Geelong legal aid office reopens doors to a more inclusive space

We were honoured to welcome the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP, Attorney-General of Victoria, to officially reopen our refurbished Barwon regional office in Geelong on Wadawurrung Country.

The event on 16 September marked a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to the Barwon Southwest region. Following extensive upgrades, the office is now a more accessible, inclusive and welcoming environment for clients, staff and the community.

The Attorney-General recognised the need for legal assistance in the growing region and reaffirmed the Victorian Government’s support for legal aid and our sector.

She described our upgraded office as a modern, safe and welcoming place where clients can feel supported from the moment they walk in.

Also attending were Parliamentary Secretary for First Peoples and Member for Geelong Christine Couzens, Magistrate Gerard Bryant and several of our valued community partners.

Our Board Chairperson Bill Jaboor highlighted the region’s rapid growth and diverse community.

‘This region is one of the fastest-growing in the state, now home to more than 340,000 people – and that number continues to rise,’ he said.

‘It’s also a region of great diversity and one where many people … face significant socio-economic challenges.

‘That’s why I’m excited about the upgrades we’ve made to our Geelong office, which make this space more accessible and better suited to the needs of the people we serve.’

Victoria Legal Aid chief executive officer Toby Hemming

Our chief executive officer Toby Hemming echoed this.

‘We want every person who we work with to feel welcomed, respected, and looked after. This office is a calm, safe place – designed with our clients and staff in mind,’ he said.

‘With these changes, we can better support members of the local community who we work with every day, often at some of the most challenging times in their lives.

‘This is a diverse and growing community, and like government, we’re absolutely committed to growing our services here so we can respond to the evolving needs of our clients.

‘This is just the latest step in our wider plan to improve service delivery and client experience beyond the Melbourne city limits.’

We are grateful to our local partners – including private practitioners, community legal centres, First Nations communities, the courts and other organisations working in the justice system – for their ongoing collaboration. We also thank the state government for its support for legal assistance across regional Victoria.