Victoria Legal Aid

'Our communities will not be safer if we just keep punishing and locking up children who have complex needs caused by poverty, homelessness, disability, health and mental health issues, domestic, family and sexual violence, systemic racism and intergenerational trauma.' Not raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 will have a severe impact on young people, particularly First Nations young people and children of colour. https://lnkd.in/gt2ZigRm

Following a competitive recruitment process, we are pleased to announce that Kate Bundrock has been appointed as Executive Director, Criminal Law. 'Legal assistance for people charged with criminal offences is vitally important. I’m keen to ensure that our services meet the needs of our clients, and that the work of private practitioners and community legal centres is valued and supported,' said Kate. Please join us in congratulating Kate on her appointment! Read more https://lnkd.in/gM4VxP9u

'If we are really committed to making space for conversations that matter, there must be a much easier and more transparent way for children to get independent help when they need it,' says Elicia Savvas, Associate Director, Child Protection, in her recent blog post 'Conversations that matter: the need for independent advocacy for children in care'. Read more https://lnkd.in/gwSTdD4s #everyconversationmatters #NCPW2024

Our 2024-25 Corporate Plan is now available on the website. The next 12 months largely reflects a year of consolidation. We'll be concentrating on activities to achieve our purpose to make a difference for clients and the community, supporting the coordination of a strong and dynamic legal assistance sector, and working with partners to create fairer laws and systems. Read more https://lnkd.in/gxJ2QKdE

Bernadette Grandinetti, A/Associate Director, Family Law, Victoria Legal Aid & Katherine McKernan, Executive Director, National Legal Aid joined representatives from Women's Legal Services Australia & the Law Council of Australia in giving evidence to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social & Legal Affairs Inquiry into family violence orders. Alongside our colleagues we spoke of the need to improve the effectiveness of family violence orders, but also of the need for systems change including a national information sharing scheme & risk register, nationally consistent training for all working within the legal system, co-design of the system with First Nations services & communities & increased investment in legal assistance. Click here to read more on the reforms needed: https://lnkd.in/g3ZiaUkY

'I was overwhelmed [being in the same room as the other party] and I had a panic attack afterwards. I shouldn’t have been put in a place where that happened.' We have made a submission to the Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs Inquiry currently underway into how to provide better access for victim-survivors in the family law system to Family Violence Orders (FVO) and the effective enforcement of those orders.  Read more about our work including our submission https://lnkd.in/gTukWKYJ

Yesterday, The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Minister for the NDIS, announced my appointment as the Commissioner of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. I am pleased that Natalie Wade was also appointed as Associate Commissioner. In a nice synergy, Natalie launched Victoria Legal Aid's first Disability Action Plan in 2021 and I have known her as a legal practitioner and expert for some time. A lot has changed since I left the NDIA in 2017. However, as I will be returning to the NDIS space, it is clear that something has not changed - that is my passion for the Scheme and advocating for the rights of people with disability, as well as a sustainable NDIS. I feel a sense of unfinished business here and now is the right time to take on this role. I have loved my six years at Victoria Legal Aid and thank the VLA Board and our Chair Bill Jaboor. I also thank the Victorian Attorney-General, Jaclyn Symes MP, for her support and leadership during this time. I have enjoyed taking up the role of Chair National Legal Aid for the past three years at a critical time for the legal assistance sector in the context of the renegotiation of the National Legal Assistance Partnership. VLA is a strong advocacy organisation driven by its values – care, courage, fairness, and inclusion. There is commitment to quality service delivery and using our practice experience to advocate for systemic change and law reform in order to make a real difference in people’s lives and communities. I thank the VLA staff past and present for all their work in contributing to access to justice. I also wish to acknowledge the collegiate efforts of my partners in the legal assistance sector over my time at VLA. #disabiltyrights #accesstojustice #NDIS Robbie Campo Clare Morton Tal Karp George Habib Andrew M Saunders Llewellyn Prain Andrew Jackomos Marian Chapman Nerita Waight Antoinette Braybrook AM Adam Awty Louisa Gibbs Lynne Haultain Amanda Utt Katherine McKernan

Please join us in congratulating our CEO Louise Glanville who was yesterday announced by Minister for the NDIS the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, as the new Commissioner of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commission. Thank you Louise for your leadership over the past 6 years! Read more https://lnkd.in/gbzysg7N

ICYMI - Last week Regional Manager Heidi Deason was on air with ABC Mildura-Swan Hill where she spoke about the Victorian Government's recent decision to step away from it's commitment to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14. 'The stick approach just doesn't work. Tough on crime doesn't work. What we know from a lot of evidence from a lot of research is that targeted support, increased support for things like mental health services, disability support services and programs to re-engage with school or employment are actually what's effective for young people.' Listed more from 2:13.12 https://lnkd.in/gAHAp4Dh #RaiseTheAge

The Youth Justice Act 2024 (Vic) – Victoria’s first standalone Act for the youth justice system – is a welcome step for young children aged 10 and 11 who will no longer be exposed to prosecution. We believe it will lay the groundwork for ongoing reform. The Act prioritises diversionary options, like cautions and diversions, to help address the issues which bring children into contact with the legal system. We continue to advocate for the age of criminal responsibility to be lifted to 14, in line with international standards and the evidence base on child development. Read more https://lnkd.in/g3mpeTva