Message from our CEO

As we transition into the final quarter of the year, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the fact that, through sheer hard work and their ceaseless commitment to justice and the well-being of our community, our dedicated team has reached an incredible 13,394 people. This is a remarkable achievement and shows that demand for our service continues to increase year on year - by 26% last year and 24% the year before. 

We predict this exponential growth will continue in the medium term, given the predicted growth to 3.2 million people in Western Sydney over the next decade - or over 10% of the Australian population! The ever-expanding growth in demand for our services puts a huge strain on our hard-working team.

After many years of advocacy with our sector partners to increase resourcing in our sector, it is pleasing to hear that the Federal and NSW Governments are committing additional resources to expand programs supporting domestic, family, and sexual violence survivors. As part of this commitment, JSC is pleased to share confirmation that we will receive funding for the following new roles: 

• three additional frontline Community Sector Workers in our Casework Program for two years, one with a disability focus and two with a First Nations focus
• two additional permanent Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Workers in our Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS).

We also received news that additional funding has been committed to the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program, allowing expansion to regions not previously covered in NSW. One of the new regions is Canada Bay and Strathfield, which neighbours our existing SHLV program in Burwood and Canterbury. Given we already receive referrals from this new region, we hope to be successful when we engage in the competitive tender process in October. 

Unfortunately, the new funding has not yet uplifted our chronically under-funded Legal Program. Currently we are forced to turn away more than half of the people who are referred to us for Legal Services. It is challenging for our team to choose the most vulnerable cases, given so many people referred to us have additional barriers to access justice, such as language and education. Although we welcome last Friday’s announcement that the Commonwealth Government will commit five years funding for a new National Access to Justice partnership, we are yet to see details of how this funding will be allocated to individual centres. We are hopeful that JSC will receive funding to engage additional lawyers to meet the high demand for our services. 

The coming months present critical opportunities to advocate for change and highlight the invaluable work our teams undertake. In October, we will observe the International Day of Non-Violence, reaffirming our commitment to ending domestic and family violence. This leads into November's 16 Days of Activism, a global campaign where we stand alongside survivors to amplify their voices. During this period, the services provided by our Legal team and Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Casework services will be showcased, emphasising our significant impact in supporting justice and transforming lives.

This edition of our newsletter showcases our dedication to providing life-changing support and legal services to a community in need. You will read stories and updates that encapsulate the daily vital work our teams provide. From the legal victories that have changed the course of our clients’ lives to the compassionate support provided by our DFV Casework services, every piece of content here highlights the dedication and expertise that defines us.

Melanie Noden, CEO of Justice Support Centre

Legal making leaps and bounds

Our Legal Victim Support Service (VSS) has profoundly impacted the lives of over 100 people this year, offering them critical assistance and advocacy during challenging times. This support has empowered clients to navigate the legal system with confidence, ensuring they receive the justice and protection they deserve.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our generous donors; your contributions to our fundraising campaign have significantly enhanced our capacity to serve our clients. Your support contributed to the salary of an additional lawyer, enabling our legal team to focus more on this vital area, making a real difference in the lives of those we help.

The following VSS case study is a shining example of the maximum compensation that was received for one of our clients. 

Carla’s* Journey to Safety
Carla, a single mother endured years of harrowing abuse from her ex-partner including sexual assaults, severe physical violence and being coerced. Carla was supported by our Domestic Violence (DV) teams and referred to our solicitors to assist her in making a Victims Compensation Claim. Our lawyer assisted Carla with her application arguing that Carla had experienced three distinct acts of violence. As a result of our lawyer’s advocacy Carla was awarded $25,000 compensation for multiple acts of sexual and physical violence.

Carla wrote to our lawyer:
"I couldn't fathom being on this journey with anyone else and am so excited to do my divorce with you because I feel like that would give me immense closure".

Carla’s VS compensation was life-changing and enabled her to achieve safety and security for herself and her child. The compensation was sufficient that Carla could relocate away from her ex-partner and his family and start a new life without fear.

She also gave our lawyer a plant as a gift and wrote:
“Just because there are no words, flowers eventually pass however, I wanted something to keep flourishing beside you, to see it flourish and to nurture like you have nurtured. Love always”.

