Centrelink in the time of COVID-19

We speak to Nicola Cannon Senior solicitor, Social Security, about the COVID-19 measures that have been introduced by Centrelink.  She provides us with a clear summary of the changes, helpful and information about where to get help.

As the situation evolves, we will be speaking to Nicola again, so please subscribe to Law for Community Workers on the go to stay informed.

Referrals and more information

LawAccess NSW 1300 888 529

Contact Legal Aid NSW  to speak to a lawyer. Please check www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au for updates about availability of legal advice.

Centrelink’s dedicated COVID-19 page — this website is being regularly updated.

How to register your intention to claim a Centrelink payment - coronavirus (COVID-19)

 More information and a full list of eligible Centrelink payments

Guardian guide to applying for Jobseeker payment

Subscribe to our Alerts for community and health workers to stay up-to-date

 Look after yourself

We want this to be a safe space for listeners. If you need support, there are services that can help:

• Beyond Blue -1300 224 636
• Lifeline -13 11 14

Time stamps

02.30 —Summary of the changes — Coronavirus supplement payment

04.49 — Changes that are already active — asset testing, newly arrived resident waiting period, ordinary waiting periods, seasonal workers and additional documents

07.35 — Economic support payments

08.21 — date update regarding economic support payments

11.10 — Already receiving a payment?

11.40 — Jobseeker payment definition

16.30 — Other types of payments — carers, students and families

20.50 — Contacting Centrelink on behalf of your client

23.15 — Wanting to receive a Centrelink payment?

27.58 — Payment and service finder website — other immediate support

28.40— How Legal Aid NSW and other organisations can help

Trailer - Legal Aid NSW Podcast series: What we stand for

Trailer for the Legal Aid NSW Podcast series: What we stand for.

Over the past 40 years (1979 – 2019) Legal Aid and its staff have made an incredible contribution to the administration of justice and the lives of the most vulnerable people in NSW.

We are celebrating the diversity and depth of talent within our organisation through a series of staff video interview, podcasts and staff profiles.

Listen to What we stand for

Watch the videos

More information

Referrals and more information

• Visit the Legal Aid NSW website to find a local advice service.
• Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529

To contact the CLE team with feedback or a topic suggestion please send us an email cle@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Do you want to know more about your rights at work in the time of COVID-19?

In this first of our ‘COVID-19’ special episodes, we talk to Alex Yiannikas from Employment Law team about the rights for casual and permanent employees in these unprecedented times.

The podcast audio is taken from a live webinar we recorded on 18 March 2020 and answers questions from our Community Worker audience.

As the situation evolves, we will be talking to our employment lawyers again to keep you updated, so subscribe to Law for Community Workers on the go to stay informed.

Referrals and more information

Free legal help

LawAccess NSW 1300 888 529

Legal Aid NSW

Legal Aid NSW - 02 9219 5000 to check eligibility for free legal advice about rights at work. Please check www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au for updates about availability of legal advice.

Migrants and temporary visa holders in NSW can call the Migrant Employment Legal Service on 02 8002 1203 – www.mels.org.au

Publications

Your workplace rights during a disaster

Order FREE Publications

Fair Work Ombudsman 13 13 94

Information about workplace entitlements and obligations for people affected by the outbreak of coronavirus.

Further information

SafeWork NSW has information about Coronavirus and your workplace -

For enquiries about Workers Compensation, contact the Workers Compensation Independent Review Office on 13 9476

Unions NSW

ABC Radio National program — not enough sick leave?

Centrelink

Look after yourself

We want this to be a safe space for listeners. If you need support there are services that can help:

• Beyond Blue -1300 224 636
• Lifeline -13 11 14

What to expect from a Recovery Centre

Hear from the managers of Recovery Centres about how they can help you and your clients after a disaster. 

Referrals and more information

• For assistance please visit the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW website or call 1800 801 529.
• Information and resources about Bushfire Recovery Shoalhaven
• Information and resources about Eurobodalla community recovery
• Read our comprehensive fact sheet What to do after a natural disaster and Order FREE factsheets for your service
• The Financial Rights Legal Centre has a Bushfire insurance guide and operates the National Insurance Law Hotline on 1300 663 464 and has factsheets about bushfire, flood and storm insurance
• NSW Government Community support for bushfire affected communities
• Bushfire Housing assistance service
• Ask Izzy Bushfire Support
• BUSHFIRE Alert for community workers
• Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529
• Visit the Legal Aid NSW website

• Are you in Victoria? Call Disaster Legal Help Victoria on 1800 133 432
• Are you in Queensland? Call Natural disaster legal help on 1300 004 924 

Look after yourself

We want this to be a safe space for listeners. If you need support there are services that can help:

• Beyond Blue -1300 224 636
• Lifeline -13 11 14

BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY - getting legal help

Have you or your clients been affected by the bushfires?

In this bushfire emergency episode we talk to Ma’ata Solofoni from the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW. Ma’ata talks about this new service and how it’s providing free legal help for people in NSW affected by bushfires.

The types of legal issues we can help with include insurance claims, tenancy, financial hardship, credit and debt, Centrelink and issues with employment. Listen to Ma’ata now and if you need more information, call the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW on 1800 801 529.

