Gold Coast Community Legal Centre (GCCLC) receives award
Gold Coast Community Legal Centre (GCCLC) has been awarded for its Mobile Services in Safe Locations program supporting domestic and family violence victims and survivors.
The program provides specialist domestic and family violence legal services at locations where victims feel safe.
“The program has scope to attend at hotels, temporary or crisis accommodation and at the Gold Coast Domestic Violence Prevention Centre (GCDVPC) where victims of abuse feel supported and have access to a range of services for themselves and their children, says GCCLC Director, Victoria Shiel.
“We’re able to get better results for clients when they feel safe. It also means we can deal with the range of legal problems they have, and provide holistic support.”
The Mobile Services program was developed in consultation with the Gold Coast Integrated Response Network, which along with GCCLC and GCDVPC includes specialist domestic and family violence police, health and housing services and the Southport Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court.
Through these consultations a need was established for responsive and mobile legal services.
This flexibility has also provided for duty lawyer services for urgent domestic and family violence matters when Legal Aid lawyers are unavailable at the Southport Specialist Domestic and Family Violence Court.
The Mobile Services in Safe Locations program was awarded a Domestic Violence Prevention Month Award in May for their ongoing commitment to collaboration and their contribution to the support and safety of women and children.
Victoria Shiel, Director, Gold Coast Community Legal Centre (GCCLC).