By JESSE GRAHAM
AN ORGANISATION that provides free legal advice for domestic violence victims in the Yarra Valley may be forced to shut down in Healesville this year, due to government funding cuts.
The Eastern Community Legal Centre opened its Healesville office on 18 February 2014, after receiving $750,000 in funding from the former Federal Government.
However, The Mail reported last year that $400,000 of that money – $200,000 per year funding for the 2015-’16 and 2016-’17 financial years – had been pulled by the Abbott Government.
The office, based in the Healesville Community Link, offers free legal advice on issues such as domestic violence and tenancy three days a week.
ECLC CEO, Michael Smith said the centre provided an opportunity for those experiencing domestic violence to seek help, and that over 300 clients had been through the doors in the last 12 months.
These clients included people from Healesville, the Upper Yarra area and as far away as Marysville.
But Mr Smith said the organisation was now assessing its options, one of which could see the Healesville office closed after just one year.
“The board is really keen to keep the service open and to keep it going, but it’s difficult without that Commonwealth funding and foundation to the service,” he said.
“We hope to make a decision in April, or May, but we really need some certainty for staff.
“It’s looking pretty serious for keeping it open.”
The funding cuts, which occurred as part of last year’s federal budget, will come into effect mid-year.
Casey MP Tony Smith told the Mail that he recently met with Federal Attorney-General, George Brandis, to highlight the benefits of the centre.
“I raised the geographical barriers faced by locals that inner-city and suburban residents do not have,” Mr Smith said.
“I am continuing to make strong representations to the Attorney-General and other relevant ministers about the importance of the current services being provided in Healesville, as the legal service’s future funding model is determined.”
A beacon of hope for the centre was revealed during 2014’s election campaign, when then-Shadow Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula visited Healesville to announce a Community Legal Centre Assistance Fund worth $2 million if elected.
A spokesperson for Mr Pakula said that work was underway to ensure the assistance funds were “directed at priority service delivery gaps brought about from the Commonwealth funding cuts”.
The spokesperson said the fund would be accompanied by $1.2 million for community legal centre family violence duty lawyers working at the magistrates’ court.
The Mail asked the spokesperson if the ECLC would be able to access the $200,000 per year cut by the Federal Government, but no answer was given.
Mr Smith said he was hoping to liaise further with both levels of government to try and restore the lost funding.
“There’s nothing definite yet, but we’re hoping to have some resolution as soon as we can,” he said.
Nestled at the back of the Community Link, ECLC’s Yarra Ranges Co-ordinator, Belinda Gillam Derry, said the site had been ideal for people to discreetly get legal help.
“We certainly know people that have accessed assistance because we’re here,” Ms Gillam Derry said.
“They’ve been in a situation for a number of years, and it’s been too difficult for them to seek assistance further afield.”
The office is also the base for two days of outreach each month in Yarra Junction for Upper Yarra residents, and one day of outreach in Lilydale.
The closest ECLC office to Healesville is based in Boronia, about 40 kilometres away.
