A Wyndham solicitor says the municipality’s only community legal service is being flooded with calls for help with family violence, driving infringements, housing stress and neighbourhood disputes.
Wyndham Legal Service senior policy lawyer Shorna Moore said the legal needs of many residents in the outer west were spiralling out of control as services struggled to keep up with demand.
As reported by the Weekly, a report released by the Law Institute of Victoria on April 9 revealed that residents seeking legal help in Wyndham faced significant barriers, with ageing and overstretched facilities failing to keep up with population growth.
Urgently needed was a criminal, civil and administrative justice centre in the community, the report stated.
Ms Moore said family violence continued to be a “hidden issue”. For too many Wyndham residents, access to basic justice services was unattainable.
Women’s Health West receives about 125 family violence incident referrals from Wyndham every month.
“The combined effect of distance-related obstacles to obtaining access to assistance can be crippling,” Ms Moore said.
“There is also a lack of shelters and support services in outlying communities, such that women may not be able to leave home.”
Ms Moore’s concerns were echoed by Chris Potaris, chief executive of the Committee for Wyndham, which is leading the charge for a justice precinct in the city.
Mr Potaris said urgent action was needed.
“We will ensure that talks with the state government continue, to address the immediate needs facing the region.”
He said the committee wanted consultation between the government and key stakeholders to remain transparent, not be in isolation from key community groups.
A new Wyndham justice precinct advisory group will hold its first meeting on May 23.
