Campaign Launch: Family violence with nowhere to turn? Help Fund The Answer

October 30, 2011

The ‘Help Fund The Answer’ campaign is the result of a decision by Women’s Legal Service to say women under threat of family violence in Queensland should no longer be turned away.

After 20 years of chronic underfunding, Women’s Legal Service is – for the first time in it's history – publicly speaking out against unacceptable levels of funding; funding that does not meet the legal needs of women experiencing family violence.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more women are killed by their partners in Queensland than in any other state; sexual violence affects almost 1 in 5 Australian women; and physical violence affects at least 1 in 3 Australian women.

Women’s Legal Service Coordinator Rosslyn Monro said the Service had to regularly turn women away because the need was so great and the funding was so poor. Continue Reading...

Join the campaign online at http://helpfundtheanswer.com.au/

Significant Reductions to Service

The Women’s Legal Service regrets to advise that as at 1 October 2011, we will be making significant reductions to our services.

The following cuts will apply:

Thursday night legal advice sessions will cease

The telephone advice service will close on Fridays

The office will be closed on Fridays

The dedicated rural phone line will cease.

Our reduced opening hours will be:

Evening advice sessions
Monday and Wednesday                         6.00pm to 8.00pm

Telephone advice service
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday              9.30am to 1.30pm
Wednesday                                            9.30am to 11:30am

General office hours
Monday to Thursday                               9.00am to 5.00pm

Background

This is the first time in twenty seven years of operation that WLS has been forced to reduce its hours of service.

WLS sincerely regrets any hardship that the reduction in service delivery may cause women in Queensland and continues to pursue funding opportunities in the hope of restoring services to their previous levels.

We are very concerned about the impact that the cuts will have on women in need of legal assistance and support. Stay tuned for details of a fundraising campaign we are launching very soon. The campaign will include details on how everyone in the community can help.

WLS Fundraising Art Exhibition - 20 May 2011 - Riverside Centre

Thank you!

Women's legal Service would like to thank all those who hepled to make our fundraising art show such an amazing success!

Thank you to our wonderful volunteers, to our brilliant artists, and to all our generous sponsors and prize donors. Without your support this event would not have been possible.

All funds raised from this event will directly help us to support women.

View Art Show Sponsors and Donors

Put Safety First in Family Law

Put Safety First in Family Law is a Women’s Legal Services Australia’s campaign calling for the Australian Government to reform family law to ensure it works to keep women and children safe.

The Attorney-General has now introduced the Family Law Legislation Amendment (Family Violence and Other Measures) Bill 2011 into Parliament.

Service Closure Dates

Xmas Closure 2011-12:

WLS will close its office at 5pm on Thursday 22 December 2011.

The office will re-open at 9am on Monday 9 January 2012.

The last evening advice session for 2011 will be Wednesday 14 December.

The first evening advice session for 2012 will be Monday 16 January.

Key dates for 2012:

The office will be closed on the following gazetted public holidays in 2012:

Thursday 26 January (Australia Day)

Friday 06 April (Good Friday)

Monday 09 April ( Easter Monday)

Wednesday 25 April (Anzac Day)

Monday 7 May (Labour Day)

Monday 11 June (Queen's Diamond Jubilee)

Wednesday 15 August (People's Show Day)

Monday 1 October (Queen's Birthday)