Victoria Legal Aid will give an extra $50,000 to the Whittlesea Community Legal Service this year, but the centre’s management says it needs more to cope with demand.
Legal Aid spokeswoman Meagan Keogh said the organisation was looking at ways to expand its services in the City of Whittlesea, including help for victims of family violence.
The area has been covered by Legal Aid’s Preston office, which will soon close after more than 30 years of service. Legal Aid hopes to provide more support to areas such as Whittlesea, one of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities.
Ms Keogh said Legal Aid, which gave the Whittlesea community legal centre $432,354 last financial year, was working with the centre to finalise plans over the next few weeks to spend the additional funding.
“This [additional funding] will allow more services to be delivered directly into high-need communities,” she said.
“Legal Aid is also looking at other ways to expand its services into the City of Whittlesea, which may include providing appointments at other agencies in the area.
“Research indicates that when faced with a legal problem most people seek help at community agencies.’’ Legal Aid would continue to provide in-court services, she said.
But Jemal Ahmet, the chief executive officer of Whittlesea Community Connections, which runs the Whittlesea centre, said the demands on community legal services were spiralling out of control and Legal Aid’s additional $50,000 was only the start of what was needed.
“Every week 160 families move into the municipality and 40 babies are born; you don’t have to be Einstein to figure that if funding remains static, services go backwards,” he said.
Although he welcomed the extra money, he said it would only cover existing programs.
Mr Ahmet said the legal centre had four part-time and one full-time law staff, but needed a dedicated full-time lawyer to deal with family law matters.
Permanent out-reach services in growth areas such as Doreen, Mernda and South Morang were needed, he said.
Mr Ahmet said the centre was negotiating with Legal Aid for additional funding.
