News

• VLA welcomes positive results in Client Satisfaction Survey 2011
  Date: 08 Feb 2012
  Satisfaction with VLA services is high according to a recent client survey.
• New community corrections order scheme now in place
  Date: 08 Feb 2012
  Community-based sentencing options have been simplified and replaced by a community corrections order, with a wide range of new powers to order rehabilitation treatment, and restrictions on movement.
• New protective services officers set to hit the beat
  Date: 08 Feb 2012
  New protective services officers on the Melbourne railway network have a variety of powers, and will start patrolling railway stations from 22 February 2012.
• Victoria Legal Aid in the media to 8 February 2012
  Date: 08 Feb 2012
  Media coverage includes our representation of a man with an intellectual disability facing a prison sentence for unpaid fines, and support for reforms to the laws imposing mandatory jail terms for convicted people smugglers, often young, poor fishermen.
• Hailstorms and family problems lead to busy time for Legal Help service
  Date: 08 Feb 2012
  Our free Legal Help phone line experienced increased demand over the summer break, with family tensions and the recent hail damage leading to extra calls.
• Giving youth crime a red card
  Date: 06 Feb 2012
  Two VLA Morwell lawyers have been kicking goals as part of a Say No to Youth Crime project targeting Sudanese young people.
• Hailstorms and family problems lead to busy time for Legal Help
  Date: 12 Jan 2012
  There has been increased demand for Legal Help over the summer break, with family tensions and the recent hail damage leading to extra calls for legal information.
• Legal Help available over holiday season
  Date: 22 Dec 2011
  VLA's Legal Help phone service is open during the holiday season to help you with your legal problems. The free service is open Monday to Friday 8.45 am to 5.15 pm (closed public holidays).
• Decision puts unfair fines system in the spotlight
  Date: 14 Dec 2011
  A recent test case decided in the Supreme Court highlighted inequities in Victoria’s infringements system.
• Major project to prevent family violence
  Date: 14 Dec 2011
  Preventing family violence in newly emerging immigrant communities is the aim of an innovative project.
• Great outcome for elderly couple in Centrelink debt case
  Date: 14 Dec 2011
  An elderly couple are greatly relieved following a tribunal finding that a Centrelink administrative error was responsible for their $140,000 debt.
• Victoria Legal Aid in the media to 14 December 2011
  Date: 14 Dec 2011
  The past fortnight has included a test case on the infringements system, our representation of minors facing people smuggling offences and new translated family law publications.
• Sign up for our Community legal resources update
  Date: 13 Dec 2011
  You can subscribe to Community legal resources update to keep updated on our range of free, plain language resources for people with a legal problem.
• VLA welcomes coroner’s recommendations on tailored police training
  Date: 30 Nov 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid welcomes Coroner, Judge Jennifer Coate’s recommendations for Victoria Police to undertake youth-specific training, following the inquest into the death of teenager Tyler Cassidy.
• 15-year-old boy accused of people smuggling to return home
  Date: 29 Nov 2011
  A 15-year-old boy accused of aggravated people smuggling is returning home to Indonesia after Victoria Legal Aid lawyers obtained evidence to prove his age.
• Give us your feedback on our website
  Date: 28 Nov 2011
  We are redeveloping our website and would like your feedback on how to improve our site even if you are not a frequent user.
• Speak out against violence on White Ribbon Day
  Date: 24 Nov 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid is supporting White Ribbon Day on 25 November.
• Tyler Cassidy inquest: coroner's recommendations on training welcomed by VLA
  Date: 23 Nov 2011
  VLA is pleased that Coroner Jennifer Coate has today recommended the introduction of youth-specific training for Victoria Police in her findings on the inquest into the shooting of teenager Tyler Cassidy.
• Victoria Legal Aid wins bid to have 15-year-old boy accused of people smuggling returned home to Indonesia
  Date: 16 Nov 2011
  The Commonwealth dropped an aggravated people smuggling charge against a 15-year-old Indonesian boy, after Victoria Legal Aid obtained evidence he was under 18.
• Swan Hill liquor bans withdrawn by police
  Date: 10 Nov 2011
  Twenty people in Swan Hill have had unfair alcohol bans lifted following VLA's action.
• Disaster Legal Help to continue to provide legal information to Victorian communities
  Date: 10 Nov 2011
  Victorians affected by disasters can receive free legal information online.
• Victoria Legal Aid shares the Herald Sun's child protection investigation concerns
  Date: 25 Oct 2011
  Comment from VLA's Managing Director about Victoria's child protection system in response to a Herald Sun investigation.
• Family matters to top the agenda
  Date: 12 Oct 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid is running a free Family Law Matters seminar on Friday 21 October 2011in Frankston.
• Victoria Legal Aid welcomes new Chairperson and Board member
  Date: 27 Sep 2011
  Managing Director Bevan Warner has welcomed the appointment of a new Chairperson and Board member to Victoria Legal Aid.
• Free wireless at the VLA Public Law Library
  Date: 26 Sep 2011
  Our Public Law Library now has free wireless internet access.
• Learning about rights with Space Invaders
  Date: 15 Sep 2011
  Young people from eight schools in Melbourne learned about their rights and responsibilities when dealing with police when they attended a performance of an innovative theatre project.
