Eastern Community Legal Centre

🌟 Exciting news to end the year! 👏 👏 👏 ECLC is proud to welcome Troy Williamson to the Centre’s Board. Troy, a proud Yuin man is a highly respected Aboriginal Engagement expert, and passionate advocate for Aboriginal communities. With over 22 years in public service, Troy brings a wealth of experience in advancing First Nations rights, driving systemic reform, and promoting cultural awareness. From his deep connection to his Aboriginal heritage, to his work in empowering First Nations communities, Troy is a true champion for meaningful change. ECLC looks forward to the incredible contributions Troy will bring to the Centre. Welcome, Troy! 🌿 #IndigenousLeadership #CommunityEmpowerment #ECLCBoard

Just like that, the end of year has come round! Last week ECLC hosted its annual end-of-year celebration. Team members shared reflections on 2024’s achievements and enjoyed creative team activities together with delicious food. A reminder that the Centre shuts down from (today) 20 December and re-open on 8 Jan 2025.

🎙️ ECLC’s Director of Family Violence Initiatives, Marika Manioudakis, joined Health Justice Australia’s new podcast for its debut episode! Marika shared powerful insights on person-centred practice, trauma-informed care, and the transformative impact of collaborative partnerships in achieving better outcomes for clients. 💡 Don’t miss her top tips for working in partnerships! 🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your web browser. OR click here to tune in: https://lnkd.in/gHHRsV7t #HealthJusticePodcast #TraumaInformedCare #CollaborationForChange #ECLC

Join Polaron Language Services at a Community Briefing Meeting on Refugee Experience in Australia Study. The study aims to learn about humanitarian entrants and refugees who have arrived in Australia within the last 10 years and is an opportunity to learn about the study and explore how you can get involved. (Community connectors selected for the study will be paid for their work.) During this session, you will learn:   👉What the Refugee Experience in Australia Study 2024 is about.   👉Who and why we want to survey.   👏What the role of a community connector is.   🙌The next steps, responsibilities and commitments. This survey is being conducted over the next 4 months by the Social Research Centre in partnership with the Scanlon Foundation Research Institute and with support of Polaron. If this is something that interest you, there are 2 online sessions. 📌Wednesday, 18 December, 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM AEDT   Register here: https://bit.ly/3VwlVkR 📌Wednesday, 18 December, 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM AEDT   Register here: https://bit.ly/4g146mi 

ECLC will be closed for the holiday break from Friday, 20th December 2024. The Centre will re-open on Wednesday, 8th January 2025. Duty lawyer services will continue and support for existing clients will be in place through this period. Please note, all appointment requests will be responded to when the Centre re-opens on the 8th Jan 2025. For urgent legal advice, please contact Victoria Legal Aid on 1300 792 387.If you are experiencing family violence, The Orange Door is the access point for local family violence service support. https://lnkd.in/gTkt9K8Z For 24/7 Family Violence Response contact Safe Steps 1800 015 188 or visit https://lnkd.in/gccXKZi ECLC wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

🍴✨ ECLC kicked off its Boronia Voices Recipe Hub series with a fantastic pop-up event at Boronia Library on 3 December! This initiative celebrates community connections through food, cooking, and storytelling, inviting participants to share their favourite recipes. The recipes will contribute to Tastes of Boronia, a community recipe book launching in May 2025! 🌟 Thanks to funding from the Boronia Revitalisation Board, this project builds on the success of Lilydale Voices, bringing diverse voices together through the universal language of food. 📚 Read more in the Star Mail article: https://lnkd.in/gb5KRhJT 📧 Want to join the fun? Contact us at [email protected]. #BoroniaVoices #CommunityThroughFood #TastesOfBoronia #ECLC

ECLC will be closed for the holiday break from Friday, 20th December 2024. The Centre will re-open on Wednesday, 8th January 2025. Duty lawyer services will continue and support for existing clients will be in place through this period. Please note, all appointment requests will be responded to when the Centre re-opens on the 8th Jan 2025. For urgent legal advice, please contact Victoria Legal Aid on 1300 792 387.If you are experiencing family violence, The Orange Door is the access point for local family violence service support. https://lnkd.in/gTkt9K8Z For 24/7 Family Violence Response contact Safe Steps 1800 015 188 or visit https://lnkd.in/gccXKZi ECLC wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

For many, the festive season can be tough, especially for those struggling to make ends meet. ECLC is proud to share this end of year, First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria Christmas Appeal - calling on all supporters to help by donating towards gift cards that will assist families in need. The gift cards will be distributed through Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, ensuring support reaches those who need it most. 💖 Let’s come together and make this a Christmas to remember. ! Plus, the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria is a registered charity — so all donations of $2 or more are tax deductible! Give a deadly Christmas! — https://lnkd.in/gu46YQAd First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria, 48 Cambridge Street, Collingwood VIC 3066. Call: 1800 TREATY. #DeadlyChristmas #CommunityGiving #SpreadTheJoy

🎉 On 21 October, ECLC hosted a Multidisciplinary Practice Forum, bringing together over 120 professionals to enhance skills and promote collaboration in community legal practice. Highlights from the day are now available! You can watch the full 20-minute video or a shorter version for a quick overview here. 💡 Don’t miss the inspiring keynote by Hugh de Kretser and the panel discussion along with a captivating performance by Larrakia artist and storyteller, Ash Dargan. Watch all this here : https://lnkd.in/gxAPJKte #ProfessionalDevelopment #CommunityLaw #CollaborationInAction #community law #ECLC

🖤💛❤️ Yesterday marked five years since the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria first came together on Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country. In that time, the Assembly has made incredible progress in the Treaty process, with the historic milestone of beginning negotiations for the first Statewide Treaty just last month. ✊🏾 ECLC acknowledges and celebrates this journey, recognising the incredible work by Members, past and present, whose dedication and leadership have brought Victoria to this pivotal moment. The work must continue to shape a future of justice, self-determination, and respect for First Nations communities. #TreatyForVictoria #FirstPeoplesAssembly #JusticeInAction #ECLC https://bit.ly/4g5dpSp