- Published:
- Thursday, 3 July 2025 at 9:40 am
‘The annual forum provides a unique opportunity to share insights and learn from significant community legal education expertise in Victoria. The Community Development and Community Legal Education (CDCLE) Working Group brings together passionate professionals working to bring the law to life for their communities.
Community development and community legal education, as the names say on the tin, sits at the interface between the community and their law and justice system, and makes an important difference to legal capability, access to justice and all of the benefits than follow.’ – Dr Hugh McDonald, Victoria Law Foundation
This year, the annual professional development forum of the Federation of Community Legal Centres’ CDCLE Working Group was hosted at the offices of Gadens on Wurundjeri land.
The event was organised and led by co-conveners Tania McKenna from Northern Community Legal Centre (CLC) and Jacinta Maloney from Victoria Legal Aid, with support from Natsuho Akai from Northern CLC and Beth King from Youthlaw.
We were delighted to welcome around 50 people at the forum this year, including from as far away as Mildura.
Some participants shared that the annual CDCLE forums were a highlight of the year.
‘What a fabulous day! I feel very invigorated.’ – participant
First on this year’s agenda, attendees heard from the Victoria Law Foundation’s Dr Hugh McDonald who provided an update on the third volume of the Public Understanding of Law Survey.
This was followed by a panel discussion on youth participation and engaging young people.
‘The session on engaging youth was really fascinating, full of wisdom and advice, and applicable to other community cohorts.' – participant
The afternoon was spent discussing how to better support women in prison and connect them to community and culture, before the final session on neurodiversity affirming practices.
More feedback from the day
‘Some of the pointers in engaging young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD women, and neurodiverse people really stuck with me, as a reminder for my engagement and CLEI practice.’
‘Thanks so much for another fantastic day. The value of getting together can’t be underestimated and I’m very thankful for the organisers for another excellent day.’
‘As usual, this was an incredibly thoughtful and valuable program, and a wonderful chance to reconnect with sector colleagues. Thanks so much to our wonderful co-convenors and sub-committee for organising it. I'm really grateful!’
The CDCLE Working Group was established by the Federation of CLCs and comprises professionals from across the legal assistance sector, including lawyers, educators, and advocates.
More information
If you would like to know more about the CDCLE Working Group or to join, contact Tania McKenna at tmckenna@northernclc.org.au or Jacinta Maloney at Jacinta.maloney@vla.vic.gov.au
Learn about community legal education or check out our free publications and resources
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