Amy TLuong-Gov Lawyer TCP INC Aus-Tluong’s Post

“Without adequate legal assistance funding, it’s the most disadvantaged women – including victim-survivors of domestic violence – who lose out,” said CEO Louise Glanville. The family law system plays a critical role in our community’s response to family violence and women’s safety, with Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia data showing that 80 per cent of cases involve family violence. Legal assistance services are critical to addressing the domestic and family violence crisis. Access to legal aid can stop violence from continuing and keep women and children safe however additional funding is needed to meet the increasing demand for family and civil law, including for family violence services. Read more https://lnkd.in/gESw4F-t National Legal Aid #auspol

Good legal support can be transformational for women and children experiencing family violence and family breakdown. Legal processes can harm people. They can can also help them, pursuing interests and defending rights that promote dignity and safeguard well-being. The difference is often getting the right support to navigate complexity and minimise damaging interactions in clunky systems that can be weaponised by opponents. Having worked for decades in the law I am well aware of the limitations of the legal system to attend to the many aspects of life that contribute to an individual’s wellbeing when they are in the midst of conflict. But I have also seen, time and again, the benefit of timely legal information and advice to make wise and informed decisions, or legal representation to stand beside clients through their darkest times. People need good and timely legal help and the long awaited review of Australia’s National Legal Partnership agreement (expiring on 30 June 2025) is sure to say so - when it’s released. It will lay bare the woeful state of legal assistance funding in Australia and ask hard questions of governments (and us all) about how and where to address legal need to make sure that the law is used as a force for good in the lives of our most vulnerable. This is an important read by legal and family violence services helping women and kids in Australia. Their clients need our help. https://lnkd.in/gg9uGAAt #law #legal #communitylegal #legalaid #accesstojustice National Legal Aid Community Legal Centres Australia Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria Legal Aid Legal Aid NSW Legal Aid Queensland Louise Glanville Joanna Fletcher Lara Freidin Katherine McKernan Antoinette Braybrook AM Sheree Limbrick Lynne Haultain Adam Awty Monique Hitter

“National Legal Aid calls for $300m funding increase to keep Australian women safe” In the lead-up to the Federal budget and at a time of shocking and increasing violence towards women, National Legal Aid has called on the Federal government to increase funding for legal aid services related to family violence by an additional $300 million each year. In an article in The Guardian Australia, National Legal Aid chair Louise Glanville said: “We have the infrastructure and ability to support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence to receive our legal and non-legal supports.” “However, National Legal Aid is concerned that the limited funding for family law services means we are unable to meet the current demand and we are concerned this could put women at risk.” “Without adequate legal assistance funding, it’s the most disadvantaged women – including victim-survivors of domestic violence – who lose out.” According to The Guardian Australia article, data compiled by advocacy group Destroy the Joint’s project “Counting Dead Women” shows that 27 women have been violently killed this year in Australia. To read the article “National Legal Aid calls for $300m funding increase to keep Australian women safe” by The Guardian Australia Justice and Courts reporter Nino Bucci, go to https://lnkd.in/gESw4F-t There is never any excuse for any form of family violence. The Federal budget will be delivered on 14 May 2024. #genderbasedviolence #genderedviolence #domesticviolence #familyviolence #intimatepartnerviolence #auslaw #familylaw

Some of the most meaningful cases I've dealt with as a family lawyer in private practice are helping women who have fled abusive relationships with nothing get a decent property settlement. To do this though, the firm has to shoulder the risk of not getting paid until settlement - something often delayed as the perpetrator delays and obfuscates the proceedings with irrelevant details or is simply unwilling to compromise. Victim-survivors who have nothing will often settle for far less than is really just and equitable but it's better than nothing - it allows them to clear debts they either were left with from the perpetrator, or had to accumulate to survive in the interim, and start anew, and that is just as powerful. Women's Legal Services also provide ESSENTIAL services in this area and must be properly funded to continue to do so. Legal Aid commissions can assist (with in-house practice or grants) for parenting matters, but there's limited grants for property matters (if any outside the PPP scheme). This frees up the risk of firms not getting paid and ensures that the party who is most at risk gets all of their settlement monies (and doesn't have to forego $10,000 - $25,000 to pay their lawyer).

It's Family Violence Prevention Month, Legal Aid Alberta's staff lawyer, Gwen May, appeared on Global Morning News to discuss Emergency Protection Orders (EPOs) and LAA's role in helping families facing domestic violence. Key takeaways: • EPOs can remove an abuser from the home and prevent contact • Legal Aid Alberta assists with #EPO applications in Calgary and Edmonton • Legal Aid Alberta provides representation for both parties at EPO review hearings • Safety planning support is available throughout the process LAA assisted over 2,000 EPO applications last year. Learn more about LAA's role in addressing domestic violence: #FamilyViolencePreventionMonth #LAA #EmergencyProtectionOrder https://lnkd.in/gmVTXQUv

