Women's Legal Service Victoria

New data shows that less than half of female workers feel they could report workplace sexual harassment. Meanwhile, 71% of male leaders said they would feel safe to report sexual harassment at work. The survey from Our Watch backs up trends we’ve seen in our Respect and Equality in the Legal Sector project. The project aims to prevent gendered workplace violence, like sexual harassment. Women in legal workplaces have told us they don’t know how to report sexual harassment. Or that they don’t trust their workplace is safe to report to. Help is available for legal workplaces to address this. We’re working on resources for actions legal workplaces can take to prevent sexual harm and other forms of gendered violence. These will support legal workplaces in managing change - including communications, policy, training and culture building. Find out more about the Our Watch survey from ABC Radio National: New data reveals there are stark differences in men and women's perceptions of how workplace sexual harassments are handled - ABC listen Find out more about our Respect and Equality work: https://lnkd.in/gr_A6rBz

We support the Working Womens Centre Victoria's submission calling for a framework that safeguards the rights and voices of victim-survivors, allowing them agency surrounding their experiences.

We stand by residents to save public housing in Melbourne. Today, Inner Melbourne Community Legal is taking the case to save public housing to the Supreme Court. The trial will ensure residents have their rights and voices heard.   The trial can be livestreamed below. You can also attend in-person today and tomorrow at Old High Court 3, 450 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. #SaveOurTowers #HousingCrisis #SavePublicHousing #SaveOurPublicHousing

We’ve been going back in time! We’ve teamed up with local historians to celebrate and document the tireless efforts of hundreds of Victorian women in reforming and improving the law. For more than 40 years, Women’s Legal volunteers, staff and supporters have used their know-how to champion women’s rights. Earlier this year, we started work with History At Work to build the public record of our achievements. We’ve now recorded our organisation history. Plus, our links to the women’s liberation movement of the 1970s and wider social and political environments. Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/gNSAkej3 

Next week our Managing Lawyer, Migration, Stephanie Vejar, is speaking on family violence and temporary visas. You can join the FREE, online seminar – held by Be informed. Visa status can be a significant barrier for those who experience family violence to seek help or leave their partner. Stephanie will talk about the risk factors and legal issues faced by temporary visa holders and how to respond. It’s for people working in family violence, from lawyers to social workers. And anyone seeking information on family violence and visas. You will get resources and practical strategies to better support you through family violence and the visa process. 💡 What: Intersection of Family Violence and Temporary Visa Holders in Victoria 🗓️ Date: Wednesday 30 October ⌚ Time: 6 – 7 pm 💻Where: Online and free! Book your spot today: https://lnkd.in/gK6fR52F

Women on temporary visas can find themselves trapped in violent relationships due to the visa they are on, and as a result of how our migration system works. Over the last year the federal government has made a number of changes to the migration system to make it safer for women experiencing family violence. These changes are a step in the right direction to ensure that our migration system does not penalise victim-survivors of family violence for leaving violent relationships. But we need much bolder system reform to ensure the safety of all temporary visa holders who experience family violence. This includes the introduction of a stand-alone family violence visa, better access to social and financial supports for women and children on temporary visas and access to housing while they recover. Women and their children must be safe to escape family violence no matter what visa they hold. Read more from Women's Agenda: https://lnkd.in/gYr-vCnz

The new Working Women’s Centre Victoria is launching today! They’re here to help women facing legal problems at work. The centre provides free, confidential legal support. They can help with workplace issues including: • Sexual harassment • Discrimination • Wage theft • Unfair dismissal • Sham contracting • Parental leave • Family violence • Workplace bullying They here to help women and non-binary people right across Victoria. This includes women on temporary visas, women in rural and remote areas, Indigenous women, young women, older women, women with disabilities, trans women and non-binary people. All client information is confidential and never communicated to employers without prior permission. They can also organise interpreters. To get legal workplace help visit www.wwcvic.org.au Or call 1800 WWC VIC (1800 992 842), Mon-Fri 9am-3pm We’re proud to be one of four community legal centres launching the Working Women’s Centre Victoria, along with South-East Monash Legal Service, Westjustice, and Northern Community Legal Centre. #WomenAtWork #WorkplaceSafety #WorkplaceSupport #LegalSupport

We recently launched a new Emerging Lawyers Program, supporting 14 new lawyers working in family violence law. Each new lawyer is at a different community legal centre across Victoria. Our program manager, Roshan Bhandary, has just finished visiting the 14 partner centres. She recently saw the lawyers at Emma House Domestic & Family Violence Services. And also stopped by Ballarat & Grampians Community Legal Service. Roshan’s been hearing about what they’ve been up to, and giving program support. The Emerging Lawyers Program is an 18-month training and jobs program. It supports newly admitted lawyers for a successful legal career. And it improves access to family violence and law support across Victoria.

Workplaces play an important role in stopping gendered violence and supporting women who experience violence. They can promote a culture where all violence, including coercive and controlling behaviours, are understood as unacceptable. Gendered violence affects the financial wellbeing of victim-survivors. They may not be able to work, and can even lose their jobs. Workplaces can create environments that are supportive and responsive. Our Respect and Equality team work to prevent gendered violence in legal workplaces. They provide resources to foster safe and fair workplaces. Read the full Forbes Australia article on the role of workplaces in gendered violence: https://lnkd.in/g26AMdBR  

How can we change the complex court system that victim-survivors of family violence face? As part of our Jacinta Dwyer Research Internship, Georgia Rowles is asking this question. Victim-survivors often attend different courts for family law matters. This back-and-forth between courts is hard for women experiencing family violence. It leads to confusion, stress and extra legal costs. Georgia has been researching how to make the system easier. Georgia is the first to be part of our new Jacinta Dwyer Research Internship. It honours the legacy of lawyer and magistrate Jacinta Dwyer, who spent time working at Women’s Legal. She passed away in 2017. The internship is a 25-day, paid opportunity for final year or honours students in law, social work, community development, or financial counselling. The internship is supported by the Victorian Magistrates’ Association. Watch our 📹 video on Georgia, and find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gWpBzrtm