RLC endorses the Uluru Statement from the Heart

Redfern Legal Centre staff and board endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart as an important step forward for all Australians.

It is time to embed a First Nations Voice in Australia’s Parliament. This is a priority, and we must progress without delay.

Fifty-four years ago, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were counted among Australia’s Population Census for the first time.  In 2021, First Nations people are still asking to be heard.

The Uluru Statement is an opportunity for all Australians to participate, and it must not be squandered. This powerful, yet humble statement was the culmination of five years of detailed consultations and regional dialogues driven by First Nations people, creating a robust call to action to address the injustices and inequities stemming from Australia’s brutal past.

It is time for all Australians to acknowledge the atrocities of our history, and the ongoing impact of systemic racism and intergenerational trauma. It is time to walk with First Nations people towards a better future; one based on truth-telling, equality and trust.

First Nations people should not be denied the right to meaningful participation in political debates on laws and policies affecting them and their communities.

Redfern Legal Centre supports a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in Australia’s Constitution. We see in our daily work how easy it is for legislation to be repealed. The Constitution sets out our nation’s values and provides security and certainty that legislation cannot guarantee.

Redfern Legal Centre is dedicated to achieving greater access to justice for all Australians. We know that this process begins with the simple but powerful act of listening, which allows our clients to be heard.

It is time for us all to listen, and to amplify the voices that are the Uluru Statement. We need action, not more conversation. We need constitutional change so that the process of Makarrata (‘truth-telling’) and healing can occur.

Read or listen to the full Uluru statement, and learn more here.

​Read RLC's submission in response to the Interim Report to the Australian Government on Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process.

Show your support for the Uluru Statement here. 

Webinars, factsheets and resources

Reporting a Sexual Assault – NSW Police and NSW Health Procedure

In June, RLC and Women's Legal Service NSW are teaming up to produce a webinar examining what is NSW Police and Health best practice when someone reports a sexual assault.

In this free webinar, an expert panel will provide practical tips and discuss best practice in responding to sexual assault and what to do if best practice is not being followed.

The free webinar will be held on Thursday 17 June 2021, from 10am-11am. 

This webinar will be of interest to NSW community workers and other professionals, and to the general public.

BOOK NOW>

Panellists:

• Detective Superintendent Stacey Maloney - Commander, Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad, NSW Police Force 
• Lisa Simpson - Manager Community Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Counselling Service, Sydney Local Health District

Facilitated by:

• Liz Snell - Law Reform and Policy Co-ordinator, Women's Legal Service NSW
• Samantha Lee - Solicitor, Police Accountability and Admin Law, Redfern Legal Centre

Family law and separation

RLC's Financial Abuse Service NSW has produced a series of factsheets on family law for people separating from their partner or spouse.  

The legal issues surrounding separation can be difficult to navigate, particularly for victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.

These guides provide explanations of common legal processes people may be confronted with when separating, as well as tips and information on how to approach them. They look at what options you may be eligible for such as parenting orders or spousal maintenance.  

There is also detailed information for victim-survivors of family violence, including the definition of family violence in family law, what to tell the court if you have experienced family violence, and how to prepare to leave.  

Topics covered in the series include:

• Property Settlement
• Spousal Maintenance 
• Child Support
• 10 steps to follow when separating
• The Court Process
• Children and Parenting
• What is Family Violence

Access all the factsheets here.

Renting in NSW – tips for international students

Navigating the rental world can be a struggle for anyone but it’s especially tough for those new to Australia. 

To help overcome this challenge, RLC has released a factsheet specifically to support international students seeking accommodation. It covers your rights as a renter as well as the obligations of your landlord under NSW law.     

This factsheet has been created by RLC's International Student Legal Service NSW (ISLS)  and Inner Sydney Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (ISTAAS).

It includes information on: 

• tenancy agreements
• bonds and holding fees
• record-keeping
• condition reports
• communicating with your landlord
• getting repairs done
• where to get support

and more... 

DOWNLOAD FACTSHEET>

Fined Out: Practical guide for people having problems with fines

Legal Aid NSW has released an update of the 'Fined Out' booklet, produced in collaboration with Inner City Legal Centre and Redfern Legal Centre.

The booklet was created to provide a practical guide to the NSW fines system, how to deal with fines and who to contact for help. 

You can find information on traffic offence fines, NSW fines, and court attendance notices sections as well as sections for young people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.   

The guide goes through different ways to deal with a fine at all stages of the fine life cycle including: 

• court options and pathways to seek a review
• a 50% reduction
• a write-off
• a plan
• or a Work and Development Order. 

READ MORE>

Working for change

Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security

RLC has made a joint submission with Kingsford Legal Centre to the Senate Select Committee on Job Security, calling for increased secure employment and legal protections for workers.

The inquiry was set up to investigate the effectiveness of current laws, the rise of precarious and “gig” economy work, and the impact of COVID-19 on job security. 

These are issues which have disproportionately impacted many groups within our client base including young people, women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with a disability, and migrant workers.  

Within our submission, we note that laws have not adequately responded to the needs of these workers and reform is needed to ensure they are protected from exploitation and have access to secure employment.  

Our 29 recommendations include: 

• casual workers should accrue leave on a pro-rata basis in a similar way to part-time workers
• an enforceable right for long term casual workers to be offered ongoing employment
• eligibility requirements of the Fair Entitlement Guarantee should be expanded to include all workers, including temporary visa holders.

READ MORE>

Coercive control in domestic relationships

The Economic Abuse Reference Group NSW (EARG NSW) has made a submission to the Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control’s inquiry into coercive control in domestic relationships.  

