Message from our CEO

As we travel towards the end of the year and summer, I wanted to share with you our last Newsletter for 23’.

This Sunday, we are celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The core ambition of the Declaration is to infuse societies with equality, fundamental freedoms and justice. The Declaration is a bedrock to the values we uphold at Justice Support Centre and the world we continually strive to create—a world where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, and where everyone has access to justice.

I am pleased to share with you the 2022-2023 Annual Report which is available for download. It is not just a reflection of this past year, but also a guide for our future endeavours. In 2022-2023 alone, we supported 10,582 clients, a 24% increase from the year before, and the first time JSC has served over 10 thousand clients in its history. Whilst it concerns us that this increase in demand indicates a growing need in the community to secure justice and to keep women and children safe, we are pleased that our Centre is accessible and is able to serve those in need.

I thank all of you for the support and partnership you have given Justice Support Centre in 23’.  I wish you and yours a relaxing and enjoyable summer holiday. I look forward to continuing our journey together in 2024, ensuring that every day is a step towards a more inclusive future.

Warmest Regards

Melanie Noden, CEO of Justice Support Centre

Annual Report Now Available 

Our Annual Report for 2022-2023 is now available online.

What a remarkable year it has been with just a few highlights below for you:

• 10,582 people reached by our service
• 7,466 women and children supported by our DFV services 
• 1,999 people supported by our free legal services
• 1,117 people attended our Community Legal Education (CLE) sessions.

Justice Support Centre gives thanks to our valued donors, pro bono partners, funding bodies,  the NSW State and Federal Governments, peak bodies, and numerous community partners, who support our work and our clients.

Submissions on the Exposure Draft: Family Law Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2023 

On 18 September 2023 The Attorney-General’s Department released the Draft Family Law Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2023 (the Exposure Draft) for consultation. This was the second tranche of proposed reforms focussed on improving the law for parties with family law property disputes, expressly recognising the impact of family violence.

As one of the larger frontline providers of domestic violence services in Australia, with a legal team delivering family law advice and assistance to some of the most vulnerable women who have experienced domestic violence, we believed it important to add our voice to the consultation process.

Human Rights Day – our rights live in us

We are celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December 23’. The Declaration enshrines the rights of all human beings and is a global blueprint for laws and policies.

Human rights include the right to:

• a fair trial
• vote
• free speech
• freedom from discrimination because of your sex, age, race or because you have a disability
• protection from imprisonment
• protection from torture and cruel inhuman or degrading treatment
• education
• health
• protection from violence.

Watch a video on your rights

CLCNSW Partnership to develop a Cadet.

In June 2023, we celebrated a partnership with Community Legal Centres NSW (CLCNSW) and our Justice Support Centre Legal team, resulting in the six-month development of a Cadet. This initiative allowed the Cadet, Aimee, to engage in diverse roles, from assisting the Legal Team in various tasks, collaborating with the Communications Manager to enhance our social media platforms, to working with our Financial Counsellor to design Aboriginal Office signage for our Bankstown office's meeting rooms....

Photo L to R: Jillian Scahill, Cadet Aimee Lawson and Montanna Tassell

Safety at home in the Holidays

With schools and work closed over the December period, it's important to check in on family and friends. For those who might be at risk, taking proactive steps to ensure safety is imperative. Below we share some useful tips which can be shared.

• If a situation or a particular individual feels dangerous or threatening, prioritise personal safety and the safety of children.
• Create a safety plan, which includes a quick escape route, a designated safe location, and a list of trusted individuals to call upon if needed.
• Educate children about the safety plan without alarming them, ensuring they know what to do if there's an emergency.
• Talk to a trusted family member, friend or neighbour, so they are aware and can check in or help if situations escalate.
• Having a discreet code word with a trusted person can be helpful, so they can call 000 if you can't.

There are helplines available to offer assistance and guidance.

• Always dial Triple Zero (000) in immediate danger or an emergency
  and ask for the police
• The 1800RESPECT helpline is the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service. Call 1800 737 732
• Domestic Violence Line at 1800 656 463
• Lifeline at 13 11 14
• Link2Home at 1800 152 152.

People's and children's safety should always be everyone's top priority, and these resources are available to help, support and protect.

A Case Study:
Putting our Client's Safety First.

Our client self-referred to our Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) service after talking with a friend who had also experienced recent DFV. Our client was allocated a caseworker who conducted a safety audit and completed safety assessment and plans.

The client had experienced extensive physical, verbal, emotional, social and financial abuse by her current partner from the beginning of their relationship 15 years ago. The partner's behaviour increased once our client returned to the workforce after having sustained full time employment.

He began to stalk her and question her relationships with other work colleagues and friends. Over a short period of time her partner became more erratic with his behaviour and was monitoring the family through electronic devices.

The caseworker worked with the client for over nine months in supporting her emotionally on those bad days to practically keep her and her children safe. Support for the client included applications to Victim Services, provision of a new phone, personal security device and assistance with relocation and referrals for property and family law advice.

The children were referred to counsellors to support them through the trauma that they had witnessed and heard. Safety upgrades were also completed at the new property to ensure that the family remained safe.


Image: iStock photo to protect client privacy.

Donate today!

Everyone deserves to be safe. Everyone deserves justice.

When you donate to Justice Support Centre, your funds go to services that support women and children experiencing domestic and family violence and people with legal problems in South West Sydney. We appreciate your ongoing support.