This is our final newsletter for 2021. We want to take this opportunity to thank all our partners and services who continually support the work we are doing, and help clients connect with us to get the legal assistance they need. These relationships make such a difference in how we can help people as early as possible with their legal problems. We look forward to reconnecting with you all next year and continuing to assist our communities.  

You can find everything you need to know below about our Christmas closure and how you can access urgent free legal help if needed. Watch out for our first newsletter in January 2022 with all the information about the resumption of our clinics and free legal assistance.

Speaking of 2022, two training sessions delivered by the Welfare Rights Centre are worth checking out, one on the Disability Support Pension, the other Centrelink. You can register for them now, and both will give you great tips and information to help your clients who have a relationship with Centrelink, or are trying to get a better understanding of how the system works. 

Empowering students in the Invisible Hurdles Project to make their voice heard on issues important to them was a key part of Stage II of the Project. They recently wrote to NSW and Victorian leaders, calling for the age of consent and criminal responsibility to be raised. Below you can read early positive responses to this advocacy. And if you follow the Our Invisible Hurdles Project, you can read the reports and outcomes on our website.

If you are looking to end the year with a positive story, we encourage you to read about a local Wodonga Senior Secondary School student, Friend Kighoma, who was our guest at the Women in Law Breakfast back in May. It's always pleasing to hear from young women who have a strong desire to become a lawyer, and Friend's story to this point in her journey is  inspiring. Having migrated to Australia just over two years ago from Kenya, her passion for wanting to help people in need is a powerful reminder of why we all do the work we do! 

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year - you all deserve a well-earned break! 

 Ashlie Barclay, Acting Manager & the HRCLS team

Our Invisible Hurdles project has a focus on early intervention and prevention of family violence, partly through educating young people about the law, and empowering them to using their voices to speak up about the issues that affect them. We recently spent time working with the Wodonga Flexible Learning Centre about the age of criminal responsibility and Borinya Wangaratta Community Partnerships students about the age of consent.

They have become very passionate about these issues the students and wrote to the Victorian and NSW premiers, Daniel Andrews and Dominic Perrotet, and attorney-generals Jaclyn Symes and Mark Speakman calling for the age of consent in Victoria to be raised from 12 to 14 as a starting point, and criminal responsibility to be raised from 10 to 14, as a matter of urgency. Below are responses as a result of the students' advocacy and show the nature of living in a cross border environment.  

Victorian Cross Border Commissioner Mr Luke Wilson

"Thank you for providing me with a copy of your letter addressed to the Victoria’s Premier, Attorney General and Minister for Youth. I have received the copy from Ms Andrea Georgiou of the Hume Riverina Community Legal Service.

"Your letter raises an important question about yet another border anomaly, the age of consent differences between Victoria and NSW. Thank you for bringing this issue to my attention. It is when people speak up, as you have, that we can try to get change.

"Now that you have raised this with me, several actions will occur on my part. The issue becomes part of my register of border anomalies. I then raise this with Victoria’s Department of Justice and Community Safety for advice and to discuss what action is possible. I will also raise the matter with my NSW counterpart. In addition, I can now report this to the Minister for Regional Development and ultimately to cabinet. That means all ministers see the issue, whether they expected to or not.

"So, by writing to the Premier and Ministers in your letter, and letting me know, we can all have a go at getting some attention and change. 

"I would like to congratulate you on your letter and your participation in Overcoming the Invisible Hurdles to Justice for Young People project. By taking an active social stance and bringing the matter to the attention of the State’s leaders, you contribute to the government’s border reform program."

Dr Helen Haines, Member for Indi

“It is important for the Government to understand the concerns of the constituents of Indi and especially of young adults like yourselves and I congratulate you all.

“It makes me very proud when I see groups of young people in our community standing up for what they believe in and taking such positive and smart action.

“Again, thank you for bringing your action to my attention and keep up the great work!”

Having been born and raised in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, Friend Khigoma arrived in Sydney with her family to start a new life, while carrying the dream of becoming a lawyer with her. Wodonga was soon home and two years later, Friend couldn't pass up the chance to be a guest at the Women in Law Breakfast in May this year. 

It's refreshing to hear someone talk with hope and determination to set out on a path to reach a goal of becoming a lawyer with the sole intention of helping people in need!

Read Friend's hopeful story at our website - Our stories page.