PART 2: The National Redress Scheme—in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

We talk to Prue Gregory, the wonderful piano-playing Principal Lawyer from the knowmore legal service, about the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

 Prue talks about:

• eligibility for the scheme
• the financial implications for clients who receive a payment under the scheme
• the situation for prisoners
• other options for people
• what community and support workers can do to help, and
• how you can work safely with survivors of trauma.

The National Redress Scheme started on 1 July 2018 and runs for 10 years. knowmore is the legal service that is funded to help people through the scheme.

One of Prue’s main messages is to tell people to take a deep breath—knowmore gives priority to people who have life threatening illnesses. If your clients are not in this situation, there is no rush. They have until 30 June 2027 to make a claim.

The podcast was recorded the day after Prue attended the national apology in Canberra on 22 October 2018.

Referrals and more information

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

• knowmore legal service 1800 605 762
• National Redress Scheme 1800 737 377
• Legal Aid NSW webinar―knowmore—beyond the Royal Commission recorded on 23 October 2018

Look after yourself

Some of our topics may contain sensitive or confronting content. We want this to be a safe space for listeners. Please check the topic and description of the podcast before you tune in. If you need support there are services that can help:

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

PART 1: The National Redress Scheme—in response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse

We talk to Prue Gregory, the wonderful piano-playing Principal Lawyer from the knowmore legal service, about the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.

 Prue talks about:

• eligibility for the scheme
• the financial implications for clients who receive a payment under the scheme
• the situation for prisoners
• other options for people
• what community and support workers can do to help, and
• how you can work safely with survivors of trauma.

The National Redress Scheme started on 1 July 2018 and runs for 10 years. knowmore is the legal service that is funded to help people through the scheme.

One of Prue’s main messages is to tell people to take a deep breath—knowmore gives priority to people who have life threatening illnesses. If your clients are not in this situation, there is no rush. They have until 30 June 2027 to make a claim.

The podcast was recorded the day after Prue attended the national apology in Canberra on 22 October 2018.

Referrals and more information

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

• knowmore legal service 1800 605 762
• National Redress Scheme 1800 737 377
• Legal Aid NSW webinar―knowmore—beyond the Royal Commission recorded on 23 October 2018

Look after yourself

Some of our topics may contain sensitive or confronting content. We want this to be a safe space for listeners. Please check the topic and description of the podcast before you tune in. If you need support there are services that can help:

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

Inside Legal Aid’s Coronial Inquest Unit

In this episode Joshua from the Community Legal Education Branch speaks to David Evenden, the Solicitor in Charge of the Coronial Inquest Unit. This episode gives an interesting look at what coronial inquests are, when they happen, and how community workers can refer a client for an appointment. David also talks about the Dungay inquest that has received media attention.  

 Referrals and more information:

• Go here to find out more about the Legal Aid NSW’s coronial inquest unit.  
• If you would like to make an application for legal aid for representation at an inquest or to discuss anything about the Coroner’s Court please call the Coronial Inquest Unit on 02 9219 5156 or 02 9219 5000.
• If you live in regional NSW contact us through your local Legal Aid NSW office or call LawAccess NSW, our legal help line on 1300 888 529.
• Find out more about counselling services available on the Coroner’s Court website.

My Health Record - risks and tips

This podcast is essential listening—especially before 31 January 2019 when all Australians will receive a My Health Record unless they opt out by that date.

In this podcast we talk with lawyers from law firm Dentons and the Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC)—who together operate the Trans and Gender Diverse Legal Service and help clients navigate the My Health Record system.

We talk about:

·         what is My Health Record

·         what are its advantages and disadvantages

·         privacy and cyber security risks

·         risks for people in domestic violence situations

·         tips to protect your health records

·         recent positive changes to My Health Record, and

·         how you can help people understand and make decisions about My Health Record

We speak specifically about issues for transgender and gender diverse people. But this podcast is also helpful for community workers who support clients who may have concerns about My Health Record, and, well, all Australians really.

Referrals and more information

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

·         Inner City Legal Centre

·         The Trans and Gender Diverse Legal Service: (02) 9332 1966

·         Fact sheet on My Health Record for transgender and gender diverse individuals

·         My Health Record website

·         The Gender Centre

·         Twenty10

·         Legal Aid NSW webinar―My Health Record—Risks and tips recorded on 13 December 2018

FASD—Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder presented by Professor Elizabeth Elliot

FASD—Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder presented by Professor Elizabeth Elliot

 In this episode you will hear from Professor Elizabeth Elliot AM FAHMS on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and the Law. It is a recording of a seminar she gave to Legal Aid NSW criminal lawyers.