• Annual report tabled
  Date: 15 Sep 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid's annual report 2010–11 was tabled in the Parliament on Thursday 15 September and shows that we continued to play an important role in helping vulnerable and disadvantaged people this year.
• Experiencing mortgage stress? Take action
  Date: 07 Sep 2011
  Find out how to take action if you are experiencing mortgage stress.
• New stalking laws introduced
  Date: 05 Sep 2011
  New laws have been introduced to protect community members from stalking and other threatening behaviour.
• Celebrating 30 years of Victoria Legal Aid
  Date: 01 Sep 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid came to life today 30 years ago in 1981.
• Victoria Legal Aid challenges prison sentence for a man with an intellectual disability who failed to pay fines
  Date: 28 Jul 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid will represent a man with an intellectual disability in the Supreme Court today in a bid to have his prison sentence overturned and his case re-heard.
• Why the rush? Amendments to social security laws
  Date: 20 Jul 2011
  Managing Director Bevan Warner looks at recent amendments to Australia’s social security laws. The retrospective legislation means that somebody who did nothing wrong at the time may now find they committed a crime over a decade ago.
• August Briefcase newsletter now available
  Date: 18 Jul 2011
  The latest edition of Briefcase looks at our efforts to reduce court delays and our Talented Junior Counsel Program.
• Legal education for new arrivals provides benefits for all
  Date: 07 Jul 2011
  Legal aid commissions have combined to support a National Legal Aid project which has produced a free educational resource which can be used in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to educate new arrivals about the law.
• Victoria Legal Aid reminds earthquake affected people to seek insurance help
  Date: 07 Jul 2011
  Victorians are urged to get more information about their insurance rights and to lodge an insurance claim if they have been affected by the recent Victorian earthquake.
• New program targets talented juniors in a bid to cut Victoria’s court delays
  Date: 04 Jul 2011
  Fourteen junior barristers will work with some of the state’s most experienced and accomplished senior trial advocates in the Talented Junior Counsel Program – the first of its kind in Australia.
• National Bulk Debt project writes-off debts for vulnerable clients
  Date: 30 Jun 2011
  Financial counsellors and community legal centre lawyers are invited to be part of an innovative National Bulk Debt project that negotiates debt waivers on behalf of groups of disadvantaged and vulnerable clients.
• Rugged up for a good cause
  Date: 17 Jun 2011
  Managing Director Bevan Warner took part in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout on Thursday 16 June to experience homelessness first hand for one night and raise money for Vinnies' homeless services.
• Victorian legal sector celebrates 30 years of Victoria Legal Aid
  Date: 10 Jun 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid celebrated a milestone anniversary with an event attended by present and former attorneys-general, as well as many other well-wishers from the Victorian legal sector.
• Victoria Legal Aid launches its Strategic Plan 2011–14
  Date: 09 Jun 2011
  The Strategic Plan was launched on 9 June 2011 as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations.
• Submission highlights improvements for flood insurance
  Date: 16 May 2011
  A number of community organisations have developed a joint consumer submission to the Federal Government about flood insurance coverage following the recent natural disasters in Victoria and Queensland.
• The steps to family reunion
  Date: 03 May 2011
  The Victorian Legal Assistance Forum launched a report highlighting its project supporting young refugees who need legal help to bring their families to Australia.
• Support from the Chief
  Date: 18 Apr 2011
  Family Court Chief Justice the Hon Diana Bryant threw her support behind the proposed changes to the family law eligibility guidelines last week.
• A Fair Go in Insurance
  Date: 03 Feb 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid is part of a coalition of consumer advocacy and legal aid organisations that has released 12 recommendations for reform of the insurance industry.
• More Victorians to be supported through legal aid
  Date: 18 Jan 2011
  From today, people with up to $300,000 equity in their home will now be considered for a grant of legal assistance.
• Legal help for flood affected
  Date: 18 Jan 2011
  Victoria Legal Aid help those affected by the Victorian floods.
• Victoria Legal Aid urges insurance claims for flood affected
  Date: 23 Sep 2010
  Victoria Legal Aid can assist people affected by the recent floods in Victoria by providing legal information about insurance and related issues.
• Report confirms economic value of legal aid to community
  Date: 30 Mar 2010
  Government spending on legal aid is more than repaid through economic benefits and savings to the justice system, according to a recently released report by PricewaterhouseCoopers.
• Victoria Legal Aid to participate in Tyler Cassidy inquiry
  Date: 05 Mar 2010
  The State Coroner, Judge Jennifer Coate has granted permission to Victoria Legal Aid to participate in the inquest into the December 2008 police shooting of teenager, Tyler Cassidy.
• VLA amongst LIV award winners
  Date: 16 Nov 2009
  Several VLA staff and Board member Mary Anne Noone were honoured at the Law Institute of Victoria's annual awards.
• Legal Aid Brief
  Date:
  Legal Aid Brief is Victoria Legal Aid's fortnightly e-newsletter that will keep you up-to-date with legal aid matters.

• Contact us  |  Copyright  |  Privacy  |  Disclaimer  |  Sitemap  |  Accessibility statement