HowLegal Aid NSW can help youWe have services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

What legal problems can we help you with?

Everyday legal problems •• Your rights about goods, services

and contracts•• Fines, bills and debt•• Centrelink disputes •• Discrimination and harassment•• Your rights at work•• Eviction, repairs, rent or mortgage

difficulties•• Elder abuse and older peoples’ rights•• Help after natural disasters

What to do when your family relationship breaks down

•• Care and protection of children•• Child support •• Separation and divorce•• Parenting orders and grandparents’ rights•• Domestic and family violence•• Family dispute resolution conferences•• Separate representation for children

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What to do if you are in trouble with the law

•• Getting help at court•• If you’re under 18 and in trouble with the police •• Applying for bail •• Hearings in the Local Court to decide if there

is enough evidence for your case to go to trial (committals)

•• Defended hearings where there is a possibility of jail

•• Court sentences and appealing decisions

For more information about our services, visit our website

www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

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What kind of help can we give you?We offer free legal advice We offer free appointments of about 20 minutes to talk to a lawyer about your legal problem. If you need more help than this, then we may arrange for a lawyer to help with your case if you are eligible for a grant of legal aid.

We give 'grants of legal aid'If you need ongoing legal help from a lawyer, you must apply for a ‘grant of legal aid’. A grant of legal aid means that a lawyer who works for Legal Aid NSW, or a private lawyer who is paid by us, will represent you.

To apply for a grant of legal aid, you must fill out an application form. You can get the application form from:

•• Legal Aid NSW offices•• our website, or •• duty lawyers at local courts.

Our staff can help you fill out the form and tell you if you are eligible for a grant of legal aid.

It is best to talk to one of our lawyers before you apply for legal aid. You may be able to get help with your legal problem without needing to go to court.

A grant of legal aid is not free.

Most people will have to pay a contribution to the legal costs of their case.

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We have specialist legal services

Civil Law Service for Aboriginal CommunitiesWe can help with money worries, discrimination, problems with the police, housing and Centrelink problems. To find out more about the service and which communities we visit, call 1800 793 017 or 02 9219 5057

Children’s Legal Service and Youth Hotline We advise and represent children involved in criminal cases in the Children’s Courts and have duty lawyers at other courts. Call 02 8688 3800.

If you are under 18 and need urgent advice, call the Youth Hotline on 1800 10 18 10. Mon-Thurs 9am-midnight, Fri-Sun and public holidays, 24 hours.

Child Support ServiceGives you free independent advice and we are confidential. Call 02 9633 9916 or 1800 451 784 (outside Sydney metropolitan area).

Mental Health Advocacy ServicePeople with mental health problems and their families can call 02 9745 4277.

Prisoners Legal ServiceFriends and family of prisoners can call 02 8688 3888 and ask for the Prisoners Legal Service.

Veterans’ Advocacy ServiceTo find out about veterans' rights and entitlements, call 02 9219 5148 or email: veterans@legalaid.nsw.gov.auYou can get more information about all our specialist services on our website.

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We have duty lawyers at courtThere are duty lawyers at the Local Court, District Court, Supreme Court or the Court of Criminal Appeal who can help you.

Taken into police custody?If you have been taken into police custody you are legally entitled to speak immediately to a lawyer from the Aboriginal Legal Service.

This is called Custody Notification Service (CNS). It is a 24-hour legal advice and RU OK phone line for Aboriginal people taken into police custody.

All police stations have been supplied with the number, which can be called 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 02 9318 2122 during working hours for more information about this service.

We have free publications and resourcesWe produce factsheets and brochures to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with their legal problem.

All our publications are free and can be viewed or ordered on our website: www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/publications

There are some things we don’t doThere are some things that Legal Aid NSW does not do. For example, we don’t advise or represent people at court for personal injury, taxation or business matters.

We also don’t attend police stations or give you telephone advice if you are arrested. However, if you are under 18 you can call our Youth Hotline on 1800 10 18 10.

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Where can you get more information? LawAccess NSWThe best place to start is to call the free telephone helpline—LawAccess NSW— who can help you straight away. They will give you free information and in some cases legal advice, about your legal problem. Or they may refer you to another service.

You can call LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529. You can also visit their website at www.lawaccess.nsw.gov.au

Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) The Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT (ALS) gives free legal advice and provides legal representation in criminal and children’s care and protection matters. Call the ALS on 1800 765 767 or visit them on their website at www.alsnswact.org.au.

Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal CentreWirringa Baiya is a community legal centre for Aboriginal women, children and young people living in NSW. They provide free legal advice and representation relating to family violence. Call: 1800 686 587

First Nations Women’s Legal Contact LineThis toll-free line is staffed by Aboriginal women and is open Mon, Tues and Thurs. Call: 1800 639 784.

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Community Legal Centres (CLCs)CLCs give free legal advice and help with all kinds of legal problems. Call 1300 888 529 or search for a centre in your area at: www.clcnsw.org.au.

Private lawyersThe Law Society of NSW can refer you to private lawyers in your area. It can also tell you about private lawyers who do legal aid work. Call the Law Society’s Solicitor Referral Service on 02 9926 0300.

