'There is a way forward and there is hope': RLC's Financial Abuse Service NSW

Launched December 2019, the Financial Abuse Service NSW is harnessing the power of legal and corporate sector partners to assist people experiencing financial abuse in intimate partner relationships. The service provides free legal support and conducts advocacy and capacity building to raise awareness and help guide government and industry responses to this widespread but hidden form of domestic violence.

American Express, PwC Australia, Ashurst and King & Wood Mallesons are providing support for the legal service arm of the service, and Ecstra Foundation is providing support for statewide law reform, advocacy and capacity development work. The service is also supported by Commonwealth Government funding administered by Legal Aid NSW under the Community Legal Services Program.

Further info 

Access the service here.

 

This video highlights the story of a financial abuse survivor and details the partnerships underpinning RLC's state-wide service financial abuse service.  

Info for International students affected by travel restrictions

Redfern Legal Centre acknowledges the distress that this may cause, particularly for international students studying at universities or colleges in NSW who may be unable to enter Australia to commence or recommence their studies.

RLC is committed to supporting international students in NSW who are directly or indirectly affected by these events. This includes students who need advice about enrolment, deferral of studies, and health and wellbeing.

RLC in the Media: Sexual assault victims in ethnically diverse suburbs face ‘tremendous hurdles’ in coming forward

Auburn police crime manager Detective Inspector Chris Laird, who also oversees the Strathfield area, said many victims were unwilling to come forward, afraid of becoming re-traumatised by the court process.

Instead, allegations were lodged by a third party, such as friends and families, on behalf of victims or referrals from royal commissions.

“Sadly, unless the offender admits it, sometimes the community attitude is that women aren’t believed,” he said.

RLC Submission: Religious Freedom Reforms – second exposure draft

RLC’s position

While RLC supports the introduction of protections for individuals from religious discrimination and acknowledges improvements to the Bills in the second exposure drafts, it is RLC’s view that, overall, the Bills remain deeply flawed. The Bills continue to favour religious bodies, health practitioners and individuals who make offensive, insulting, humiliating or intimidating public statements in accordance with their religious views, at the expense of protections for individuals from all types of discrimination. Some of the protections given to religious bodies have been expanded at even further expense to individual protections, ignoring important community concerns raised in the submissions on the first exposure drafts.

Health practitioner conscientious objection

Under the Bill, it will be lawful for a health practitioner to conscientiously object to providing a health service because of a religious belief or activity held by the practitioner unless to do so would cause an unjustifiable adverse impact on the health service or the health of the patient. Changes were made to the Bills so that a health practitioner will not be able to refuse to provide a health service to a particular kind of person, however the amendments as currently drafted do not reflect this intention. It is likely that fundamental health services will be harder to access for particular patient groups.

Example:
A pharmacist may be able to ‘conscientiously object’ to filling a script for a single woman to get the contraceptive pill, but provide the medication to a married woman, on the basis that their religious beliefs support chastity outside marriage and fidelity within it. 

Staffing referencing

The Bills will allow certain religious charities running hospitals, aged care facilities and providing accommodation to make staffing decisions based on the applicant’s faith.

Example:
A public benevolent institution which receives the bulk of its income from government grants could make a decision to hire only Christian staff and preference Christians employed to provide disability support, employment skills training, playgroups, youth and many others. 

Submissions

This submission addresses the issues arising from the changes to the Bills as reflected in the second exposure drafts. Our submission raises serious concerns with the amended Bills and makes 14 recommendations, including:

  1. The definition of religious body should be limited to bodies established for religious purposes that operate places of worship, conduct religious services and ceremonies and provide religious education and instruction.
     
  2. Religious bodies should be required to demonstrate that conduct ‘is in accordance with’ or ‘conforms to’ the doctrine, tenets, beliefs or teachings of a religion, in the same way that is required with other discrimination legislation.
     
  3. The ability of religious bodies other than places of religious worship to ‘preference’, or hire into employment or admit a student into a school, persons of the same religion should be removed.
     
  4. The health practitioner ‘conscientious objector’ protections provisions in the Bill should be removed. 

Download

RLC first made submissions to the Religious Freedom Bills consultation on 2 October 2019, detailing a number of our concerns. On 31 January 2020, we made further submissions on the second exposure draft of the Bills.

RLC Submission: Religious Freedom Reforms – second exposure draft

RLC’s position

RLC in the Media: “Summer of glove” campaign calls for the end of Berejiklian-era strip-searches

“Summer of Glove” posters have been springing up around Sydney’s CBD. They feature an image, depicting NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian pulling on some latex gloves in preparation, it would seem, for a rather invasive strip search she’s about to conduct.

Below the Liberal leader’s image, reads the line “Strip searches across Sydney”, which is a fairly accurate summing up of what’s been happening in this city of late. Indeed, throughout the state, strip searches have become routine, even though they’re supposed to be a measure of last resort.

Looking for share accomodation? Check out RLC's Share Housing Survival Guide

Share housing is a good option for many students, but finding a place to live can be daunting, especially if you're moving out of home for the first time or you're studying interstate or overseas, far away from family and friends.

RLC's Share Housing Survival Guide is a great starting point for anyone seeking advice on share house living in NSW. This online resource is designed specifically with students in mind, and provides a mix of practical and legal information for people in share housing.

Legal assistance for people affected by bushfires and floods

Legal Aid NSW is operating the service, available via its helpline 1800 801 529. The service is providing assitance with with insurance claims, social security benefits and other legal problems associated with natural disasters.

Disaster recovery – useful resources and services:

The Disaster Response Legal Service NSW - 1800 801 529

PLT Placements (Volunteers) - Two Positions Available

Position Description

These positions will each work 2-3 days per week, placed within our Police Powers practice, and our Health Justice Partnership practice. These positions are now closed.

PLT Placement (Volunteer) - Health Justice Partnership

Position Description

Working initially at the Redfern Legal Centre, your position should expand to the outreach health settings of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Sydney Dental Hospital. Responsibilities include client intake, file review, general administration, research, legal drafting, interviewing clients, and follow up on client matters, under supervision of the Health Justice Partnership solicitors. This position is now closed.