Improving the support for family and domestic violence victim survivors in North East Victoria will be the focus of an ongoing campaign. Many family violence services need increased funding to meet demand, as the rate of family violence continues to be higher than the state average. From a legal perspective, a Specialist Family Violence Court and Victoria Legal Aid office is central to helping meet the legal demand being seen locally.

Our Acting Principal Alison Maher (pictured left) joined Centre Against Violence CEO Jaime Chubb and Member for Northern Victoria Tania Maxwell (pictured right) on Tuesday 20 September in Wangaratta for a Roundtable discussion on the need for these important services. The Roundtable brought together key organizations, and included the powerful voice of a victim survivor with lived experience.

HRCLS supports the call for a Specialist Family Violence Court and Victoria Legal Aid office in our region, as we are one of the few across Victoria without these vital resources. This was one of the first concrete steps in the important advocacy. 

Ms Maxwell made a Motion in the Victorian Parliament on 4 August calling for a Specialist Family Violence Court and Victoria Legal Aid office in our region.  

With more people being turned away than ever before from our legal service, we need change now to address this #FVpostcodeinjustice.  

After enjoying 12 months off spending time with Sophia, the  new addition to her family, Sarah is very pleased to be  back from parental leave. "Manager Ashlie Barclay, and Acting Principal Lawyers Debi Fisher and Alison Maher did an outstanding job leading the HRCLS during my leave, and have secured additional funding in a number of areas which is very exciting."

Sarah praised the HRCLS team for another year of wonderful work. "I’m looking forward to the release of the annual report which highlights a number of those achievements and client stories."

Sarah also looks forward to the Report to the Community later this year. "It will be a great opportunity to reconnect with everyone in our community to hear about the amazing work they have been doing."

We continue to welcome new staff members to the HRCLS family. Jess McCoach and Sara Reid will join the Bushfire Legal Help effort, along with Lauren Lorenzo and Kristi Pemmelaar who are helping the communities affected by the 2020 bushfires. This expanded program increases the support for people experiencing legal problems as a result of the bushfires, particularly in the Towong and Alpine shires. Jess is a Community & Legal Engagement Worker, while Sara will take on a Lawyer role within the team.

As part of our exciting new program in NSW to expand our legal assistance to domestic violence victim survivors, Trinity Lonel (pictured) is our Community & Legal Engagement Worker. Trinity will be working alongside the lawyer as they work together to support domestic violence victims in regional towns, including Deniliquin, Corowa and Finley.

Trinity has started getting out and about in the community, and meeting people from local services and organisations, as she gains an understanding of the DV situation locally.