The Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria (FVPLS Victoria) provides assistance to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander victims/survivors of family violence and sexual assault and to parents/carers of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander children. It does not assist perpetrators of family violence.

Services include free legal advice, referral, ongoing casework and court representation in the following areas of law:

• Family Violence Intervention Orders
• Family Law
• Child Protection
• Victims of Crime Assistance
• Other legal problems related to Family Violence such as Centrelink issues, debts or fines.

 FVPLS Victoria services metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria and has offices based in Collingwood (Head Office), Bairnsdale, Warrnambool and Mildura. Solicitors can give urgent telephone legal advice through the toll free number.

The ASRC conducts weekly legal clinics for asylum seekers, assisting them to gain permanent protection.

Legal Program: payal.s@asrc.org.au

The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) aims to protect and uphold the human rights, wellbeing and dignity of asylum seekers by providing Aid, Empowerment, Justice and Community programs. ASRC is an independent, registered, non-governmental agency working at the coal face with some of our community’s most vulnerable people.

Established in 2001, the ASRC is Australia’s leading provider of aid, advocacy, legal, health and welfare services to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised people in the Australian community. The centre works directly with asylum seekers living in Australia to provide vital aid and support as they seek refugee status.

The ASRC works to a ‘turn no asylum seeker in need away’ policy - unique amongst agencies working with asylum seekers. Under the one roof the centre has more than 650 volunteers, 23 direct programs and over 1000 asylum seekers receiving support at any one time. In the first 10 years alone the ASRC has assisted over 7000 people seeking asylum, provided more than 1 million hours of free help and turned no asylum seeker in need away. The centre provides asylum seekers with critical services including a health clinic, food bank, material aid, casework, counselling, legal representation and employment service.

Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre (BMCLC) provides a free legal service to any person who lives, works or studies in the City of Brimbank, the Shire of Melton and Bacchus Marsh.

BMCLC provides information, advice, referrals and community legal education in the areas of family law, divorce, motor vehicle accidents, fines, criminal, and civil debt.

Most CLCs will assist clients on the basis that they cannot obtain legal advice from a private lawyer.

Casey Cardinia Community Legal Service (CCCLS) provides legal advice and assistance to people who reside, work or study within the City of Casey,Shire of Cardinia or Dandenong City. Services provided include: Family Law, Criminal Law, Traffic Offences, Intervention Orders, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Problems with Creditors, Budgets, Bankruptcy and Fines. CCCLS does not provide assistance for the following matters: Wills, Conveyancing, Child Support, Workers Compensation, Personal Injury, Neighborhood Matters, Tenancy and Probate. However it does provide referrals for these areas.

Clients seen on an appointment only basis.

Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC) assists in seeking redress for low income, vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers who have suffered loss in a consumer dispute.

It also assists Indigenous, rural and regional consumers. There is a telephone advice service and there are outreach services. There is also an advice service for community case workers acting on behalf of clients.