Street Law Centre WA

🎄 HOLIDAY CLOSURE PERIOD 🎄 The Street Law Centre will be closed from 3 PM Friday, 20th December until Thursday, 2nd January 2025. ✨ From all of us at Street Law, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season. Thank you for your support throughout the year! 🌟 See you in 2025! 🌟 

🚨 New Stop and Search Laws NOW in Effect! 🚨 If you're in Northbridge, Fremantle, Scarborough, Hillarys, or Mandurah entertainment zones, police can stop and search you without reasonable suspicion starting TODAY! Their focus: knives and weapons. 🔪 Here's how it works:  👮♂️ Police will use metal wands to scan for metal objects. If the wand detects anything, they can conduct a basic search. 💥 If anything illegal, like drugs, is found during the search, you could face charges—even if the search was intended for weapons only. ⚠️ Police can also designate pop-up knife wanding zones anywhere, not just the entertainment precincts. 🚫 Refusing to cooperate or hand over items found in a search is an offence. Key takeaway: If stopped for a search, it's best to cooperate. Stay informed, stay safe! ✋ 

Summer of FREE public transport has started! Here’s what you need to know to get FREE public transport: ✔️ You must have a SmartRider card – and remember to tag on and tag off.  ✔️ Parking at stations is also free when you use your SmartRider at parking stations.  ✔️ Make sure your SmartRider card isn’t in a negative balance to enjoy the free travel.    Here is a link with all the places you can purchase a SmartRider from: https://lnkd.in/dP6NCGRS  

It's great to see the WA Government taking steps to tackle domestic violence with $86 million in new funding, but as Chelsea McKinney from Community Legal WA highlights, the legal support services that victims rely on are struggling to keep up with demand. Community legal centres are turning away hundreds of people every week due to a lack of funding. As Chelsea puts it, we need to see the State Government step up and provide proportional investment in the vital legal services that help survivors with housing, financial security, and access to justice. It’s time to ensure the support needed matches the growing demand. 

Did you see the news? 📽️ 📺 Chelsea was interviewed for this fantastic piece by Tabarak Al Jrood at Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News Perth about yesterday's announcement from the State Government to extend funding for the shuttle conferencing program, which reduces FVRO breaches and holds perpetrators to account. We welcome the funding announcement - but more is needed. Community legal services are turning away hundreds of people each week and women’s legal service WA have had to close their books to new referrals until the end of the year. In the housing, cost of living and FDV crises more people than ever are reaching out for legal help. We need a commitment to increased funding before the election so we can be there for WA families in crisis. #16daysinWA #fundmorecommunitylaw #communitylaw

🌟 A Big Thank You to Cora! 🌟 It has been great having Cora join the Street Law team one day a week for the past 13 weeks as a secondee from King & Wood Mallesons. During her time with us, Cora worked closely with Anna, our Supervising Solicitor from the Civil Team, providing invaluable support at our weekly outreach legal clinic at Vinnies’ Passages Youth Engagement Hub. From tackling a variety of legal matters to seeing cases through to resolution, Cora's hard work made a real difference in the lives of our clients. 💬 Here’s what Cora had to say about her time at Street Law: “[I enjoyed] the exposure to clinics on a weekly basis and being able to develop trust with clients and seeing legal tasks through to resolution. The friendly office atmosphere and getting to know the team. I am in awe of the work Street Law does and the commitment of the team. The workload of the organisation was another reminder of the enduring need for funding of community legal centres.” Cora, thank you for your contributions to Street Law. Your support was vital, and we will miss having you on Wednesdays. A huge shoutout to King & Wood Mallesons for their ongoing support and commitment to Street Law through our secondee partnership. This collaboration is essential to continuing our work and making a lasting impact.

🚨 Homelessness in Australia: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore 🚨 Homelessness has skyrocketed beyond pre-pandemic levels, leaving countless Australians struggling to find a place to call home. 🏠 What’s fueling this crisis? 🔹 Soaring rent prices since 2020 🔹 A chronic shortage of social housing 🔹 The relentless cost-of-living squeeze Homelessness has soared well above pre-pandemic levels in most parts of Australia. While government investments in social housing are a step in the right direction, they’re far from enough. Short-term fixes won’t solve decades of housing demand outpacing supply. We need investment by our government that is future focused on solving homelessness. Read more about the current landscape of homelessness here: https://lnkd.in/gz76fxTp

🌍 Human Rights Day 2024: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now 🌍 This year, Human Rights Day reminds us that human rights are more than ideals—they are the foundation for solutions in challenging times. Under the theme “Our rights, our future, right now,” we reflect on how human rights serve as a preventative, protective, and transformative force for good, especially during crises. Human rights empower us to tackle inequality, safeguard dignity, and build stronger, more just communities. Yet, for many, these rights remain out of reach. People experiencing homelessness, for example, face violations of fundamental rights such as adequate housing, freedom from discrimination, and personal security. At Street Law, we work to uphold and protect these rights, advocating for those who are often overlooked and ensuring their voices are heard. On this Human Rights Day, let’s recognise the critical role human rights play in shaping a fairer future and commit to making them a reality for everyone.

🏠 Family and Domestic Violence: The Leading Cause of Homelessness. For too many women and children, home is not a safe place—it’s the most dangerous. Family and domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness in Australia. Women often face an impossible choice: endure abuse or risk homelessness. 🚨 The impact: Many women flee violence with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Limited access to safe housing forces some to return to their abuser. Children caught in these situations face severe emotional and developmental harm. This year’s 16 Days in WA campaign, let’s focus on the ripple effects of domestic violence. By addressing the attitudes and behaviours that condone abuse, we can create a society where no woman has to choose between safety and shelter. 💡 How you can help: ✅ Support local shelters and services for survivors. ✅ Speak out against disrespect and violence. ✅ Advocate for policies that provide safe housing options. #16DaysInWA #EndDomesticViolence #SafeHomesForAll

✨ Staff Spotlight: Meet Jane! Say hello to Jane, our incredible Centre Coordinator at Street Law. With over 12 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, Jane brings a wealth of knowledge, dedication, and compassion to our team. 📰 In our latest newsletter, Jane opens up about: 💡 Why she chose to work at a community legal center. ❤️ What she loves most about being part of the Street Law team. 🌟 Her vision and hopes for ending homelessness. Click the following link to read the full profile on Jane 👉https://lnkd.in/gUdfTCij