Werribee MP Tim Pallas has announced a funding boost for WEstjustice, an organisation which provides free legal help to residents in the west.
The state government will give WEstjustice, which has an office in Werribee, $300,000 across two years.
The funds will be used to employ a family violence duty lawyer and principal solicitor, to provide services at the Werribee and Sunshine magistrates’ courts.
Part of the funds will also be spent on allocating a health justice partnership lawyer and family violence policy director to the Werribee Mercy Hospital, to provide consultations with patients and staff.
A new lawyer and community development worker will be hired as well, to help WEstjustice develop a program to engage with people from the Maori and Pacific Islander communities in Wyndham.
“We’re proud to be delivering this funding to WEstjustice because it will help to improve access to legal services in our community and deliver more support to those who need it most,” Mr Pallas said.
WEstjustice is one of 38 community legal centres across Victoria to successfully apply for grants from the state government this year.
The government has given $8.9 million in grants to legal centres.