Professor Elliot is a Distinguished Professor in Paediatrics and Child Health in Sydney University Medical School; Consultant Paediatrician, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (Westmead); a National Health and Medical Council of Australia (NHMRC) Practitioner Fellow; and Fellow of the Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

In this seminar, Professor Elliot provides an update on progress in diagnosing and addressing FASD in Australia.

Referrals and more information

See the FASD Australia hub for more information and to search for NSW FASD services

Sign up to our Law for Community Workers Alerts here

Episode 13. No strings attached – Work and Development orders helping to pay off fines debt in NSW

Work and Development Order Service – helping people pay off their NSW fines debt

In this episode Kerry Wright talks to Jessica McLaren. Jessica is a lawyer with the Legal Aid NSW Work and Development Order (WDO) Service. Jessica talks to Kerry about the WDO Service and how it helps people with NSW fines debt to pay off their fines through participating in activities like volunteer work, courses, counselling, mentoring and treatment programs.

 Referrals and more information

To find more information about the Work and Development Order Service and services which can help:

• To find out more about fines and becoming a WDO sponsor organisation see the Revenue NSW website
• To join the Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline
• To get free legal advice about fines or training as a WDO sponsor contact the Legal Aid NSW WDO service. Contact details are on our website - or you can email wdo@legalaid.nsw.gov.au
• To discuss fines debt and WDO options contact the Revenue NSW WDO hotline team on 1300 478 879
• To understand more about the WDO service watch the Legal Aid NSW Youtube video Work and Development Orders: Breaking the cycle of fines debt
• To find out details of your local Legal Aid office or Community Legal Centre call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529

 Please note:

The NSW Work and Development Order Service can only assist in paying off fines issued in NSW through penalty notices, court fines and Victims Restitution Orders. If your client has fines debt from another State or Territory contact your local Legal Aid NSW WDO Service team and they can assist in explaining what options are available to pay off interstate fines debt.

Episode 12. DSP— what is it, who can get it and what to do if your application is rejected?

In this episode Kerry Wright talks to Welfare Rights lawyer Liz Turnbull about the Disability Support Pension. Liz works at Illawarra Legal Centre specialising in social security law, Liz is also the Vice-Chair of the National Social Security Rights Network.

In this episode Liz speaks about Centrelink guidelines used to assess DSP applications. Also the important role that community and health workers play in assisting people both when applying for the DSP and when appealing Centrelink decisions. This episode was recorded in our Wollongong office.

Referrals and more information

To find more information about the DSP and services which can assist:

Welfare Rights Legal Centre – for free legal advice (NSW statewide) and factsheets.

Illawarra Legal Centre Welfare Rights Service – for free legal advice for Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South Coast residents on social security matters.

National Social Security Rights Network – for Australia wide contacts and factsheets.

Australian Government Disability Support Pension information pages.

Australian Government Disability Support Pension Program of Support Fact Sheet.

Australian Government Social Security Impairment Tables for Disability Support Pension.

Administrative Appeals Tribunal Centrelink decision reviews

Legal Aid NSW

Community Legal Centres NSW

To find out details of your local Legal Aid office or Community Legal Centre call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529

Episode 11—Part 2. Changes to the law—changes to sentencing

Criminal Justice Reforms in NSW – changes to sentencing

Do you help people who have been charged by police and need to go to court?

There are some big changes to the criminal justice system in NSW. From September 2018 there will be significant changes to sentencing laws.

Listen to this podcast to learn about these important changes to sentences, parole, what domestic violence offenders can expect, and how these changes could affect you and the people you support.

Referrals and more information

To find more information about the reforms:

• Go to Justice NSW Reforms page

• call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529
• visit the Legal Aid NSW website to find a local criminal law advice service

Episode 11-Part 1. Changes to the law—guilty plea processes

Criminal Justice Reforms in NSW - changes to guilty plea processes

Do you help people who have been charged by police and need to go to court?

There have been some big changes to the criminal justice system in NSW. There are no more committal hearings and case conferences have been introduced. As community workers you may be involved in case conferences to provide support for your clients.

Listen to this podcast to learn about the Early Appropriate Guilty Plea reforms which started on 30 April 2018 and how these changes could affect you and the people you support.

Referrals and more information

To find more information about the reforms:

• Download or order the new publication Have you been charged with a serious offence
• Go to Justice NSW Reforms page
• call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529
• visit the Legal Aid NSW website to find a local criminal law advice service

Episode 10. NDIS. The basics.

NDIS - the basics

Do you work with people who are living with a disability, and who are either already participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), or would like to be?

In this podcast we discuss:

• who can get assistance under the NDIS
• the type of support they can get
• how to challenge a decision of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), and
• how Legal Aid NSW can help

 Referrals and more information

To find more information about how Legal Aid NSW can help with the NDIS:

• call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529
• visit the Legal Aid NSW website to find a local civil law advice service.

Make sure you listen to episode 3. NDIS. Your rights as a consumer as well.