Referrals and more information

• For information, advice, referrals and where to find your closest Legal Aid NSW office call the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW on 1800 801 529.
• Legal Aid NSW webpage – Legal Help for victims of natural disasters has information and links to useful publications.
• Read our comprehensive fact sheet What to do after a natural disaster and Order FREE factsheets for your service
• The Financial Rights Legal Centre has a Bushfire insurance guide and operates the National Insurance Law Hotline on 1300 663 464 and has factsheets about bushfire, flood and storm insurance
• NSW Government Community support for bushfire affected communities
• Bushfire Housing assistance service
• Ask Izzy Bushfire Support
• Latest Alert for community workers
• Hear Ma’ata talk about legal aid in bushfire zones with Damien Carrick on the Law Report
• Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529
• Visit the Legal Aid NSW website
• Are you in Victoria? Call Disaster Legal Help Victoria on 1800 133 432
• Are you in Queensland? Call Natural disaster legal help on 1300 004 924 

Look after yourself

We want this to be a safe space for listeners. If you need support there are services that can help:

• Beyond Blue -1300 224 636
• Lifeline -13 11 14

The Prisoners Legal Service

Tell us what you really think of our podcasts - help us keep this resource going!

In this episode we interview Anisa who is the civil lawyer with the Legal Aid NSW Prisoners Legal Service. Anisa talks to us about the types of legal problems they assist prisoners with, the various forms of assistance provided by Legal Aid lawyers and what other assistance they provide. This includes taking referrals from family members and community workers who are trying to help prisoners deal with legal problems that can result from going into custody.

For more information:

• About the Legal Aid NSW Prisoners Legal Service
• Prisoners Legal Information Portal – Corrective Services NSW Portal
• Community Restorative Centre – support services and resources for family members of prisoners
• Prisoners Aid NSW – providing practical help to inmates, ex-inmates and their families
• Women’s Justice Network – committed to advancing the prospects and wellbeing of women affected by the criminal justice system
• Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) Policing and Detention projects – making NSW systems of detention fairer
• NSW Legal Assistance Forum Prisoners Forum – a platform for organisations in the NSW justice sector to work together in a cooperative and collaborative manner to address access to justice and legal needs of prisoners in NSW.

Robodebt - the full story

Tell us what you really think of our podcasts - help us keep this resource going!

Legal Aid NSW civil lawyer, Nicola Cannon gives you a quick overview of the recent ‘robo-debt’ test case and what it may mean for your clients?

Find out about:

• The recent robo-debt test case run by our colleagues at Victoria Legal Aid
• What this means for your clients who may have a robo-debt or have already paid off a robo-debt
• When clients should contact Legal Aid NSW about their robo-debt
• And where can people go for help for other Centrelink debt help

Referrals

• Centrelink — How to deal with debt information
• Centrelink compliance division — call: 1800 086 400 Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm
• Centrelink repayments division — call: 1800 076 072 Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm
• Gordon Legal — Register your interest
•  Visit the Legal Aid NSW website to find a local civil law advice service.
• Legal Aid NSW social security service
• Welfare Rights Centre
• Call LawAccess NSW 1300 888 529

 More information

• Centrelink debt review
• Explainer-Deanna Amato’s case, from Victoria Legal Aid
• Gordon Legal — Class action info
• ‘The Guardian’ article — Robodebt: the federal court ruling and what it means for targeted welfare recipients

shortcut - Robodebt

Tell us what you really think of our podcasts - help us keep this resource going!

What is it and where to go for help?

 Referrals

• Centrelink — How to deal with debt information
• Centrelink compliance division — call: 1800 086 400 Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm
• Centrelink repayments division — call: 1800 076 072 Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm
• Gordon Legal — Register your interest
• Visit the Legal Aid NSW website to find a local civil law advice service.
• Legal Aid NSW social security service
• Welfare Rights Centre
• Call LawAccess NSW 1300 888 529

The Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme

Tell us what you really think of our podcasts - help us keep this resource going!

TRIGGER WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that the following program contains sensitive and confronting content.

‘The Stolen Generations Reparations Scheme enables ex gratia payments of $75,000 to Stolen Generations survivors who were removed by, committed to, or otherwise came to be in the care of the Aborigines Protection or Welfare Boards under the Aborigines Protection Act 1909, up until the Act was repealed on 2 June 1969.

The Scheme commenced on 1 July 2017 and will run for 5 years. It is open to living Stolen Generation survivors only.’ - Aboriginal Affairs NSW

 In this episode you will hear from Solicitors Teela Reid and Merrinda Dutton who at the time of recoding were both working for the Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities. You will also hear excerpts from a video produced by Charmaine Mumbulla, about the impact ‘the act of removal’ has had on several of Legal Aid NSW employees, and their families.

Referrals and more information

• Aboriginal Affairs NSW factsheets. For more information phone: 1800 019 998 or email: generations@aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au
• knowmore legal service 1800 605 762
• National Redress Scheme 1800 737 377
• Part 1: The National Redress Scheme — in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse podcast episode.
• Legal Aid NSW webinar―knowmore—beyond the Royal Commission recorded on 23 October 2018
• The Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (CLSAC) freecall 1800 793 017 or (02) 9219 5057
• Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) 
• Call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529
• Visit the Legal Aid NSW website to find a local civil law advice service.

Look after yourself

We want this to be a safe space for listeners. If you need support there are services that can help:

• Beyond Blue -1300 224 636
• Lifeline -13 11 14

shortcut - minor offences and migrant communities

There are several behaviours that are considered 'small offences' that you may not know about, CALD communities and newly arrived refugees can be at risk of committing these offences.

Find out what these offences are and how and where to get help if your client has committed a minor offence?

Florence Montalvo Cruz and Nohara Odicho from Refugee Service Legal Aid NSW have been interviewed by Audrey Bourget as part of SBS settlement Guide series to talk about legal issues that effect people when settling in Australia.

Referrals and more information

To find more information about where your clients can get help contact:

•  Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service (02) 8713 6725. refugeeservice@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
• How can Legal Aid NSW Refugee Service help me? — Watch the videos on YouTube and show these to your clients (available in English, Arabic, Assyrian, Darsi/Farsi and Kurdish Kurmanji.)
• Book a Law Check-Up training session for your team or organisation.