Legal Centre Funding to Help People With Mental Illness Access Justice

The Palaszczuk Government has allocated more than $4 million to community legal centres (CLCs) to improve access to justice for some of the state’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said six CLCs from across the State had been successful in their tender applications for a share of the $4.22 million funding over three years.

“People experiencing mental illness can face barriers to accessing the justice system as a result of their condition,” Minister Fentiman said.

“That’s why it’s so important that we assist CLCs to continue to provide support for individuals with legal issues.

“I commend the successful CLCs and their staff for the valuable and important work they do. This funding will help them continue to address the demand for these services.”

Minister Fentiman said the funds had been made available by the Commonwealth Government through the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to support the early resolution of legal problems for those experiencing mental illness.

“Of the additional funding provided to Queensland, $4.22 million was set aside for eligible CLCs to apply through a tender process.

“To be eligible, CLCs had to be State or Federally-funded and deliver free legal assistance services to vulnerable or disadvantaged Queenslanders.”

The successful organisations were:

• ADA Law                                                     $450,000
• Basic Rights Queensland                            $2.106 million         
• Cairns Community Legal Centre Inc           $480,000
• Caxton Legal Centre Inc                             $480,000
• Encircle                                                       $224,000
• TASC National                                             $480,000

Applications were evaluated across three service delivery categories – state-wide, regional and Greater Brisbane.

ENDS

Media Contact: Phoenix Campbell 0439 949 719