RLC’s Financial Abuse Service NSW coordinates the NSW chapter of the EARG, an informal group of community organisations working to influence government and industry responses to reduce the financial impact of family violence. 

The Committee was set up to examine whether a new law should be introduced to criminalise coercive and controlling behaviours within relationships.  

Within our submission, we express our belief that coercive control and financial abuse should be included within Domestic and Family Violence.  However, we also raise concerns with potential criminalisation without proper consultation, education and funding.

READ MORE>

Call for increased protections for renters 

In March, the moratorium on evictions ended in NSW, with the JobKeeper subsidy also expiring two days later.

RLC signed an open letter along with 40 other tenant’s advocacy groups raising concerns this could lead to a wave of evictions and homelessness. 

A six-month Transition Period will provide protection against eviction for impacted tenants who have arrears of rent or charges which accrued during the Moratorium Period.

For more information about the new measures see the Tenants Union COVID-19 renters’ guide

The letter supports the measures included within the Transition Period however also calls on the government to continue key supports for renters including: 

• Extending the eviction restrictions and rent reduction provisions for impacted tenants
• Providing additional financial supports via for example, No Interest Loan Schemes for tenants struggling with rent or targeted COVID rent relief payments
• Providing additional funding for services supporting tenants

Read more at tenants.org.au

DOWNLOAD OPEN LETTER>

 

Renting: what needs to change?

The Tenants' Union of NSW is conducting a short survey to better understand the experience of renters and the impact of current laws and policies.

They are keen to hear the experiences of renters, including international students and workers who support international students, about renting and what needs to change.

Take the survey and you could win one of 2 x $50 gift cards

RLC In the Media

“Had a bad day”: Officer who kicked teenager to the ground finally charged The Big Smoke | 4 May 2021

Vast majority of COVID-19 fines remain unpaid Sydney Morning Herald | 3 May 2021

More than 5,500 people get NSW police record after strip searches which found nothing illegal The Guardian | 23 April 2021

What are your rights in a police search? Law Society Journal | 29 March 2021

Does NSW have a problem with Police Strip Searches? The Sentinel Speakeasy | 29 March 2021

Consent app - Fuller's worst idea all year? Green Left | 27 March 2021

More laws are not the answer: the case for restorative justice to address sexual assault The Guardian | 20 March 2021

How to escape financial abuse: Why victims need a plan Herald Sun | 20 March 2021

Alleged sexual assault guidelines and policing discussed on Blackchat Koori Radio Blackchat | 12 March 2021

More RLC in the Media>

Other News... 

Scheme proposed to support the return of international students to NSW

RLC congratulates the NSW Government on an initiative that could see the return of international students to NSW within months, pending federal government approval.

Under the pilot scheme, returning students would be quarantining at pre-approved purpose-built student accommodation sites, which mirror the quarantine conditions of returning Australian nationals.

READ MORE>

Respect at Work: Government responds to national inquiry into workplace sexual harassment

In April, the government announced it would adopt "wholly, in part, or in principle," the 55 recommendations set out in the Human Right Commission Respect@Work report investigating sexual harassment at work.

The report was released by Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins in 2020 following on from a 2019 inquiry.  Numerous legal services, including RLC, Kingsford Legal Centre and Women’s Legal Service NSW made submissions to the Inquiry. 

RLC welcomes steps taken by the government to tackle the problem of sexual harassment in our workplaces and encourages a best practice legal and system-wide response. 

READ MORE>

RLC staff nominated among 30 best and brightest young lawyers in Australia

RLC is thrilled to announce two of our staff have been nominated for the Lawyers Weekly 30under30 awards.  

Regina Featherstone (Solicitor, Migrant Employment Legal Service) and Jasmine Opdam (Solicitor, Financial Abuse Service NSW) have been named as finalists in the awards program which identifies the finest young lawyers across Australia.  

Winners will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner held at Star Sydney on 11 June 2021.  

We wish the best of luck to Regina and Jasmine along with all the other fantastic finalists. 

Read the full list of finalists here.

Fundraising News... 

Save the date!

RLC’s comedy FUN-raiser is back! We can’t wait to bring you another hilarious night of jokes for justice this July!

Join us at Giant Dwarf in Surry Hills on Thursday 22 July from 6.30pm-9pm. Pop the date in your diary now and keep an ear out for further details.  

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, capacity will be limited. 

SIGN UP HERE to be notified as soon as early bird tickets go on sale. Make sure you don't miss out!
 
Details TBA soon – we can’t wait to see you there! Register for our limited early bird ticket sale NOW.

$35K in 35 Days!

The end of the financial year is fast approaching, and RLC has launched our most ambitious fundraising campaign yet. With your help, we aim to raise $35,000 in 35 days!

Your donation will help provide additional face-to-face legal advice three days per week for the next 6 months to support people facing complex legal issues. LEARN MORE>

During National Reconciliation Week we shared news about our work supporting First Nations communities. READ MORE>

A new way to support RLC!

Help us reach our fundraising goal of $35K in 35 Days!

Now you can create your own personal fundraising page and tell the world why you support RLC.

Check out our new merch!

At RLC we believe the best fashion trend is showing your support for social justice. And that’s become even easier with the launch of our expanded range of RLC merch!  

Supporting RLC has never been so stylish - or fun! Check out our great range of:

• t-shirts
• tote bags
• water bottles 
• coffee mugs
• coasters
• and stickers (yay!)  

Choose between two designs via our online store:

Truth, Justice & the Redfern Way 

Safe and Sound - our campaign to change strip search law.

A percentage of all proceeds will support the work of RLC.