The State Government has awarded just over two-million-dollars in funding to the Legal Services Commission (LSC) for the provision of legal services to victims of family and domestic violence over the next four years.
Attorney-General, Vickie Chapman, said the LSC would be providing a range of services, including helping women apply for intervention orders and ending lease agreements under the domestic abuse provisions in place through the Residential Tenancies Act.
“We remain committed to ensuring those experiencing domestic violence receive the support they need, and access to appropriate legal support is an important part of that,” Ms Chapman said.
“By putting the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service out to open tender, victims and survivors of family and domestic violence can be confident that they will receive the highest quality and most efficient service.
“The new service will consist of legal practitioners who will be available at multiple locations to ensure easily accessible, comprehensive legal advice is available to those women who may need it, a welcome addition to what has been offered in the past,” Ms Chapman said.
It is expected that the service will support 800 victims of domestic violence and family abuse to navigate the complexities of the legal system each year, with the service operating on an outreach basis to regional South Australia, beyond the Adelaide metro area.
“The Legal Services Commission already has considerable experience working with vulnerable community members, and I’m confident they will be able to provide a high level of specialised service to those who have experienced domestic violence.”
Attorney-General Chapman thanked the current provider, the Victim Support Service, for its work to date, and said the LSC would work with the service to ensure all current clients can transition to the new service without disruption.
The LSC will begin providing services through a Women’s Domestic Violence Court Assistance Service from 1 July.
Current clients who wish to discuss their matters can contact the existing service provider on 1800 246 642.
