ECLC has welcomed the announcement of the National Human Rights Consultation. The Centre supportd the need for a Charter or Bill of Rights in Australia. Within Victoria, both the consultation process and the Charter itself have provided important opportunities to promote and educate the community about human rights.

ECLC’s Human Rights on the Festival Stage project (Fred’s Fair Play) has used sport and the arts to promote human rights to children and their families. The Centre is active in developing this education work in its community in a range of contexts.

Letter to the editor:
10th December 2008

WE are delighted that the Rudd Government has now announced a National Human Rights Consultation, led by a skilled and diverse committee. To date, the human rights debate has been dominated by two opposing groups-well-meaning lawyers who believe formal legal protection is essential, and anti-rights opponents who believe a bill of rights creates a lawyers’ picnic.

There is a way around both of these groups for the Government-minimise the legal aspect of the debate and replace it with the principles of fair play and good sportsmanship. In other words, to talk of human rights as Aussie Rules, something more analogous to a sporting code than a legal document.

The Government needs to ensure that the format of the review is accessible to ordinary Australians, with community consultations conducted within local sports and community groups and schools and submissions that are as easy to submit as footy tips.

Further, it is the Government’s duty to educate Australians to think of human rights as more than lofty, inaccessible ideals or regulations only lawyers understand. An elitist legal document without public education connected to fair play would ultimately have very little meaning to ordinary Australians.

Michael Smith and Tanja Kovac
Eastern Community Legal Centre
Box Hill, Vic

Open letter to the Commonwealth Attorney-General:
1st December 2008

Dear Attorney,

We understand that on 10 December 2008, the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, there is a strong prospect that the Rudd Government will announce a review into human rights protection in Australia. We also understand that the details of the review are still being finalised.

To date, the human rights debate in Australia has been dominated by two opposing groups - well-meaning, progressive people (mostly lawyers) who believe formal legal protection is essential, and anti-rights opponents who believe human rights protection is unnecessary and will merely create a lawyers’ picnic.

We believe there is a way around both of these groups, and the key is to minimise the legal aspect of the debate, and replace it with the principles of fair play and good sportsmanship. In other words, to talk of human rights as Aussie Rules, more analogous to a sports code, than a legal document.

As an active and progressive community legal centre, we are in a position to understand the limitations of turning something as important as human rights protection into a debate only about law reform. To do this would be elitist and have little meaning to ordinary Australians.

We believe that through the metaphor of sport, particularly the national game Australian Rules football, the need to protect the potentially nebulous ideals of human rights can be explained better to the community. For this reason we make the following suggestions on the format of the review:

1. Appoint a panel of eminent Australians to review human rights protection in Australia and receive submissions from the general public, ensuring that there is at least one high profile sportsperson known for their fair play on the panel. A sportsperson will give the panel accessibility and profile, while also emphasising the connection between good sportsmanship and human rights. Further, an indigenous person must be on the panel - an indigenous sportsperson of the calibre of Michael Long or Cathy Freeman would be even better.
2. Delegate responsibility for community consultation on human rights to National Sporting Bodies, ACOSS (and its state members) and schools. By funding local discussion forums through these organisations, the Government will hear from ordinary people, not just lawyers, academics and lobbyists.
3. Make submissions as easy as submitting footy tips. Submissions should be able to be completed online through guided prompts. People should be able to tick-a-box beside the rights they think are important.

While the review is important, we believe that human rights education - to children, young people and to the broader community - should be the paramount goal of the Rudd government.

Many of the arguments against formal human rights protection federally stem from a belief that we already have adequate human rights protection and anything more is unnecessary. If that is the case, then it is the Government’s duty to educate Australians to think of human rights as more than lofty, inaccessible ideals or regulations only lawyers understand. Instead human rights should be principles of fair play directly relevant to everyday lives.

That is why we have been working on ways to communicate about human rights in an accessible manner - through the metaphor of sport and the medium of the arts - and to deliver this education in a way that reaches out to people within local communities.

At community festivals throughout 2007, we presented interactive performances of Fred’s Fair Play, a play about human rights aimed at children and their families. The play combines sport, music and dance to highlight the importance of Fairness, Respect, Equality & Dignity (FRED). The project reached over 300 children and importantly their families.

While this stage of the project is completed, we are now embarking on a plan to extend the program into local schools - public, Catholic and independent. To date the whole project has been run for $5000. If the government prioritises human rights protection this term and indeed embarks on an education campaign, we hope that you might consider helping us continue this work and pilot it in other regions of Australia. We particularly think that the Human Rights are Aussie Rules Project would make fantastic links into young indigenous communities, where Australian Rules football is a respected vehicle for building young leaders.

Once again, while it might seem counter-intuitive for a community legal centre to suggest it, we advocate less involvement of lawyers in the consultation process, to ensure that human rights protection in Australia is not merely an exercise in creating an elitist, legal document that ultimately has very little meaning to ordinary Australians.