Women's Domestic Violence Court Advocacy ServicesWDVCASs assist women and children experiencing domestic violence get legal protection from the court. Call 1300 WDVCAS (1300 938 227) or check our website for your closest service.

Community Justice CentresA free mediation service for people in dispute with friends, family members or neighbours. To find a centre near you, call 1800 990 777 or visit www.cjc.justice.nsw.gov.au.

Best for Kids websiteThe Best for Kids website has legal information and resources for young people and families on a wide range of legal issues: www.bestforkids.org.au

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Where can you find us?We have offices across New South Wales. We also visit over 200 other locations in metropolitan and regional NSW where you can drop in or make an appointment to discuss your legal problem.

You can find your nearest Legal Aid NSW office by visiting our website at www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Aboriginal Field OfficersWe also have Aboriginal Field Officers to help you with money worries and family law. If you need to speak to an Aboriginal Field Officer, contact our Central Sydney Office on 02 9219 5000 or the Aboriginal Legal Service on 1800 765 767.

Central Sydney 323 Castlereagh StreetHaymarket 2000Ph: 02 9219 5000TTY: 02 9219 5126

Metropolitan OfficesBankstown Level 7, Civic Tower, Cnr Rickard Rd & Jacobs Sts Bankstown 2200Ph: 02 9707 4555

Blacktown Suite 36-37, 15 Kildare RoadBlacktown 2148Ph: 02 9621 4800

Burwood Level 4, 74-76 Burwood Road Burwood 2134Ph: 02 9747 6155TTY: 02 97470214

Campbelltown Suite 1, Level 4, 171-179 Queen StreetCampbelltown 2560Ph: 02 4628 2922

Fairfield Suite 1, Level 2, 25 Smart StreetFairfield 2165Ph: 02 9727 3777

Liverpool Level 4, Interdell Centre, 45-47 Scott StreetLiverpool 2170Ph: 02 9601 1200

Parramatta (Criminal Law)Parramatta Justice Precinct, Level 1, 160 Marsden Street Parramatta 2150Ph: 02 8688 3800

Parramatta (Family and Civil Law)Level 4, 128 Marsden Street Parramatta 2150Ph: 02 9891 1600

Penrith Level 42-6 Station St Penrith 2750 Ph: 02 4732 3077

Sutherland Ground Floor, Endeavour House, 3-5 Stapleton AvenueSutherland 2232Ph: 02 9521 3733

Legal Aid NSW offices Our offices are listed below. You can also visit our website at www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

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Regional Offices Coffs Harbour 41 Little StreetCoffs Harbour 2450Ph: 02 6651 7899

Dubbo 64 Talbragar StreetDubbo 2830Ph: 02 6885 4233

Gosford 92-100 Donnison StreetGosford 2250Ph: 02 4324 5611

Lismore Level 5, Westlawn Building, 29 Molesworth StreetLismore 2480Ph: 02 6621 2082

Newcastle (Family and Civil Law)Level 2, 51-55 Bolton StreetNewcastle 2300Ph: 02 4929 5482

Newcastle (Criminal Law)Level 3, 400 Hunter StNewcastle 2300Ph: 02 4929 5482

Nowra Level 2, 59 Berry StreetNowra 2541Ph: 02 4422 4351

Orange Suite 4, 95 Byng StreetOrange 2800Ph: 02 6362 8022

Port Macquarie 107 William Street Port Macquarie 2444Ph: 02 5525 1600

Riverina Murray – AlburySuite 1A, Level 1, 520 Swift StreetAlbury NSW 2640Ph: 02 6020 7200

Riverina Murray – Wagga Wagga Ground Floor, 74-76 Fitzmaurice StreetWagga Wagga 2650Ph: 02 6921 6588

Tamworth Siute 3, Level 1 155 Marius StreetTamworth 2340Ph: 02 6766 6322

Wollongong Graovac House, 73 Church StreetWollongong 2500Ph: 02 4228 8299

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Other brochures available:

Hey you mob – need help with child support? The Legal Aid NSW Child Support Service gives independent legal advice to parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles about child support, Centrelink and Services Australia decisions.

Who gets my stuff when I die? Why wills are important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Family law problems? Settle your family law problem now – act early. The Family Law Early Intervention Unit helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people resolve family problems before they get serious.

Got a fine?This brochure provides options for how to deal with fines.

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Mental Health Advocacy Service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peopleLegal help, information and advice about mental health matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people..

Caring for kids in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander familiesThis brochure is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander grandparents, aunties, uncles and other relatives involved in looking after young children.

What happens when we split up? This booklet assists Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with divorce, property, making arrangements for sharing children, and child support.

SEPTEMBER 2020 MNLA 60427

www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au

This publication is a general guide to the law. You should not rely on it as legal advice, and we recommend that you talk to a lawyer about your situation.

The information is correct at the time of printing, however it may change. For more information contact LawAccess NSW on 1300 888 529.

© Legal Aid Commission of NSW 2020

Order brochures online at www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/publications or email: publications@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

For more information about Legal Aid NSW services:

Do you need help to contact us?

If you find it hard to hear or speak, call the National Relay Service (NRS) on 133 677 and ask for LawAccess NSW or visit www.relayservice. gov.au