Reaching Out for Rights Project
Improving access to justice for women who have experienced family violence

Women’s Legal Services NSW

Women’s Legal Services NSW (WLS) has received a grant of $150,000 to support the Reaching Out for Rights Project. The grant from the NSW Office For Women Family and Domestic Violence Grants Program 2009/2010 is for twelve months. The project will focus on six regions of NSW that have been identified as having high unmet legal need and will run until October 2010.
Women who have experienced family violence face particular challenges in accessing the justice system. Despite the increase in the availability of legal information, women continue to experience difficulties in obtaining legal assistance for family violence. Some women also have particular social disadvantage and/or are disadvantaged by the area they live in. The project aims to improve legal assistance to women living in communities that have been identified as having high unmet legal need and who have experienced family violence.
The project will work with local organisations assisting women experiencing family violence. The project particularly aims to help women who experience barriers when negotiating the justice system, such as Indigenous women, women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, refugee women and women living with disability.
The project will provide workshops about legal options, reporting family violence and options for responding to systemic failures in the justice system. The aim is to increase the ability of workers to respond appropriately and advocate effectively within their area. Where possible, legal information workshops will also be provided for women in the community.
Two metropolitan areas and four rural areas of NSW have been identified as priorities. Workshops will be held during 2010 in:

• Canterbury / Campsie
• Mt Druitt
• Mid North Coast of NSW – Taree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour.
• Far South West NSW – Mildura, Hay and Deniliquin
• Goulburn and Yass
• Far South Coast of NSW – Moruya, Bega and Cooma

The project also involves the development of resources including a “breach card” and information about responding to systemic failures.
The project will promote the services available at WLS including advice and representation to women experiencing violence and inform the ongoing law reform work of WLS in relation to improving justice system responses to women experiencing violence.

“Reaching Out For Rights” Worker Forums – Dates and areas

Taree Tuesday 23 February 2010
Port Macquarie Wednesday 24 February 2010
Coffs Harbour Thursday 25 February 2010
Moruya Tuesday 23 March 2010
Cooma Thursday 25 March 2010
Bega Friday 26 March 2010
Campsie Tuesday 29 March 2010
Mt Druitt March – To be advised
Deniliquin Tuesday 11 May 2010
Hay Wednesday 12 May 2010
Mildura Friday 14 May 2010
Goulburn Tuesday 22 June 2010
Yass Wednesday 23 June 2010
Bankstown Tuesday 13 July 2010
Please note – dates may be subject to change. Venues to be advised.

About the Workshops:
The workshops are free and are held over a full day and are designed for any workers in the community, health or welfare sectors who have contact with women and children who have experienced family violence.
For further information and to register your interest contact Odessa Saukuru, Community Access Worker (Indigenous Women’s Program) on odessa_saukuru@clc.net.au (02) 8745 6900 or Felicity Martin, Solicitor (Domestic Violence Advocacy Service, WLS NSW) on felicity_martin@clc.net.au or (02) 8745 6900.

Please click on this link to download REACHING OUT FOR RIGHTS PROJECT workshop info