LAQ's YouTube channel
October 2013 

In this issue:

Upcoming event: Child Protection Information Forum

Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) members and the broader community sector are invited to attend the Child Protection Information Forum.

The forum is a joint Legal Aid Queensland/QCOSS initiative and will feature presentations on:

  • what is child protection, including the difference and relationship between child protection and family law
  • child protection concepts and a brief overview of the child protection system
  • Legal Aid Queensland’s role in the child protection system
  • family group meetings, case plans and supporting children, their parents and family involved in the child protection system.

The forum will feature presentations from a range of stakeholder organisations including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service and the CREATE Foundation.

Event details:
Date:
Friday, 8 November 2013, 9am for 9.30am to 12.30pm
Location: Auditorium rooms, ground floor, 44 Herschel Street, Brisbane (Legal Aid Queensland building)
RSVP:  Friday, 1 November to events@legalaid.qld.gov.au

For more information phone 07 3238 3431.

Legal Aid Queensland a finalist in Premier’s Awards

Pictured: Legal Aid Queensland CEO Anthony Reilly, Premier Campbell Newman and Legal Aid Queensland CLE coordinator Katherine Gorter

Legal Aid Queensland’s Community Legal Education (CLE) Collaboration Fund was recently announced as a finalist for a Premier’s Award for Excellence in Public Service Delivery.

Although we missed out on an award this year being a finalist was a great acknowledgement of the many outstanding collaborative CLE projects delivered by grant recipients in response to community need.

Round 1 of the fund saw nine successful applicants rolling out programs in their community areas. These CLE sessions and resources reached up to 1500 people located primarily in regional and remote Queensland, with target audiences including refugees and new arrivals to Australia, youth in disadvantaged areas, Indigenous communities, community workers and carers, and members of the general public.

We would like to thank the Attorney-General for writing a letter of support for our nomination. We are proud to be working together with organisations around the state to help vulnerable people understand their legal rights.

Getting a fair go in the Tribunal video released

Getting a fair go in the Tribunal video screen shot

The Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland (ADCQ) and the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) have launched a new video to help people prepare for QCAT hearings on anti-discrimination matters.

The ADCQ investigates and attempts to resolve discrimination, sexual harassment, vilification and victimisation complaints through the process of conciliation, however if resolution cannot be achieved, a complainant can choose to have the matter referred to QCAT for a hearing and decision. The video helps explain this process and provides information on:

  • QCAT
  • directions hearings
  • the compulsory conference
  • witnesses
  • documents
  • the final hearing
  • outcomes.

Legal Aid Queensland was delighted to feature in the video to demonstrate our role in the process.

For more information visit www.adcq.qld.gov.au

ATSILS child protection video released

ATSILS child protection video sreen shot

The Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander Legal Service (ATSILS) has developed a culturally appropriate child protection DVD for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

The Knowing Your Rights: Legal Representation for Child Protection DVD aims to increase individuals, families and communities’ knowledge and capacity to provide safer, caring and nurturing family and community environments for children and young people. The DVD will be used as part of the ATSILS’s community legal education program.

The DVD was funded with a grant from Legal Aid Queensland’s CLE Collaboration Fund.

Consumer Protection Information Forum video now online

Image of Legal Aid Queensland lawyer Loretta Kreet

A video of our recent Consumer Protection Information Forum is now available online on our YouTube channel.

The video features presentations by Legal Aid Queensland lawyers on common consumer protection legal issues such as:

  • debt and mortgages
  • door-to-door sales
  • payday lending
  • the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman’s services
  • how to access external dispute resolution.

The video also outlines the consumer protection services we provide and how community workers can access legal advice and assistance for their clients.

Legal Aid Queensland attends Finance Fairs

As part of Anti-Poverty week (13-19 October) we participated in finance fairs at Inala and Chermside.

The events — organised by the Brisbane City Council, Australian Securities and Investments Commission and The Smith Family Partnership Brokers — were a great opportunity for members of the public to learn about what support is available for consumers wanting to get on top of their financial situation and achieve their financial goals.

Publications update

image of publications

Our publications and resources provide information on a range of common legal problems, including consumer protection, debt, criminal law, family law, child protection, domestic violence and youth justice.

You can download our free legal resources from the Legal Aid Queensland website or order by emailing publications@legalaid.qld.gov.au.

Here are some of our recent updates and reprints:

Consent orders, parenting orders and parenting plans guide
The guide provides information on preparing a written agreement between ex-partners about arrangements for their children.

It discusses consent orders, parenting plans and parenting orders. It also explains all the steps people need to take if they choose to ask a court to formalise their agreement.

Our legal system… information for women brochure
This brochure provides basic information on Australia’s legal system including
courts, lawyers and Legal Aid Queensland’s role in the legal system.

Available in English, Arabic, Dari, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brochure is also available.

What are my rights if… I want to separate from my partner brochure
This brochure provides information and options for women experiencing
domestic violence.

Available in English, Arabic, Dari, Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese.
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander brochure is also available.

To stay up to date with Legal Aid Queensland’s publications and resources join the publication update mailing list.

CLE sessions

Our anti-discrimination lawyers are now available to present CLE sessions. Sessions are tailored to specific audiences such as the community sector, government service providers, or community members.

For more information or to request a session, please contact communitylegaled@legalaid.qld.gov.au