the lid off the law Darebin Community Legal Centre Newsletter Summer 2014/15 Family violence awareness The Darebin Intervention Order Service (DIOS) recently launched a series of new brochures addressing family violence and the process of obtaining an intervention order. are victims of family violence. member of the local community, relating her The launch at Northcote Town experience of family violence Hall received significant and the importance of attendance from local integrated services. community groups, members of the legal community and ‘When I started out I felt weak the City of Darebin Mayor, Cr and powerless but I feel that I The launch was the Steven Tsitas. am now getting control over culmination of a project that my life. I know now that I aimed to fill an information Attendees heard speeches have the right to feel safe and gap. The brochures will help from people working day-to- that there are services to to demystify the oftenday with family violence cases support me,’ she wrote. ‘I complex workings of the including Her Honour Ms. wish that I had had these court. Together they present a Susan Wakeling of the brochures at the start of the simple, no-nonsense guide Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court process, I think it would be that makes the law accessible and Rodney Vlais of No to good for all services to have to the community. Violence & Men’s Referral the brochures.’ Service. The Centre is currently The reaction to the new distributing them to other It also included the reading of brochures was services to assist clients who a heartfelt testimonial from a overwhelmingly positive. Ms. Wakeling, who hears family violence cases at the Magistrates’ Court, praised their easy-to-read style and practical advice. The Centre welcomes the appointment of local member Fiona Richardson as Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence and the establishment of the Royal Commission Into Family Violence by the new Victorian government If you are currently experiencing family violence or seeking an intervention order, please contact the Centre on 94847753. Family violence brochures Now available The Centre acknowledges the traditional owners of the land, and wishes to pay its respect to their elders past and present. ISSN 1837 - 5855 Membership Homelessness is increasingly becoming a significant issue for young people. The Centre’s Youth Outreach program is part of the vanguard turning the tide on an issue that causes insecurity to many young people. Join or renew yours today their legal guardians and at other times live elsewhere. On these occasions the young person will not be considered homeless and instead labeled ‘at risk of homelessness’ and will not be able to engage with housing services. Homelessness is not only about not having shelter. It is also about a lack of connectedness with family or the community. There are many reasons why young people may not live at home. Family violence, eviction, unemployment, mental illness, family breakdown and substance Part of the issue when dealing abuse can each take their toll. with youth homelessness is that it exists within something These hardships are often of a grey area. Figures are accompanied by financial sometimes hard to come by. turmoil as young people The homeless do not have without a home address find fixed addresses. Most of the it difficult to obtain Centre’s youth clients that are government assistance. homeless are ‘couch surfing’ Insufficient money to pay for with friends or extended accommodation or a shortage family. These figures are of affordable housing can underreported and tend to be prove a hindrance. In many unrepresented in census data. cases they are forced to claim the home address of a friend Homelessness should not be as their own. seen as a binary measure; rather it occurs in degrees of If a young person is homelessness with many unemployed and homeless, young people living transient traveling any distance and uncertain lives. For becomes a barrier due to the instance, a young person may cost of either private or public sometimes live at home with transport. The inability to Applications close 31 March 2015 Fun Fact :-D A group of owls is called a parliament access affordable and reliable travel options makes young people susceptible to receiving transport-related infringements. This is widely seen by Youth Outreach. Further exacerbating this scenario is that travelling to Court becomes problematic, often to the point of risking a further infringement. Homelessness can begin a culture of not attending school causing young people to fall behind their peers academically. Young people then become used to only attending intermittently and then find it very hard to reengage in full time education. Legal issues are often intertwined with the social and financial problems that accompany homelessness. A study by the Law and Justice Foundation of New South Wales indicated that homeless people were involved in comparatively more legal issues than people who were not homeless. The homeless are devoid of a safe environment and therefore become vulnerable to abuse, both sexual and physical. The study noted that it is common for the homeless to witness or be subjected to assault, threats, being kidnapped, rape and theft. The Centre’s Outreach Lawyer is at Northland Youth Centre Mondays from 3.30-5.30pm. Katie-Eloise White-Spear Outreach lawyer Applying for a divorce? The Centre is holding divorce application workshops for those seeking to file for divorce. A lawyer from the Centre will be providing assistance filling out any necessary paperwork and explaining the process of obtaining a divorce. Register on 9484 7753 Tuesday 17th February - 10am-12pm at Preston Library Tuesday 17 March - 10am-12pm at Preston Library Wednesday 22 April - 6.30-8pm at Northcote Library “You can’t apply for a divorce until you have been separated for at least 12 months”