Message from our CEO

As we close out the year, I want to reflect on the journey Justice Support Centre (JSC) has had. This year, fuelled by the dedication of our team, has been transformative. Our Annual Report highlights that we provided support to 16,608 people through our services, education, and advocacy—a 57% increase from last year. This achievement represents lives changed and communities strengthened. 

Our 5-year Strategy has provided us with the scaffolding to bring about this transformative change. We set ambitious goals to serve our community and, together, exceeded them. 

During the recent 16 Days of Activism, we lit a candle in our Bankstown office, honouring women and children impacted by domestic violence. For us, this isn't just 16 days—it's every day as we work to support and protect vulnerable communities. 

This season also marks a transition for us as we say farewell to our Board Chair, Naushee Rahman, whose dedication over the past 10 years has been invaluable. Following our recent AGM, we warmly welcome Diana Chang as the new Chair, Joanna Abraham as the Deputy Chair, Nana Sylaprany as Secretary and Director, and Rakesh Raj as Treasurer. We also welcome back as board members Carmela Tassone and Wendy Zhu.

Looking forward, we are doing all we can to secure funding so that we can continue and expand our vital services. We eagerly await the results of our recent tender applications to extend the Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) service to Canada Bay and Strathfield and to secure further funding for our Financial Counselling Service. We are also actively advocating to politicians at Federal and State levels about the critical funding gaps to meet legal needs in South West Sydney – see the article I wrote about this below. 

As the holiday season approaches, I extend my warmest wishes for a safe and joyful time with loved ones. Remember, our team is here to support anyone who may need it. Thank you for your ongoing support. We look forward to another impactful year in 2025.  

Melanie Noden, CEO of Justice Support Centre

Critical funding gaps to meet legal needs
in South West Sydney (SWS)

With only six months of funding left, Justice Support Community Legal Centre (JSCLC) and other Community Legal Centre’s (CLC's) across the country face critical funding gaps. The whole sector has been calling on the Federal and State Governments to urgently provide funding security to ensure we can continue providing vital legal services to those in need. 

CLC's funding is uncertain because the State Government has been completely silent about what they will contribute and although the Federal Government has recently committed funding, unfortunately CLC’s have not been individually allocated a share of that funding yet.  

The lack of clarity makes it impossible for CLC's to plan beyond June 2025. To put it in context, we (JSCLC) get half of our funding from the State and half from the Federal Government. The Attorney General, Hon. Michael Daley, has reassured us we will get our base funding in a recent letter; however, our base funding only makes up 25% of our budget. This means we are uncertain about 75% of our budget... 

With only six months to go it has now become urgent for us all to advocate strongly for the continuation of CLC's vital work. Also if you are able, we invite you to donate to the vital work of JSCLC. 

Celebrating Naushee and welcoming Diana as our incoming Board Chair

As we move forward into another promising quarter, we would like to take a moment to express gratitude to Naushee Rahman, whose remarkable decade of service on our Board has made an unforgettable impact on our organisation and community. 

Naushee’s tenure has been marked by her commitment to advancing justice and supporting vulnerable communities. Her expertise in governance, strategic development, and leadership has been pivotal in strengthening the Centre’s operational and service excellence. A respected leader, Naushee’s acumen and compassionate advocacy have greatly contributed to our mission of empowering those who face barriers to justice.

We also would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Board Chair, Diana Chang...

Our 2024 annual report

As we look back on the year, we are proud to share our Annual Report, showcasing the hard work, resilience, and dedication of our team in supporting those who need us most. This year, we provided essential DFV services and community education, and advocacy to 16,608 individuals – a remarkable 57% increase from last year. 

We invite you to read more of the inspiring stories and insights into the work our teams have accomplished...

A fresh new look and feel for our website

We are thrilled to share that on 5 November our website went live with a fresh new look and feel. The new site was redesigned with a focus on our client’s experience, with significant improvements including:  

• clear communication about our free services and who qualifies
• easier navigation around the site for clients and stakeholders
• streamlined referral of clients with easy-to-use online forms  
• safety features like an exit button on all pages 
• accessibility tools for people with disabilities.

In addition, it is a far cleaner, modern and vibrant website with dynamic components, photo galleries, scrolling tickers of our impact stats within the community and more... 

Have a look if you haven’t seen it already...

First Nations resources and representation

This year, JSC proudly introduced a dedicated First Nations page on our website, providing tailored resources specifically designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.  

This page also highlights our formally endorsed Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which reaffirms our commitment to reconciliation and culturally responsive service delivery.  

By creating this space, we aim to make our services more accessible and respectful of the unique needs of First Nations communities. We invite you to explore this page and learn more about our ongoing commitment to inclusive and equitable support. 

Advocating for children's safety in court

The Hearing Support Pilot continued across our three courts of Downing Centre, Waverley and Newtown. The service provides vital assistance and support to women when they must attend court for a hearing for their domestic violence matter. During the financial year 2023-2024 the Sydney WDVCAS Hearing Support Team directly supported 230 women at court hearings. Funding for this service ends on 30 June 2025 and we have been advocating for the Pilot to be made permanent. 

Hearing Support Pilot advocacy
Tracey* was subpoenaed to a hearing for an ADVO against her ex-partner, involving her 10-year-old daughter as a witness. Understandably anxious about her daughter testifying, Tracey contacted our hearing support worker. Despite the subpoena, our worker successfully advocated with the prosecutor, ensuring the child was not forced to give evidence. This allowed Tracey to stay focused on her own testimony while her daughter was safely removed from the court environment. 

We received a lovely testimonial from our client...
“Thanks so much. You are the only one who truly helped me during this process, and I am very grateful” 
*Name changed to protect privacy 

Contact numbers for support
during the holidays

As the holiday season approaches, we encourage everyone to prioritise safety and well-being. This time of year can be challenging for some, so please remember that help is always available. If you or someone you know needs support, here are some important hotlines: 

• NSW Domestic Violence Line: 1800 656 463 
• 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732 
• Link2home Homelessness: 1800 152 152 
• Link2Home Veterans: 1800 326 989  
• Child Protection Helpline: 13 21 11.

Please note our Bankstown office will be closed from 23 December – 2 January and our WDVCAS services will be running a restricted service on non-public holidays. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance and share these numbers with anyone who may benefit. Wishing you a safe and peaceful holiday season. 

Please donate

Your support matters. We're calling on you to help ensure we can champion the rights of vulnerable women and children.