Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc.

🌟 CCLS is signing off for the year. 𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮𝟬 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝟲 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱. During this period, please visit our website www.cclswa.org.au for general information and fact sheets. If you need urgent legal assistance, you can also contact Legal Aid Western Australia on 1300 650 579. Please note they are closed on public holidays. The festive season can also be a tough time for people financially. The National Debt Helpline (1800 007 007) will reopen on Thursday, 2 January. If you are feeling overwhelmed and need to talk to someone, Lifeline has 24/7 Crisis Support available by calling 13 11 14. Thank you to all our partners who have worked with us this year to reach positive outcomes. Our Team wishes everyone a joyous festive season and looks forward to assisting WA Consumers in 2025.

We are pleased to share the pro bono secondment blog of Sophia Dikolli who joined us on a 5-month pro bono rotation earlier this year from Norton Rose Fulbright. In her blog, Sophia shares her experiences and the valuable work she has done with Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc. A huge shoutout to all our pro bono partners for their unwavering support. Your commitment enables us to increase our service and continue to make a positive difference in our community. 🙏💼 🔎 Read Sophia's story and join us in celebrating the contributions of our pro bono team! https://lnkd.in/gGQKRd9C Australian Government Solicitor Civic Legal HWL Ebsworth Lawyers Hall & Wilcox Norton Rose Fulbright #ProBono #CommunitySupport #Gratitude #CCLS

CCLS welcomes action by ASIC in the Federal Court alleging HSBC Bank Australia Limited failed to adequately protect customers from scams. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ghBphKa7 The rise in sophisticated scams makes it unfair to place the entire burden of caution on consumers. No amount of warning or community education can fully address the current scam crisis. CCLS believes banks must play a crucial role in protecting account holders from scammers' predatory behaviour. As with Consumer Action Law Centre, we will push for stronger protections and hold financial institutions accountable. #scam #ConsumerProtection

Thank You, Nikhita! Since July of last year, Nikhita Talluri has been a fantastic addition to our Telephone Advice Line as a volunteer paralegal through the McCusker Centre for Citizenship UWA. Her dedication and hard work have made a significant impact on our team and the community we serve. Nikhita is now moving on to take on a full-time role as the Student Guild President at UWA while continuing her studies. We wish her all the very best in her new role and future endeavours. If you would like more information about volunteering with CCLS in 2025, visit our website: https://lnkd.in/g9gBeWaV

🚨 Attention, savvy shoppers! As the holiday season is upon us, it's time to talk about online shopping safety! 🛍️ Before you click 'Checkout,' here are some tips to keep your online shopping experience secure. 1️⃣ Stick to trusted websites 2️⃣ Read reviews: Check product reviews and seller ratings. 3️⃣ Beware of Phishing: Be cautious with email and social media links. 4️⃣ Use strong passwords. 5️⃣ Watch for red flags: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. 6️⃣ Keep software updated: Ensure your device's operating system, antivirus, and browser are up-to-date to protect against security vulnerabilities. 7️⃣ Secure Wi-Fi Connection: Shop using a secure Wi-Fi network, especially when entering payment details. Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive transactions For more information, check out our online infographic 🔗 https://lnkd.in/giuk7F8y For free, confidential, non-judgemental legal advice on credit, debt or consumer law issues, call CCLS' advice line 📞 08 9221 7066 Monday to Friday 9 am -4 pm

CCLS welcomes the announcement by Bill Shorten regarding upcoming reforms to Centrepay, which have long been advocated by consumer groups. https://lnkd.in/gMMwJ7xB

CCLS Senior Solicitor Rowan Kelly was grateful to visit the Kimberley again last month with representatives from Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service, Circle Green Community Legal, and Legal Aid WA. Our friends from Street Law Centre WA could not make it in person this time, but we shared information about the important work they do and how they can help.   Thank you to all the organisations that met with us and to all the people who stopped by our legal clinic and then our stall at the Deadly Jobs Expo. It is so important for all of our services to be able to meet locals face to face, hear their stories, have a legal yarn, and share how we can help.   Thank you also to the Broome office of Legal Aid and our funder for facilitating this opportunity and harnessing the collective power of specialist community legal centres. As a state-wide service, we hope to continue to visit regional areas in the future.

Today, our solicitor Mitchell Coles had the absolute honour of moving Sophia Dikolli's admission to the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Sophia seconded to CCLS earlier this year for a six-month period thanks to Norton Rose Fulbright. We know that Sophia will make a fabulous lawyer, and champion the rights of consumers throughout her career! We are all very proud of Sophia. Congratulations to everyone who was admitted today.

Recently, we bid farewell to our talented communications intern, Sara Tadesse. Over the past few months, Sara has been an invaluable part of our team, helping to produce fantastic material for our social media campaigns. We are incredibly grateful for her dedication and hard work. We wish her all the very best in her future endeavours. If you would like more information about volunteering with CCLS, visit our website. https://lnkd.in/g9gBeWaV McCusker Centre for Citizenship UWA #volunteers #volunteersmakeadifference #appreciationpost

Today, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services released its report from the recent inquiry ‘Financial Services Regulatory Framework in Relation to Financial Abuse’.   CCLS would like to thank the Committee, particularly Senator Deborah O'Neill and Zaneta Mascarenhas, for their dedication.   The report's 61 recommendations, including reforms to child support, consumer credit lending, and superannuation are crucial steps towards protecting victim-survivors and closing loopholes exploited by perpetrators. We will continue to work alongside Western Australians to advocate for implementation that prioritises the safety and dignity of all individuals.   We also would like to thank the contributing members of the Public Hearing in Western Australia, Bev Jowle, former CEO at Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc.; Melanie Hopkinson, Chief Executive Officer, Financial Counsellors' Association WA (FCAWA); Professor Donna Chung, Chair, Centre for Women's Safety and Wellbeing; Jack Thornton, EARGWA Coordinator, and Sarah Holman, Projects and Operational Lead, Consumer Credit Legal Service (WA) Inc.   🔗 Media Release - https://lnkd.in/gj6_dheA   🔗 Financial abuse: an insidious form of domestic violence Report - https://lnkd.in/ggHcpZ6B   Redfern Legal Centre, Westjustice, Financial Rights Legal Centre, Women's Legal Service WA Georgia Turco