Joint Review of Western Australian Community Legal Centres

Terms of Reference

A Community Legal Centre Steering Committee be established to undertake the Review of Western Australian Community Legal Centres (CLCs). The Community Legal Centre Steering Committee is to report to the Commonwealth and State on strategies to achieve the following outcomes:-

1. Consistent and equitable distribution of Community Legal Services (CLCs) throughout WA, including consideration of :
• regional models for generalist CLCs;
• optional geographical boundaries for metropolitan CLCs to enhance equity of access to CLCs; and
• range and models for specialist CLCs.
2. Accessible CLC services for persons most in need.
3. Identification of core CLC services and eligibility criteria, including consideration of:
• consistency in provision of core services; and
• regional factors in the provision of core services.
4. Enhancement of the corporate governance of CLCs
5. Enhancement of the role of volunteers at CLCs.
6. Identification of gaps in services and extent of unmet need.
7. Identification of funding levels of CLC services including consideration of:
• sources of funding;
• adequacy of funding; and
• other resources.

In addressing these outcomes, the Community Legal Centre Steering Committee is required:-

1. to take into consideration the following:
• submissions from CLCs and other interested parties to the report;
• information contained in relevant reviews and reports;
• demographic data and other social indices, including projections;
• data relating to resources available to CLCs;
• availability of other Legal Aid services; and
• other relevant information.
2. to consult with CLCs and other stakeholders by various means, including discussion in papers, in order to provide opportunity for input into the deliberations of the Committee.
3. to conduct its deliberations in an open and transparent manner.
4. to provide:
• progress reports throughout the Review;
• draft report for comment; and
• final report for distribution to CLCs.
5. to ensure that recommendations and strategies have regard to current Commonwealth and State Government policy settings.

The term of the CLC Steering Committee is six (6) months, unless extended by agreement.