Bill Mitchell OAM, the Principal Solicitor of Townsville Community Law has been invited to participate in the April 2020 United Nations Working Group on Ageing in New York City. Bill will present on the rights of older persons on access to justice, the right to work, social security, and education. He needs to raise $4,000 by 13 March 2020 to contribute to his airfares and accommodation. Can you help? Go here to donate. |
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Cairns Community Legal Centre has extended a very warm welcome to its new Principal Solicitor, Nicholas (Nic) Pagonis. Nic comes to the Centre from Legal Aid Queensland and previously worked at Legal Aid Victoria in Melbourne.
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Caxton Legal Centre and the Honourable Dean Wells successfully represented climate activist Nada Loiterton in the Brisbane Magistrates Court. Nada was charged with contravening a police move-on direction that was given to her while she was attending an Extinction Rebellion protest. Nada was found not guilty on the basis that she was participating in a lawful peaceful assembly under the Peaceful Assembly Act 1992. To find out more go here. |
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Emma Phillips, Queensland Advocacy Incorporated's (QAI) Deputy Director and Principal Solicitor gave a presentation on February 7th to the Australian Lawyer’s Alliance called “Righting inhuman wrongs – How the new Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) can assist clients with disability and mental illness”.
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Bayside Community Legal Centre held a seminar focusing on developing skills around the use of body language, tone and proxemics to communicate safely and effectively with clients; recognising the early signs of agitation, intoxication and mental illness; using assertive courtesy to control behaviour, and knowing when it’s time to leave or take alternate measures to ensure safety. This event was Bayside’s largest-ever gathering with a mix of mediators, lawyers, student volunteers, staff and management committee.
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QAI has welcomed a number of new staff including Solicitors Saibal Kar and Thirushka Naidoo joining the Mental Health Legal Service. Russell Marks has come on board as Senior Solicitor and Nikki Parker will be delivering non-legal advocacy around education. Jo Walters joined the NDIS Appeals Support team when Tania Steinmuller moved over to open the Disability Royal Commission Advocacy Program. They said farewell to their long-serving Systems Advocate, Nick Collyer, as he left QAI to work with the Disability Royal Commission.
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The Queensland Government, Caxton Legal Centre and Townsville Community Law have developed a Financial Abuse Awareness training program. The program consists of a series of free 5 to 20-minute videos that help raise financial industry awareness about the financial abuse of older people. View the training here.
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QAI has launched a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Decision Support Pilot to offer non-legal advocacy and decision-making support for people with disability aged between 18 and 65 who do not have any informal supports, have limited decision-making capacity and need to engage with the NDIS. They have two advocates working within this pilot program, Sarah Thompson in Brisbane and Jenny Smith in Rockhampton. They are keen to engage with Indigenous and CALD communities and their advocates. To find out more go here. |
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The Attorney-General funded LawRight $60,000.00 to support the operation of the Wuchopperen Health Justice Partnership until June 30, 2020. Although this is half the external funding required, they can continue to deliver elements of this vital service, in collaboration with ATSILS. To read about the service go here.
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QAI's Disability Royal Commission Advocacy Program has been in high demand since it opened in November 2019. The program's advocates are focussing on hearings and the advice appointments are booked out several weeks in advance. The staff are looking to connect with people from CALD backgrounds who may have stories the DRC should hear. They are still making appointments and initial preparations are underway to assist in the development of submissions. To find out more go here.
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Caxton Legal Centre's Retirement Village and Park Advice Service have been hosting talks throughout Queensland to help residents understand their rights and responsibilities. The talks help residents obtain the knowledge and skills to present their interests to village and park operators and resolve disputes. To find out when the next session is taking place go here.
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Recent unrest in Aurukun led to 350 community members leaving their homelands and 170 have arrived in Cairns. Lawright, in conjunction with the Wuchopperen Health Service will be providing on-site justice. Their priorities include addressing lack of access to funds, medical records, ID and appropriate housing; and liaising with government agencies that are still using Aurukun “mailboxes” and penalising people for failing to respond. Find out more here.
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Tenants Queensland continue to co-ordinate the alliance of community organisations pushing for progressive tenancy law reform. The consultation period has closed on Queensland’s new rental laws and the State government is reviewing the feedback before they draft a tenancy law amendment Bill. To support the campaign, go here.
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Community Legal Centres Queensland - Research shows a digital gap in the legal sector
Women's Legal Service Queensland - 84 domestic violence orders broken every day in Queensland
Tenants Queensland - Tenancy laws bring long-overdue protection
Women's Legal Service Queensland - Should sabotaging a condom be a crime? Have your say on rape reform
Caxton Legal Centre - New website tackles elder abuse issues
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12/03/20 Child safe practices for community legal centres
25/03/20 Identifying Human Rights Act Cases
31/03/20 Lessons from the 2019 legal discipline cases (Ethics CPD Point)
29/04/20 Equipping your organisation to be Human Rights ready
29/04/20 Accidental Counsellor Foundations Workshop
30/04-01/05/20 Community Legal Centres State Conference
** Earlybird price ends 26 March
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Environmental Defenders Office submission to Environmental Policy and Programs Department of Environment and Science
Environmental Defenders Office submission to Economics and Governance Committee in relation to the Electoral and Other Legislation (Accountability, Integrity and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 2019
Caxton Legal Centre submission to the Association Incorporation & Other Legal Amendment Bill
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated submission to Disability Royal Commission in relation to inclusiveness in education as it relates to students with disability
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated submission to the Qld Sentencing Advisory Council’s Inquiry into Penalties for Assaults of Public Officers
Queensland Advocacy Incorporated submission to the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into the Economic Impacts of Mental Ill-Health
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