The cash-strapped legal service representing Latrobe Valley’s underprivileged residents, Victorian Legal Aid, believes it can continue to operate effectively into the future despite a major service delivery overhaul.
Victorian Legal Aid Gippsland office manager Lynne Broad said the organisation had faced a challenging and difficult year, in which it was forced to turn clients away amid attempts to recover drastic budget deficits.
“The deficit is unsustainable but our guidelines, which we introduced this year, will move us towards a more sustainable financial footing in 2014,” Ms Broad said.
VLA recorded a statewide $9.3 million deficit last financial year, predictions for which forced the organisation to cut staff and reduce services statewide.
“While we would always welcome more investment, it is very important that we can demonstrate good value for money by targeting our resources to people who need it most,” she said.
The transformation came during a period of unprecedented demand for legal services in the Valley court system, particularly influenced by a 21.6 per cent increase in family violence reports statewide last financial year.
The changes in legal aid eligibility guidelines, implemented earlier this year, gave rise to concerns domestic violence victims would be forced to face abusive ex-partners in court without legal representation.
“Decisions about how to prioritise legal aid funds are always challenging and difficult, and there is always unmet legal need,” Ms Broad said.
“In July 2012 we set new priorities for our duty lawyer service which allowed us to prioritise people facing the most serious charges and those with complex needs… we’re resolving their legal problems earlier with fewer multiple services and return court dates.”
Ms Board said other matters likely to attract lower penalties, such as fines or adjournment undertakings – including drink driving charges – would see VLA lawyers provide advice as opposed to representation in court.
Compared to a statewide downturn in people represented by VLA over 2012-13, Ms Board said the number of clients assisted by Morwell and Bairnsdale-based lawyers remained relatively steady, dropping only 1.3 per cent, with 3238 Gippsland clients helped with family law, fines, debt and criminal matters.
“The people we assist across Gippsland have complex legal problems that can be compounded by financial hardship as well as family breakdown or separation, disability or illness, unemployment, consumer credit or debt problems and language difficulties,” she said.
Ms Board said VLA had continued to place a strong emphasis on preemptive community legal education through a range of initiatives, including a campaign highlighting the legal perils of ‘sexting’ – which in some cases could lead to charges of child pornography.
She said utility bill and Centrelink debts were also an area of legal confusion, with the service last year introducing a monthly specialist regarding Centrelink-related legal problems.
“We know there are many people who feel overwhelmed and confused when dealing with Centrelink. Queries about Centrelink debt, confusion about entitlements and overpayments, and changes to disability pension guidelines, are common areas of concern,” Ms Broad said
