- Published:
- Monday 12 October 2026 at 11:49 am
Our Frankston office has relocated to a new, more accessible space, helping improve access to legal services for people across the region.
The new office, on Bunurong Country, was officially opened by the Hon. Sonya Kilkenny MP, Attorney-General of Victoria on 9 October.
We welcomed members of the community from local government, the courts, private practitioners, community legal centres and other organisations within the justice sector.
We were also honoured to welcome the Hon. Jodie Belyea MP, His Honour Magistrate Tan and Councillor Sue Baker, Mayor of Frankston Council, to the event.
While the event marked the official opening of our new office, operations commenced in late August, with staff continuing to provide services to the community throughout the relocation.
The event began with a Welcome to Country from Uncle Mark Brown, Bunurong and Gunditjmara Elder. We acknowledge that we work on unceded land and recognise the Bunurong Peoples continuing connection to land, water and community.
Improving access to justice
The Attorney-General spoke about the importance of collaboration within the justice sector and the vital role legal aid plays in helping people access justice.
'The VLA staff at Frankston will turn this office into a thriving hub for people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage to have access to justice,' she said.
Our Board chairperson, Llewellyn Prain, echoed the Attorney-General’s comments, highlighting the growing need for legal assistance across the region.
‘As demand for legal support across the region continues to grow, we are determined to strengthen our services and improve access to justice,’ said Llewellyn.
‘This new office is part of that approach. It sends an important message to our clients and the local community.
‘We first established a VLA Frankston office in July of 1984. Since then, our Frankston office has helped thousands of people – nearly 4500 in the last financial year alone.’
Creating an inclusive space
The new office has been thoughtfully designed, with inclusivity at its core.
‘At VLA, we want to make sure our offices are spaces that are welcoming, accessible and modern, that afford people the dignity they deserve’, said Llewellyn.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Toby Hemming, reiterated this.
‘Our new office enables us to provide a more welcoming and accessible space for our clients. It has been designed to be inclusive and create a sense of calm, reducing stress for clients’ said Toby.
Bringing the community together
Frankston Regional Manager, Julie Riva says the opening was also an opportunity to bring together the organisations and people who play an important role in supporting the local community.
‘These events are a great opportunity to bring members of the local justice system here together. We are grateful to our local partners including First Peoples communities and organisations, private practitioners, community legal centres, the courts and other organisations working in the justice system for their ongoing collaboration. It is important that we come together and continue to build on our connections.’
We also thank the state government for its support for legal assistance across regional Victoria.
We look forward to continuing to work alongside our justice sector partners to provide accessible, high-quality legal services and ensure people across the region can access justice and help when they need it.
More information
For information about how to find and contact us, go to Our Offices.
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