Tanya Kovac and Michael Smith

Tanja is a writer, lawyer and lobbyist for a human rights act. She is currently working on an education campaign for ECLC, Human Rights are Aussie Rules, using sport to teach young people about Human Rights

Eastern Community Legal Centre, in conjunction with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission are delighted to be participating in the Whitehorse Spring Festival and Lilydale Show this year.

Manager of the Eastern Community Legal Centre, Michael Smith, explained that with the recent introduction of the Human Rights Charter, ECLC was delighted that the Commission has chosen to support their ‘Human Rights - On the Festival Stage’ project.  He said, “the Charter is a significant step forward for Human Rights but the key principles of Freedom, Respect, Equality and Dignity are not yet widely known and we are most enthusiastic about promoting the rights to all ages, in a creative and entertaining way”. 

Denise Budge, Co-ordinator of the Boronia office of the Eastern Community Legal Centre said, “Children and parents alike are going to love what we have in stall for them at this year’s festival!  CARP Productions, a well known production company, will be presenting a FREE exciting, interactive and educational play for primary school aged children, based on the principles contained in the Victorian Charter of Human Rights”.

These principles, being “Freedom, Respect, Equality and Dignity” will be shared in a fun, interactive way that will capture the imagination of primary school children, whilst educating them. Both young and old will enjoy the sports and fairies theme of the play which will demonstrate how these principles have a place in the everyday life of all Australians.  After the play, Eastern Community Legal Centre will also be handing out legal information packs for the parents and giving balloons to the children.

For more information about this FREE play that will keep the children entertained and educate them at the same time, look out for the Eastern Community Legal Centre signs so you can speak to one of the staff about the play.  Don’t miss the fun.

If you can’t make it to the Whitehorse Spring Festival on 19^th October or the Lilydale Show on the 15^th November, but would like some information about the free legal service that the Eastern Community Legal Centre provides to the Eastern Region, just give them a call on 9285 4822 (Box Hill) or 9762 6235 (Boronia) and they will be happy to chat to you or send out the information packs that will be distributed at the show.

For a copy of the Fred’s Fair Play! poster, click here: FRED Poster PDF

The 16 fact sheets in the guide cover the key legal issues raised by older clients contacting the Centre. Topics cover financial, family, neighbourhood and consumer issues. The guide was produced by ECLC with a community grant from the City of Whitehorse.

Everyone who attends the launch will be offered a free copy of the guide. The guide is also available free to be collected from Council’s Customer Service Centres and the Eastern CLC office in the Box Hill Town Hall Hub.

“Eastern CLC is delighted to offer this free guide as a resource to the seniors in our community.” said Michael Smith, Manager. “Many people in our community need to access legal information and older residents are often facing these issues for the first time.”

“Council was pleased to support this project that will provide basic legal information to older residents in our community and guide them towards support services when more help is needed,” Whitehorse Mayor Councillor John Koutras said.

“Older & Wiser also links well with our commitment to Seniors through our direct legal services and our partnership in Seniors Rights Victoria,” Mr Smith said. Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) is a free service that has been established to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of older Victorians. It operates regular services at ECLC.

This edition features articles on:

• Mokbel impacts Dinner
• Rob Hulls visits ECLC
• Seniors Service Launched
• Recognising 10 years of Service
• YRIPP Update and more..

To download a copy, please click here: Eastern Community Law Winter 08 #7.

The Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) annual dinner was caught out last week by
the return of international fugitive Tony Mokbel. The event was to be hosted by the Centre’s Patron, Chief Magistrate Ian Gray and feature Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Simon Overland.

Tony Mokbel returned to Melbourne on Saturday May 17 and appeared before Chief Magistrate Ian Gray on Tuesday May 20. The legal proceedings were adjourned. As DC Overland still oversees the Purana Taskforce, Mr. Gray withdrew from the Dinner to ensure that no conflict-of-interest could be perceived.

Deputy Commissioner Overland attended the annual Volunteers Dinner and ECLC was
delighted to welcome him as its Special Guest. The Dinner recognises the amazing
contribution that over 100 volunteers make to the Centre on an ongoing basis.

DC Overland shared with the gathering the importance of the family violence work and how services like ECLC are assisting clients through the Intervention Order Support Service, which is facilitated by staff and pro-bono lawyers along with paralegal volunteers. He also outlined how Victoria Police were responding more actively to family violence and the ongoing improvements being made to ensure victims were being assisted beyond the initial call out, through referral to support services.

At the end of his speech, DC Overland “subjected himself to cross-examination”,
encouraging questions from the volunteer lawyers and paralegals, which provided a great opportunity for an insight into the developments and cultural change occurring within Victoria Police.

This year, over 20 YRIPP (Youth Referral & Independent Person Program) volunteers were welcomed to the Volunteer Dinner and presented with certificates acknowledging the completion of their training. YRIPP provides trained volunteers to support young people through police interviews where a parent or guardian is unavailable. YRIPP also refers young people to culturally appropriate health and welfare support services to reduce their chances of future offending. The Eastern YRIPP program is operated by the Centre for Multicultural Youth in partnership with ECLC.

