Integrated Services-Family Law & Maternal & Child Health
During the 2020-2021 year, BGCLS has continued to support parents and carers of young children by providing discrete legal services within Maternal & Child Health Services in the City of Ballarat & Moorabool Shires. Services provided have been predominately in the areas of Family Law and Family Violence.
This program provides the opportunity for face to face client meetings either booked or via a drop in service, with clients in a safe and familiar setting. This sense of safety and anonymity is particularly important where family violence is of concern.
Although services were impacted by Covid-19 we were able to expand visits to Lucas & Ballan Maternal & Child Health during this financial year. State funding was increased to expand services outside of the City of Ballarat & Moorabool Shires and this will continue to be a priority for the 2022-2023 financial year.
A series of webinars were created and presented to staff from the Maternal & Child Health and Families Teams to enhance cross sector professional development and make the most of the limitations put on the program due to Covid-19. These webinars were successful and as such we will continue to provide these opportunities in the coming year.
We look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with Maternal & Child Health services to ensure parents and carers have access to discrete legal services.
This program provides the opportunity for face to face client meetings either booked or via a drop in service, with clients in a safe and familiar setting. This sense of safety and anonymity is particularly important where family violence is of concern.
Although services were impacted by Covid-19 we were able to expand visits to Lucas & Ballan Maternal & Child Health during this financial year. State funding was increased to expand services outside of the City of Ballarat & Moorabool Shires and this will continue to be a priority for the 2022-2023 financial year.
A series of webinars were created and presented to staff from the Maternal & Child Health and Families Teams to enhance cross sector professional development and make the most of the limitations put on the program due to Covid-19. These webinars were successful and as such we will continue to provide these opportunities in the coming year.
We look forward to continuing to work in collaboration with Maternal & Child Health services to ensure parents and carers have access to discrete legal services.
Working in partnership with Neighbourhood Houses
What started off as a Law Week Program delivering Community Legal Education sessions to community members on Life Planning issues such as Wills and Powers of Attorney via their local Neighbourhood House, has since turned into sustainable partnerships with Neighbourhood Houses in the Central Highland, Grampian & Wimmera regions.
Neighbourhood Houses connect with the community, and it makes perfect sense to partner with the houses to ensure community members have access to legal advice & community legal education services in a safe, discrete and familiar environment.
Looking ahead to the 2022-2023 financial year BGCLS is expanding face to face outreach services in partnership with Ararat, Stawell and Horsham Neighbourhood Houses and looks forward to exploring new opportunities and partnerships in the region.
Neighbourhood Houses connect with the community, and it makes perfect sense to partner with the houses to ensure community members have access to legal advice & community legal education services in a safe, discrete and familiar environment.
Looking ahead to the 2022-2023 financial year BGCLS is expanding face to face outreach services in partnership with Ararat, Stawell and Horsham Neighbourhood Houses and looks forward to exploring new opportunities and partnerships in the region.
Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) administers funding for many Community Legal Centres including BGCLS. We also work in collaboration with our local VLA Office in Ballarat in service provision and joint projects and activities.
The Orange Door is a free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence and families who need extra support with the care of children.
BGCLS is supporting The Orange Door by providing in reach legal services on a rotational basis in Ballarat and Horsham.
BGCLS is supporting The Orange Door by providing in reach legal services on a rotational basis in Ballarat and Horsham.
"The Communities of Respect and Equality Alliance is a partnership for organisations, businesses, clubs, groups and networks from across the Grampians Region that share a vision for safe, equal and respectful communities. All member organisations have committed to the vision and goals outlined in the Communities of Respect and Equality: A plan to prevent violence against women and their children.
The Ballarat Family Law Pathways Network, is one of over 30 Pathways Networks around Australia funded by the Federal Attorney-General’s Department, was established in 2010 to support professionals working with these families in the Ballarat, Central Grampians and the Wimmera region. Centacare Ballarat is the auspice agency for the Ballarat Family Law Pathways Network.
The Ballarat Network has provided a fantastic opportunity for cross sector training and networking for BGCLS staff at events held in Ballarat and Horsham. These events provide information about local services and specific programs relating to family law and or family violence. |
The collaboration between BGCLS and Maternal & Child Health Services in Ballarat, Sebastopol and Lucas aims to address the gap in family law and family violence legal representation and advice for vulnerable parents and carers within the City Of Ballarat.
These programs play a vital role in prevention, cross sector education and on the ground response to the prevention and safety of women and children impacted by family violence. The program has been well received by staff, stakeholders and the families that have utilised the service. We look forward to further enhancing the partnership next year. |
BGCLS is excited to work with the Federation of Community Legal Centres Victoria (The Federation) . Our Executive Officer & Principal Lawyer contribute to a number of working groups including the Multi Business Agreement Working Group, Climate & Justice Working Group and the Rural, Regional & Remote (RRR) Network.
Contact Us © Ballarat & Grampians Community Legal Service Inc.
To find out more about the service please follow this link: About Us
BGCLS Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the region we service, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders past present and emerging.
To find out more about the service please follow this link: About Us
BGCLS Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the region we service, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their Elders past present and emerging.
Many images of Ballarat and surrounds by photographer, Andrew Thomas. Visit Andrew's website to see more of his beautiful images - http://www.andrewthomasphotographer.com/