Legal Aid in Australia

An authorising law may also set out the legal aid near canterbury nsw powers ACAT has in a case. Our commitment to affirming a person’s gender and sexuality is foundational to their human rights, safety, and well-being. We can help with applying for an Interim Family Violence Restraining Order (FVRO) to protect you now and help you through the process afterwards once your immediate wellbeing is addressed. An FVRO will prevent the person from approaching you or acting threateningly towards you, giving police the power to immediately arrest them. Your assets include things like properties, vehicles, shares, super, house contents, valuables, and more. Any and all assets that have been accumulated to date, including after your separation, will be considered.
Services Australia considers each parent’s income, their combined income, the amount of care each parent provides, and the child’s age to calculate the cost of raising the child. Changes in either parent’s financial situation can also affect the support amount. Child support covers financial assistance for raising children under 18, while child maintenance applies to adult children over 18.

If Legal Chat is not available, please call our Legal Helpline or visit our Publications page for information and free resources to address common legal questions. If your query needs more tailored advice, we will direct you to our free Legal Helpline or arrange for someone to contact you. Our Help Before Court service can help you prepare for court if you have criminal charges. This depends on the type of case you have, how much you earn, what property you own, and whether you receive any money or property because of your case. GJ Templeman Solicitors Ltd assisted me throughout the legal process of ... Excellent personalised service received from Nigel which is very unlikely to get from large firms.Highly recommended.
Generalist community legal centres assist people within their local area with a range of legal issues. She also works privately in family  dispute resolution and has a background with the Child Support Agency. Kathy, a Wiradjuri woman, is a lawyer, nationally accredited mediator, and consultant on Indigenous service delivery, with experience in family, criminal and youth law. She provides culturally responsive dispute resolution services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

The duty lawyer service is free and can be accessed by everyone. Legal Aid ACT helps people in the ACT with their legal problems, especially people who are socially or economically disadvantaged. We can help in criminal law, family law and some civil law matters. Lawyers can make a big difference to the outcome of dispute resolution by preparing their clients well for the process and being supportive, professional participants during our conferences.
We understand how complex cases involving family violence can be. Our number one priority is your safety and the safety of those you care about. You can apply for a divorce on your own or file jointly with your ex-partner. We can help with the application process and everything that comes after, ensuring you have the advice and support you need. If you are a private practitioner or other professional that works in the family law space (e.g. counsellor, multicultural organisation, mediator), find out how you can be part of the Family Law Pathways Network.
Legal Aid funding pays for a lawyer to represent you at the mediation. If you are participating in mediation, it is a serious offence to disclose any confidential information from the family dispute resolution process to any other person or body, including a court. Our family dispute resolution service is independent, confidential and lawyer-assisted. We may be able to provide dispute resolution even if mediation isn’t appropriate through a community-based service. We partner with private law firms and lawyers across Victoria to provide legal aid services.

At a mediation, you will get a chance to express your point of view openly and try to work out a solution that all parties agree on. We also encourage you to contact us if you would like to provide feedback at any stage of the process or have a complaint about Victoria Legal Aid Family Dispute Resolution Service. Find more about ways we work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
She also trains family consultants and independent children’s lawyers and is a member of the FDRS Child Consultant Panel. Susan is a nationally accredited mediator, trainer, and Law Institute of Victoria specialist in mediation and family law. She works as a private practitioner and independent children’s lawyer, and coaches and lectures in conflict resolution. Julia is an Advanced Accredited Mediator and family lawyer with a Master of Laws, specialising in ADR and family law. Since 2025, she has led property mediations at Victoria Legal Aid, where she also oversees the property program and provides training and mentors junior practitioners. From 2015 to 2024, she ran a legal and mediation practice in NSW and was a member of the Legal Aid NSW mediation panel, providing statewide training and support to panels lawyers and mediators.