Legal

• Centacare
• Advocacy and Rights
• Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre
• Family Violence Legal Assistance Service
• Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic
• Victoria Legal Aid
• Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service
• Consumer Affairs Victoria
•  Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria

CentaCare 03 54381300 or centacare@centacare-sandhurst.org.au 

Youth Justice Group Conferencing is based on restorative justice principles.  The program provides the Children's Court with an alternative pre-sentencing option that aims to divert young people from further or more serious re-offending. Young people between the ages of 10-18 years who have:

• Pleaded guilty or have been found guilty of offences that do not include homicide, manslaughter, sex offences or serious crimes of violence.
• Committed offences serious enough to warrant probation or youth supervision order to be considered by the court.
• Been referred to the group conferencing program within 12 months of the offence, or under exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the Court.
• Consented to participate
• Been assessed as suitable by a Department of Human Services Youth Justice Officer.

• Advocacy and Rights 1800 639 121 or 03 5444 4364

The Centre helps public and community housing tenants in the Loddon Mallee Region. It also helps consumers and private residential tenants by referral from Consumer Affairs Victoria. The Centre has an office in Mildura and provides outreach to Swan Hill and Echuca. The Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centreis a program of the Advocacy & Rights Centre. 29 Queen Street, Bendigo

• Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre 1800 639 121 or 03 5444 4364

The Centre provides free legal advice and assistance in a range of areas including family law, consumer law, credit and debt matters, discrimination, family/domestic violence, criminal law, motor vehicle accidents, employment law, guardianship, complaints and victims of crime matters.  The Centre also delivers community legal education to local service providers, lawyers and community groups.

The Centre provides Telephone Advice (Monday 1-4pm, Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm), Evening Advice (Wednesday 6-8pm, by appointment), Afternoon Advice (Thursday 1-4pm, by appointment) and

Outreach by appointment to Echuca, Maryborough and Kyneton.

The Centre’s Migration Service targets the migration advice needs of the region’s new arrivals. Appointments are available at the Bendigo office alternate Thursday mornings and at the Castlemaine School of Mines alternate Thursdays afternoons.

• Family Violence Legal Assistance Service 1800 639 121 or 03 5444 4364

The Family Violence Legal Assistance Service operates at the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court every Wednesday, and the Maryborough and Echuca Magistrates’ Court alternate Tuesdays.  The Service provides free legal assistance and support to people applying for an intervention order. Respondents usually receive assistance from the Victoria Legal Aid duty lawyer. The Service is a program of the Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre.

• Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic 1800 603 313 or 03 5440 1100

The Clinic provides free legal assistance for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Appointments are available at St Luke’s (175-178 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, 5440 1100), Friday 10am-12pm. The Clinic is a program of the Loddon Campaspe Community Legal Centre and the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH).

Victoria Legal Aid (VLA) 1800 254 500 or 03 5448 2333

 VLA provides legal advice and assistance in relation to criminal law, family breakdown, family violence and civil law matters. VLA duty lawyers assist people with criminal charges and traffic offences at the Magistrates’ Courts in Bendigo, Castlemaine, Echuca, Kerang, Kyneton, Maryborough and Swan Hill. They also assist minors appearing before the Children’s Court in Bendigo.

Victoria Legal Aid (Bendigo) provides outreach to Castlemaine, Echuca, Kerang, Swan Hill, Malmsbury Youth Training Centre, Loddon and Tarrengower prisons. Victoria Legal Aid (Ballarat Office, 5329 6222) provides outreach to Maryborough by appointment. 424 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo

Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) 1800 064 865 or 03 9419 3888

VALS assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Its solicitors are specialised in criminal law, family law or civil law. VALS also employs Indigenous Client Service Officers (CSOs), some of whom are based in regional centres. CSOs can help if you are arrested or in prison. 24 Hour Phone Service 6 Alexandra Parade, Fitzroy

Consumer Affairs Victoria 1800 558 181 or 03 5444 2038

Consumer Affairs Victoria assists and advises consumers and traders in relation to renting and accommodation, estate agents, building, shopping, credit and trading in Victoria. The Bendigo office provides outreach services to Castlemaine, Echuca, Kerang, Kyneton, Maryborough and Swan Hill. The Bendigo office will relocate in 2011 to the proposed Justice Service Centre with Community Corrections and the Department of Justice.

60 Mitchell Street, Bendigo. Monday to Friday 9am-5pm

Aboriginal Family Violence Prevention and Legal Service Victoria (FVPLS)
FVPLS helps victims of family violence and sexual assault and works with families and communities affected by violence.
Level 3, 70-80 Wellington St, Collingwood 3066
T 9244 3333 or 1800 105 303 (country callers)
information@fvpls.org
www.fvpls.org

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