Legal information, referrals, advice and casework on a broad range of civil legal issues.
Community members should always feel free to call the VALS Civil and Human Rights Practice team on 9418 5999 for a yarn about their legal issue. If it’s not something we can assist with, we’ll do our best to link you with someone who can.
The VALS Civil and Human Rights Practice can assist with a wide range of legal issues, providing casework and advise in the following areas:
- Tenancy
- Discrimination (State and Commonwealth jurisdictions) and human rights
- Some Personal Safety Intervention Order (PSIVO) matters
- Coronial inquest and inquiries with the Coroners Court (deaths in custody and police contact coronial matters are now handled by the Wirraway Practice)
- Credit, debt and consumer law issues
- Working with Children Check suspension or cancellation
- Telling your story to the Disability Royal Commission
- Employment (termination and some unpaid wages matters only)
- Infringements (through our clinic)
- Victims of Crime (through our pro bono clinic)
We can only provide legal advice and casework to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons, who meet our financial eligibility test, where there is no conflict of interest.
In some instances, we provide advice only, and in other instances we will open a file to conduct ongoing casework. Where we can’t assist directly, we can usually provide people with information and/or referrals to other services that may be able to assist across all civil matters.
Before we can open a casework file for a person, they must provide VALS with sufficient confirmation of Aboriginality.
The table below explains what we can do for you in relation to most types of civil law areas.
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service – areas of civil law assistance
| TYPE OF MATTER | INFORMATION AND/OR REFERRALS | LEGAL ADVICE | CASEWORK |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARTWORK/INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| BANKRUPTCY | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| CENTRELINK | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS AND CLUBS | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| CONSUMER COMPLAINTS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CONVEYANCING | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| CORONER’S COURT | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DEBTS AND DEBT COLLECTION | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DEFAMATION | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| DISCRIMINATION | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| EMPLOYMENT | Yes | Yes – only in relation to termination of employment | Yes – only in relation to termination of employment |
| GOVERNMENT COMPLAINTS | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| GUARDIANSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| HEALTH COMPLAINTS | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| INFRINGEMENTS | Yes | Yes | Yes – only with special circumstances applications. |
| INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE AND REDRESS | Yes | Yes | No |
| MEDICAL AND PROFESSIONAL NEGLIGENCE | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| MENTAL HEALTH REVIEW BOARD | Yes | No | No |
| MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| MOTOR VEHICLE IMPOUNDMENT | Yes | Yes | No |
| NATIVE TITLE | Yes – referral only | No | No |
| NEIGHBOURHOOD DISPUTES | Yes | Yes | No |
| OWNER’S CORPORATION DISPUTES | Yes | Yes – in limited circumstances | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| PERSONAL INJURY CLAIMS | Yes | No | No |
| PERSONAL SAFETY INTERVENTION ORDERS | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| PETS AND ANIMALS | Yes | Yes | No |
| POLICE COMPLAINTS | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| POWERS OF ATTORNEY AND MEDICAL AUTHORITIES | Yes | Yes | No |
| PRISONER ISSUES | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| PRIVACY AND FREEDOM OF INFORMATION | Yes | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances |
| TENANCY | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| TRANSPORT ACCIDENT COMMISSION (TAC) | Yes | No | No |
| VICTIMS OF CRIME (VOCAT) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WILLS | Yes | Yes – only in certain circumstances and not in relation to disputes | No |
| WORKER’S COMPENSATION (WORKCOVER) | Yes | No | No |
| WORKING WITH CHILDREN CHECKS | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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