Member for Werribee, Tim Pallas today announced the Western Community Legal Centre, also known as Westjustice, will receive a $300,000 funding boost as part of a grants program under the Andrews Labor Government.

The $300,000 of funding over two years will help Westjustice to provide vital legal assistance to vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Werribee electorate.

Westjustice will use the funding to:

• Employ a new lawyer and Community Development Worker to establish a program to engage Maori and Pacific Islander communities in Wyndham
• Employ a Family Violence Duty Lawyer and Principal Solicitor to provide services at Werribee and Sunshine Magistrates’ Courts
• Allocate a Heath Justice Partnership Lawyer and Family Violence Policy Director to the Werribee Mercy Hospital to provide client and staff consultations

Westjustice is one of 38 community legal centres across Victoria to successfully apply for a grant under the funding programs, including the Community Legal Centre Assistance Fund, the Family Violence Duty Lawyer Fund, and the Community Legal Centre Family Violence Fund.

The grants – totaling $8.9 million – will help support more than 100,000 Victorians each year with free advice and support on a range of legal matters including family violence proceedings and family law disputes.

The Victorian Budget 2017/18 provided $24.8 million in new funding to help community legal centres across the state to deliver critical legal services and advice to Victorians.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee, Tim Pallas

“We’re proud to be delivering this funding to Westjustice because it will help to improve access to legal services in our community and deliver more support to those who need it most.”

“I congratulate Westjustice on their successful application, and thank them for their hard work and dedication to the Werribee community.”

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula

“The Andrews Labor Government is making access to justice easier and fairer by supporting community legal centres across the state.”

“This funding will help community legal centres to deliver more family violence and legal support services to vulnerable and disadvantaged Victorians.”