Volunteers are an integral part of ECLC and provide valued support to staff and the community. Michael Smith, Manager, acknowledged the hard work and diversity of roles that ECLC’s volunteers carry out. “Not only do we have volunteers during the evening helping clients, as well as during the day, but at 3am in the morning, there could be an ECLC YRIPP (Youth Referral & Independent Person) volunteer helping out a young person somewhere in the eastern region.”

Eastern Community Legal Centre provides free legal advice and assistance to the communities of the East, as well as undertaking community development and education projects. Eastern CLC has a small staff team and over 100 volunteers, offices in Boronia and Box Hill and six outreach locations. While open to all, most people seeking assistance are on low incomes and a large number are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

ECLC has 14 volunteer programs assisting with day time clients, evening sessions, outreach services, the Intervention Order Support Service at Ringwood Court, community projects and festivals.

If you would like more information on ECLC’s services, or to find out more about being an
ECLC or YRIPP volunteer, please visit the website www.eclc.org.au or call the Box Hill office on 9285 4822 or the Boronia office on 9762 6235.

Eastern Community Legal Centre has welcomed the Attorney-General’s announcement of funding for the Centre’s family violence program.

ECLC was delighted to receive funding from the Victorian Government to continue and expand its Intervention Order Support Service at Ringwood Court. In partnership with Victoria Legal Aid and the Eastern Domestic Violence Service (EDVOS), ECLC assists clients at the Ringwood Magistrates Court with family violence related Intervention Orders.

The state-wide family violence CLC initiative was funded in the 2007/08 State Budget. The Deputy Premier and Attorney General, Mr Rob Hulls, attended a gathering at ECLC on Tuesday 13th May to officially acknowledge the work of the service. Joining Mr Hulls were MP’s, Councillors, Board Members, staff and supporters of ECLC.

Michael Smith, Manager of Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC), said they were delighted to welcome the Deputy Premier, the Hon Rob Hulls, to launch the service. “The Centre has a longstanding commitment to respond to family violence and the new funding greatly affirms that work. The State government has taken a number of positive initiatives to address family violence and these are certainly needed by our clients and community.”

“When people experience family violence, it is vital that there are clear legal measures that can be taken to ensure their safety and that of their children. It is also essential that there is support available to assist people through an unfamiliar legal process at a difficult time.”, Mr. Smith said.

In the past 12 months at ECLC over half of the legal advice and casework has been in Family Law and Family Violence, with one third of those specifically being Family Violence.

In Mr Hulls’ speech, he stated that the United Nations has continued to warn about the impact of sexual and family violence. Mr Hulls said that “sexual and family violence is a bigger threat to women and children than any other forms of violence”.

In response to the increase in family violence within communities, Mr Hulls said that the Government was trying to “improve the lives of families in and around the eastern suburbs. It’s about tackling, in our small way, a problem that continues to plague not just our community, but communities around the world.”

The Intervention Order Support Service operates on a Tuesday and Friday morning at Ringwood Magistrates Court. ECLC strongly advises clients to seek legal advice before they attend Court.

A new brochure has been released regarding this Service. For more information on how ECLC can assist you, please call the Box Hill or Boronia office.

To download a copy of the brochure, click here: IOSS Brochure PDF

Sue Hendy, Executive Director of COTA Vic, has welcomed the initiative of the Victorian Government in providing funding through the Office of Senior Victorians and Victorian Legal Aid.

The service is led by Council on the Ageing (COTA) in partnership with the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH), Eastern Community Legal Centre and Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre.

The new centre will provide telephone advice and referral, support and advocacy, and legal services to people who are suffering abuse and neglect in the community. Research has found that between 1 and 5 % older people experience some form of abuse or neglect.

A hotline 1300 368 821 has been established by Seniors Rights Victoria to provide one to one advice to people who are concerned about their own situation, and to family members or others concerned about some one they know.

“Callers may be ringing about financial, physical, emotional, or psychological abuse, or situations of neglect or mistreatment”, according to the manager of Seniors Rights Victoria, Julie Nelson. “Lawyers experienced in dealing with elder abuse will be able to provide telephone advice initially, and to talk through the options available to people”.

“Elder abuse is characterized by occurring within a relationship of trust, where the older person is relying on a family member or trusted other to act in their best interests”, according to Ms Nelson. “it is the abuse of this trust that makes it particularly difficult for people to decide what to do about it.”

Common situations may include the use of the person’s money without their consent; pressure to sign documents that aren’t fully understood; failing to get timely medical assistance ; or ignoring a person’s social needs.

The service will operate on 1300 368 821 between 10am and 5pm on weekdays from 28 April 2008.

For more information on Seniors Rights Victoria, click here.

Key stories include:

• FRED’s Fair Play at Festivals
• Social Security Outreach
• Changes to VLA Guidelines
• Seniors Rights Victoria
• YRIPP
• ECLC’s Next Steps and more

To download ECLC’s Autumn Newsletter, click here: Autumn 2008 Newsletter

For details see:

Media Release - Education & Legal Service for Seniors