Our Services Brochure

Are legal problems getting on top of you?

Canberra Community Law provides free, independent and confidential legal services to people on low incomes or facing other disadvantage in the ACT.

What services does Canberra Community Law provide?

Canberra Community Law provides free, independent and confidential legal advice and advocacy services.

We provide seven legal services:

• Housing Law
• Social Security Law
• Dhurrawang Human Rights Program
• Street Law
• Disability Discrimination Law
• Socio-Legal Practice Clinic
• Night Time Legal Advice Service
• Parachute
• Mental Health Justice Clinic

Housing Law

Housing Law can provide you with free legal advice if you are having problems with Housing ACT or a community housing provider in the ACT.

Some examples of problems we can help you with are:

• Problems getting housing
• Evictions
• Rent arrears / behind on rent
• Housing transfers
• Housing debts
• Repairs and maintenance

Housing Law can also help occupants on low incomes.

Please ring the Housing Law advice line on (02) 6218 7900.

For more information about this service see our brochure ‘Need help with a Public Housing, Community Housing or Occupancy Agreement problem?’.

Social Security Law

Social Security Law can help you with Centrelink and Social Security matters if you are living in the ACT.

Some examples of problems we can help you with are:

• Appealing Centrelink decisions
• Overpayment/Underpayments
• Entitlements
• Debt recovery
• Payments cut off, reduced cancelled or suspended
• Claims refused

For advice on a Centrelink problem please ring us on (02) 6218 7900.

For more information about this service see our brochure  ‘Need help with a Centrelink or Social Security problem?’.

Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program

Dhurrawang provides legal advice and representation to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the ACT. We also assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in South-East NSW with Centrelink matters.

Dhurrawang can assist you in dealing with:

• Housing problems in the ACT
• Centrelink problems
• Race discrimination where you have been treated unfairly because of your race, colour or descent in:
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Getting or using services
  • Accessing public places

Just call on (02) 6218 7900 or free call 1800 445 665 from south-east NSW.

For more information about this service see our brochure ‘Dhurrawang Aboriginal Human Rights Program’.

Street Law

Street Law assists people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness by providing legal help.

Street Law can provide assistance or referral in a number of areas of law, including:

• Proof of ID
• Traffic and other types of fines
• Centrelink issues
• Housing issues
• Debts
• Minor criminal law
• Employment law
• Consumer law

Street Law also runs outreach clinics in community venues.

Please ring Street Law on 1800 STRLAW (1800 787 529) or (02) 6218 7900 for advice or to make an appointment.

For more information about this service see our brochure ‘Street Law: Outreach Legal Service for People Experiencing or at Risk of Homelessness’.

Disability Discrimination Law

Disability Discrimination Law can help you if you or someone you care for have been discriminated against because of a disability.

Please ring Disability Discrimination Law on (02) 6218 7900 or through the National Relay Service at www.relayservice.gov.au

For more information about this service see our brochure ‘Think you’ve been treated unfairly because of your disability?’.

Parachute

Parachute helps women experiencing or at risk of family violence in the areas of social security.

For assistance, please ring us on (02) 6218 7900.

For more information about this service, see our brochure ‘Domestic Violence – Housing and Social Security Legal Help’.

Mental Health Justice Clinic

Mental Health Justice Clinic can provide you with free legal advice if you are a person with lived experience on mental ill health and you are having problem with:

• Discrimination
• Employment
• Health services
• Abuse, neglect, or exploitations
• Centrelink
• Public Housing
• Minor Criminal Law

For assistance please ring us on (02) 6218 7900.

For more information about the service, see our brochure ‘Legal help for people with lived experience of mental ill health’.

Night Time Legal Advice Service (NTLAS)

NTLAS provides information, referral or one-off legal advice in most areas of law.

NTLAS does not provide advice in the areas that are covered by the day-time legal services. NTLAS also does not provide immigration and refugee legal advice.

Legal advice and referrals on Tuesday night between 6pm to 7pm. You can call us on (02) 6218 7900.

For more information about this service see our brochure ‘Do you need help with a legal problem?’.

Canberra Community Law’s Contact Details

Phone: (02) 6218 7900
Free Call: 1800 787 529 or 1800 445 665
Fax: (02) 6247 2816
Email: info@canberracommunitylaw.org.au
Website: www.canberracommunitylaw.org.au
Postal Address: PO Box 547, Canberra ACT 2601
Street Address: Level 5 / 10 Rudd St, Canberra City

If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 and ask them to ring us.

If you are deaf or have a hearing impairment or speech impairment, contact us through the National Relay Service at www.relayservice.gov.au