Community Legal Aid's Civil Legal Aid for Victims of Crime Unit provided “Sammy,” an individual with mental and physical disabilities, with holistic legal services spanning both housing and family law. Sammy was being exploited and manipulated by a younger woman, “B.B.” who had persuaded Sammy to let her manage his financial affairs. B.B. was also living with Sammy, in violation of Sammy’s lease. When Sammy’s landlord brought legal action to remove her from Sammy’s apartment, Sammy was referred to CLA. However, B.B. intervened and prevented Sammy from privately meeting with CLA’s staff. Sammy did not pursue his request for CLA’s services. Several months later, Sammy called CLA, saying, “You told me if I changed my mind, you would help me. I need help now.” Sammy’s abuser controlled his finances and was not paying rent and other bills. He was facing eviction, and had defaulted on his trial date. He also wanted to get a restraining order against B.B. CLA’s attorneys first helped Sammy obtain the restraining order, then turned to stabilizing his housing. Sammy’s CLA attorney successfully argued a motion to remove the default in his housing case, invoking federal law that protects victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence from being evicted due to the actions of their abusers. CLA then helped Sammy apply for short-term financial assistance, which helped him get caught up on his overdue rent. Finally, after a series of negotiations, the landlord dismissed the eviction case. Not only did CLA counsel Sammy regarding his legal options, Sammy's attorney referred him to domestic violence agencies for assistance, both therapeutic and financial. When you make a gift to Community Legal Aid, you ensure that victims and survivors of abuse, like Sammy, have access to thorough and complete advocacy. Make your gift online today: https://lnkd.in/eUKgerm #dvawareness #domesticviolenceawareness #dvawarenessmonth #domesticviolenceawarenessmonth #supportingvictims #supportingsurvivors #survivorstory #DVlegalaid #abuseprevention

Know what to do. You or someone you know can get an Emergency Protection Order (EPO). EPOs remove an abuser from the home and prevent contact. In Canada, From 2018 to 2023, police-reported violent crime increased 20%. Over the same period, overall rates of family violence (+17%) and intimate partner violence (+13%) also rose. Increases were noted regardless of gender, although they were larger for men and boys (+19% for family violence and +20% for intimate partner violence) than for women and girls (+15% for family violence and +12% for intimate partner violence). #familyviolencepreventionmonth #laa

“National Legal Aid calls for $300m funding increase to keep Australian women safe” In the lead-up to the Federal budget and at a time of shocking and increasing violence towards women, National Legal Aid has called on the Federal government to increase funding for legal aid services related to family violence by an additional $300 million each year. In an article in the Guardian Australia, National Legal Aid chair Louise Glanville said: “We have the infrastructure and ability to support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence to receive our legal and non-legal supports.” “However, National Legal Aid is concerned that the limited funding for family law services means we are unable to meet the current demand and we are concerned this could put women at risk.” “Without adequate legal assistance funding, it’s the most disadvantaged women – including victim-survivors of domestic violence – who lose out.” According to The Guardian Australia article, data compiled by advocacy group Destroy the Joint’s project “Counting Dead Women” shows that 27 women have been violently killed this year in Australia. To read the article “National Legal Aid calls for $300m funding increase to keep Australian women safe” by The Guardian Australia Justice and Courts reporter Nino Bucci, go to https://lnkd.in/dSQ6q9Cy There is never any excuse for any form of family violence. The Federal budget will be delivered on 14 May 2024. #genderbasedviolence #genderedviolence #domesticviolence #familyviolence #intimatepartnerviolence #auslaw #familylaw

Mediator responses to family violence | Anne-Marie Rice, Rachael Field, Gabrielle Cantrall, David Roberts, Paula Bruce, Frances Doyle, Sally Lord | 19 April 2024 | Online Register: https://lnkd.in/g496RV_h This course explores the strategies and processes to develop power balance when mediating in the shadow of family violence. This full day workshop will aim to: - Update practitioners on recent legislation including the Family Law Act and national and state coercive control legislation.  - Increase practitioner awareness about domestic violence and the impact of family violence on the mediation process through role plays and discussion groups  - Inform practitioners on how FDRPs and mediators will work between 7 May 2024 (when the legislation changes and the ESPR presumption is removed) and whenever the Full Court hands down decision on the interpretation of the new Part VII.   - Assist practitioners with communication strategies to work with parties and assess where violence has occurred. - Discuss processes and strategies for best practice in mediation in circumstances where violence has been identified. - Develop skills in working in a safe and trauma informed way. Learning Outcomes: - Receive up to date knowledge in developments in law and research relating to family violence including coercive control.  - Learn step by step assessment techniques including how to work with victims and how to identify patterns of perpetrator behaviour. - Learn strategies and processes to balance power and best support parties to negotiate freely. - Learn suitable interventions including process design, logistical considerations, pre-mediation requirements, safety planning and how to work with emotional intelligence to enable best outcomes for vulnerable parties. #FDRP #familylaw #mediation #familydisputeresolution #disputeresolution The Law Society of NSW Law Institute of Victoria The Law Society of Western Australia Legal Aid NSW Victoria Legal Aid Legal Aid Queensland National Legal Aid Family Relationship Centre Relationships Australia NSW Relationships Australia SA Relationships Australia Victoria Family & Relationship Services Australia Family Relationship Centre - CentaCare Women's Legal Services Australia Women's Legal Service Victoria Women's Legal Service NSW Women's Legal Service Queensland Women's Legal Service WA