ECLC has for some time been concerned at the lack of access to legal and related services for residents of the Yarra Ranges. In September, the Centre commenced its Yarra Ranges Project, and is undertaking a legal needs study with the support of local agencies and the community.

• If you live or work for a community service organisation in the Shire of Yarra Ranges and want to help, please follow the link to fill out a short survey (please complete by December 4th) – Click here to take the survey.

The Shire of Yarra Ranges covers 2,467 square kilometres and has a population of over 140,000, making it one of the largest and most diverse municipalities in Melbourne??s metro fringe area.

ECLC’s Boronia office covers the municipalities of Knox, Maroondah and the Yarra Ranges. Since its inception thanks to state government support in 2005, a number of outreach services have been established to address the needs of the Shire of Yarra Ranges with monthly outreach services to Lilydale, Yarra Junction and more recently Healesville.

However, ECLC continues to struggle to offer the level of service required to respond to the Shire’s needs considering both the levels of disadvantage being experienced by a number of communities and access issues for residents in the Yarra Ranges. Combined with the devastation of the Black Saturday bushfires, this has highlighted the need for ECLC to respond to these needs of the Shire more effectively.

In the last financial year we have assisted residents of the Shire in 551 matters, but only a small percentage of these matters have been attended to at one of our existing outreach services.

Social work student, Stuart Wilson, is co-ordinating the research to establish an evidence base, consider the issues and make recommendations. His work is a key part of a targeted campaign that will build on ECLC’s established links in the Yarra Ranges.

A Yarra Ranges Reference Group has been established including representatives from Yarra Valley Community Health, Anglicare, ECLC, EDVOS EACH and the Council.

ECLC will keep the community informed as the work develops. Residents and agencies keen to participate may contact ECLC’s Boronia office on 9762 6235.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 2:32 pm and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.