Eastern Community Legal Centre’s (ECLC) law reform and policy work focuses on challenging unfair laws and practices, and making recommendations to improve the legal system.

Elder Abuse Submissions

ECLC’s Elder Abuse Response Programs regularly engage in systemic advocacy, policy and law reform relating to elder abuse and other issues affecting older people.

• Submission to the Draft National Plan to End the Abuse and Mistreatment of Older People 2024 – 2034 (March 2025)

• Submission to the Inquiry into Financial Services Regulatory Framework in relation to Financial Abuse (June 2024)

• Strong Foundations – Building on Victoria’s Work to End Family Violence
  • Eastern Community Legal Centre’s elder abuse submission in response to the 2023 Strong Foundations – Building on Victoria’s Work to End Family Violence document, with endorsement and contributions from Justice Connect and Peninsula Community Legal Centre. The submission can be read here.

• Submission in response to the ‘Achieving Greater Consistency in Laws for Financial Enduring Powers of Attorney’ Consultation Paper (November 2023)

• Law Institute of Victoria Article: Lawyers must play role in guarding clients against elder abuse (liv.asn.au) December 2023)

• The Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence
  • ECLC contributed its expertise in law and family violence in submissions provided to the Royal Commission into Family Violence. The submissions can be read here.

Family Violence Submissions

• Eastern Community Legal Submission to the Second Action Plan (National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022–2032)

Climate Justice and Disaster Recovery Submissions

• Eastern Community Legal Centre Submission Adaptation Action Plans 2027-31
• Climate Change (Duty of Care and Intergenerational Climate Equity Bill)
• Parliament of Victoria’s Inquiry into Climate Resilience

Tenancy Submissions

• Proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020
  • A public consultation on the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020 was held from Tuesday 12 November 2019 to Wednesday 18 December 2019. The regulations contain supporting details about changes to the Residential Tenancies Act 1997. ECLC currently provides tenancy advice and casework through the Deakin Student Legal Service (DSLS), a program which has been funded by the Deakin University Student Association since April 2012. DSLS provides on-site legal information, casework and support to all enrolled Deakin University students at the Burwood campus. Tenancy matters make up about a third of this work in the generalist service, and the service has provided assistance on hundreds of tenancy matters to date. Read ECLC’s submission on the proposed Residential Tenancies Regulations 2020.