outreach service.  Olivia works with many clients who are at risk of homelessness when they are going into custody or when leaving custody.
There is useful information in this episode about how community workers can support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Use the links below to find out more information about what we talked about in this episode.
Department of Communities and Justice housing policies:
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/eligibility/social-housing
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/applying-assistance/applying
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/policies/social-housing-eligibility-allocations-policy-supplement/chapters/urgent-housing-needs
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/policies/social-housing-eligibility-allocations-policy-supplement/chapters/housing-evidence
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/community-housing-policies/transitional-plus
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/aboriginal-housing/overview
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/ways/are-you-homeless/together-home
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/applying-assistance/waiting-times
https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/ways/domestic-family-violence
 Transcript: Download transcript
Music: Warm Romance Sunset by Bobby Cole
Please send questions, comments and feedback to cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

In this episode, Legal Aid NSW family lawyers Sarah and Claudia will explain what’s new in Care and Protection in NSW including:
Reforms that started on 15 November 2023 around ‘active efforts’ that need to be made by DCJ
Changes that started in November 2022 around presumptions to remove children
Changes to early intervention and early referral to legal advice through the Legal Assistance for Families Partnership Agreement (LAFPA)
The Families is Culture report that led to the reforms.
Here are the links mentioned in the podcast:
Care and protection (nsw.gov.au)
LAFPA (nsw.gov.au)
Publications and resources (nsw.gov.au)
 
For legal help, please contact:
Legal Aid NSW | Home
Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (alsnswact.org.au)Transcript:
Download transcript

This is Part 5 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness and to people with lived experience of homelessness.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which this episode was made, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
In this 5th episode, Bridget from the Community Legal Education Branch speaks to Rachel, a person with lived experience of homelessness. 
We wish to acknowledge and thank Rachel, David and Rebecca who all shared their experiences of homelessness with us.  We also thank the Homeless Persons Legal Service, part of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre for putting us in touch with the StreetCare team.
There is useful information in this episode about how community workers can support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
 
Use the links below to find out more information about what we talked about in this episode.
Homeless Persons’ Legal ServicePh. 61 2 8898 6545Fx. 61 2 8898 6555hpls@piac.asn.au
https://piac.asn.au/projects/homelessness/
The Big Issue
https://thebigissue.org.au/
Music: Warm Romance Sunset by Bobby Cole
Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/JGulZMp80-HsLCSH5GOpqYBB9xQ?utm_source=copy_url
Please send questions, comments and feedback to cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

In this episode, Stephanie Hawes from Legal Aid NSW chats to Madeleine Causbrook from the Employment Rights Legal Service about their service and a case study on sexual harassment in the workplace.
Legal services:Employment Rights Legal Service: www.erls.org.au and 02 8004 3270
Kingsford Legal Centre website: www.klc.unsw.edu.au  and 02 9385 9566
Legal Aid NSW's Respect At Work Legal Service: 02 9072 2333LawAccess: 1300 888 529 Support services:Lifeline: 13 11 14
Bravehearts: 1800 272 83111800 RESPECT: 1800 737 7320
 
Transcript
 
 

This is Part 4 in our podcast series exploring homelessness in Australia and the legal issues people experience when they are homeless or at risk of homelessness.  During this series we will be speaking to people from different services providing support and legal advice to those experiencing homelessness.
We acknowledge the traditional owners of the lands on which this episode was made, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
In this 4th episode, Bridget from the Community Legal Education Branch speaks to Esther and Danu, solicitors from the Veterans’ Advocacy Service.  The Veterans’ Advocacy Service is a specialised service within the Government Law Service in the Civil Division of Legal Aid NSW.
There is useful information in this episode about how community workers working with veterans can help them identify themselves and refer them for legal help .
 
Use the links below to find out more information about what we talked about in this episode.
Veterans Advocacy Service (VAS) can be contacted by:
Telephone: 9219 5148
Email: veterans@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
The website: Veteran (nsw.gov.au)
Writing to them at PO Box K847, Haymarket NSW 1240
Sending a fax to: (02) 9219 5145;
Attending 323 Castlereagh Street (cnr Hay St) Haymarket between 9am – 5pm. 
See reception on the ground floor.
If you live in a regional area, you can also contact the VAS through your local Legal Aid office or ex-service organisation.
For publications to display in your workplace, go to:
Veteran (nsw.gov.au), Scroll down the page to “Resources” – Have you served in the military?
Or go to: Publications and resources (nsw.gov.au) and type “Veterans” or “Military” into the Keyword to see our range of posters, fact sheets and wallet cards you can order or print.
For other supports go to:
Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling
Legacy – Supporting our veterans' families since 1923.
Other relevant links:
Homepage | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)
Aged care resources | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)
Compensation claims | Department of Veterans' Affairs (dva.gov.au)
Transcript: https://otter.ai/u/JyomD9olPvU2569tCkV1A6ZfiRI?utm_source=copy_url
Please send questions, comments and feedback to cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

On 1 July 2023 a number of employment law changes commenced, including an increase to the National Minimum Wage.
 
In this episode, Giles from Legal Aid NSW’s employment law team, describes:
some of the most significant changes,
how to check if you’re getting paid the correct amount (use this tool from the Fair Work Ombudsman: A.C.T Pay Calculator - Find your award (fairwork.gov.au)),
how to have a conversation with your employer if you’re not getting paid the correct amount,
what steps you can take if your employer refuses to pay you what you’re entitled to, and
where you can go for legal help - Contact us (nsw.gov.au).
 
Giles also highlights the work of Legal Aid NSW’s Respect at Work Legal Service who provide trauma-informed legal services to people who have experienced sexual harassment and/or discrimination in the workplace.
 
View a transcript of this podcast here.