Working at Legal Aid WA isn’t just about providing legal assistance in a courtroom: an incredibly important part of our work is being out and about, getting into the community. Earlier this month, a number of our West Kimberley team spent a week doing just that.
In early September Stephen, Ange and Doug packed up the work truck and departed the Broome office, collected teammate Lorin on the way and headed to the Wangkatjunka Community – a mere 506km away – for the Wangkatjunka Community Open Day event.
A number of teams from the legal assistance sector were travelling the same path: Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service, Street Law Centre, Consumer Credit Legal Service and Circle Green Community Legal also sent staff to the event, with the aim that whatever the legal question asked, there would be an expert there to provide an answer.
Events like the Wangkatjunka Community Open Day provide a raft of opportunities for our staff to catch up with clients in person, for advocacy, working collaboratively and further strengthening relationships with other agencies and community organisations in attendance. It was a busy and rewarding day and especially exciting hearing the cheers of celebration from the waiting crowds, as driving test applicants passed their driving tests!
The next day the team retraced their steps a little, back to Fitzroy Crossing, where our Fitzroy Crossing based Community Liaison and Education Officer Lorin impressed with her local knowledge. She shared the location of a little-known watering hole with the team, along with a special request to introduce themselves to Country upon this and future visits. This invitation and connection was a special moment for all.
The Fitzroy Crossing visit was spread across a two-day combined Legal Clinic and Jobs Expo. Our team offered a walk-in legal service and as a result, they spent a lot of time drafting applications and affidavits for extraordinary driver’s licences and removal of life disqualifications. They also took the opportunity to have a yarn and reconnect with clients they hadn’t seen in a while.
Our team of solicitors and Flood Response Coordinator, Ange, were busy at the Jobs Expo fielding questions about working in law, alongside on the spot legal advice and referral sessions. Across the two days the team also provided legal education to local community organisations, ranging from information about scams and scam responses, coercive finance, employment law, and how to access resources for people experiencing housing insecurity.
It was a great week away set in the stunning Fitzroy Valley region, working collaboratively and strengthening relationships across the network of agencies who are all working to make a positive impact on the lives of people in the Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding communities.