BEATTIE GOVERNMENT GIVES $180,000 FOR LEGAL SERVICES FOR GOLD COAST CARERS AND SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS

The Beattie Government has allocated almost $180,000 to Gold Coast organisations for legal services that will help some of the region’s most disadvantaged residents.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Linda Lavarch, said four projects on the Gold Coast worth $179,100 were among 44 initiatives this year to receive a total of $1.49 million.

The announcement was welcomed by the Member for Southport, Peter Lawlor, the Member for Broadwater, Peta-Kaye Croft, the Member for Mudgeeraba, Dianne Reilly, and the Member for Burleigh, Christine Smith.

The projects have been funded from the interest generated by solicitors’ trust fund accounts.

Mrs Lavarch said Bond University would receive funding for two projects, one to help the carers of people with impaired competence and the other to investigate methods of managing cross-cultural conflicts.

She said carers of people with impaired competence needed access to inexpensive, well-informed advice and support to deal with the often complex legal issues associated with those in their care.

“Funding of $127,000 from the State Government will allow Bond University to employ staff able to provide high-quality legal services to carers,” Mrs Lavarch said.

“The university will also conduct research into the effectiveness of this pilot project, with the view to determining a model for the expansion of delivery of similar services in the future.”

Mrs Lavarch said the second Bond University project, worth $10,500, would investigate cross-cultural conflict and possible preventative means.

“Cross-cultural misunderstandings can often contribute to conflict so understanding the impact of culture on communication and conflict is vital in our multicultural society,” she said.

“For example, some cultures favour individual rights while others tend towards group-oriented harmony.

“By understanding these differences and educating the community, we can improve neighbourly relations and reduce the likelihood of conflict.”

Mrs Lavarch said the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence had been allocated $17,600 to provide a one-stop legal advice service for female rape victims.

“This innovative project will focus on the needs of rape victims who are directly involved in the criminal justice system,” she said.

“Victims will have access to legal information, support and advocacy, as well as the therapeutic counselling already offered by the centre.”

Also on the Gold Coast, $24,000 has been granted to the Highway Legal Service to provide weekly family law clinics to residents.

“This funding will allow the Highway Legal Service to hire a part-time solicitor who will give residents free legal advice and support on family law matters,” Mrs Lavarch said.

“This initiative recognises the growing number of self-represented Gold Coast residents involved in often complex family law matters.”

The grants are funded through the Legal Practitioners Interest on Trust Accounts Fund, which is administered by the Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

Media inquiries: Paul Holmes, Linda Lavarch’s office, 3239 6400 or 0407 378 796