*Name changed to protect privacy

New Partnership

Legal is also thrilled to announce a new pro bono partnership with HWL Ebsworth Lawyers to provide Victim Services (VS) advice to our clients. Pro bono lawyers will provide fortnightly telephone advice remotely from their office. This pro bono clinic will allow us to deliver even more VS advice to Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) survivors. The legal team will work closely with the pro bono lawyers to ensure that all clients receive the same comprehensive VS advice. We are thrilled about this collaboration and the positive impact it will have on our services.

Celebrating our REFLECT Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)

We are very proud to announce that Justice Support Centre has received conditional endorsement of our REFLECT Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

This plan outlines our commitment to deepening our understanding of First Nations cultures, histories, and contributions, and to embedding reconciliation into our everyday practices.

The REFLECT RAP will soon be available on our website in the First Nations section, along with fact sheets and resources designed to educate and inform our community about these critical issues.

First Nations Specialist Worker Recruitment
We are also currently recruiting for a First Nations Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Specialist Worker for our Sydney team. Find out more about the role below.

FASS supporting our clients

The Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS) is a specialist family violence service located with the Sydney registry of the Family Court. Our FASS support workers can support you through your family law problem and help to improve your safety and the service is free.

Our FASS workers attended over 200 court events with clients over the past year providing support services. Given that these court events can last for hours and sometimes even days, the service is very well utilised.

Who does the service help?
We can help if you are affected by family violence and have a family law issue. Our support workers can help you if you have experienced family violence, or if someone says you have used violence.

Other family members like grandparents can also use the FASS Service.

SWSWDVCAS supports over 4,000
women and children

Our South West Sydney Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (SWSWDVCAS) has shown their usual commitment in supporting women and children who experience domestic and family violence (DFV).

Over the past year, our team has provided critical support to 4,043 clients, ensuring that they receive the help and protection they need. Among these, 566 individuals were identified as being at serious threat, and immediate action was taken to ensure their safety and well-being.Our commitment to supporting a diverse community is reflected in our services, with over 1,500 clients (37%) coming from multicultural backgrounds. This highlights our focus on inclusivity and our ability to cater to the unique needs of individuals from various cultural contexts.

We are thrilled to announce that in November Farah, our SWSWDVCAS Manager, has been invited to present at the Stop DV conference in Adelaide. The conference, titled "Empowering Voices: Creating Trauma-Informed, Safe Reporting Mechanisms for Victims of Domestic and Family Violence," will provide a platform for Farah to share her insights on the critical issue of underreporting in domestic and family violence cases.

DFV casework launches new disability
focus service

We are pleased to share a new Disability Casework Focus Service that aims to expand access to specialised Domestic, Family, and Sexual Violence (DFSV) support for individuals and communities across New South Wales.

The service, led by one of our experienced caseworkers, will offer early intervention, response, or recovery services to people with disabilities, women, children, and young people who are survivors of DFSV, ensuring that they receive the necessary support to rebuild their lives.

Guiding principles:

• safety and wellbeing
• access and equity
• DFV-Informed and trauma-informed practice
• victim-survivor centred practice
• confidentiality and informed consent
• non-judgmental support
• collaboration
• upholding rights
• prevention
• continuous improvement.

Resources for action and support

Voices of Insight
We encourage our community to visit the Insight Exchange website to explore The Voices of Insight collection. You can access first-hand accounts and resources that offer both emotional support and practical advice. These narratives and tools are essential for fostering understanding and for guiding those in need towards the help and support they deserve. A powerful quote from the Voices of Insight collection emphasises the importance of understanding and recognising the complexities of survivor experiences:

“It’s not just about surviving; it’s about living with the trauma every day and finding ways to cope and move forward. Sharing my story isn’t just for me, it’s for others who might be going through the same thing.”

16-Days of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. This year’s theme, as outlined by UN Women, focuses on “UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls.” It highlights the importance of collective action and solidarity in combating gender-based violence.

A range of services and support from Justice Support Centre
At JSC, we are proud to offer a range of services, including legal support and casework for those impacted by domestic and family violence.

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