PAST PROJECTS
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Northern Community Legal Centre collaborates with community organisations and members, conducting projects that address the social and structural barriers that lead to disadvantage. Our projects aim to support individuals and families to enhance their skills, knowledge, self-efficacy, social inclusion and community connectedness. Through our community engagement activities, NCLC is able to build our understanding of the issues impacting upon our community members, ensuring that we have a solid evidence base for our advocacy work.
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This project provides family violence education training to a group of local women of diverse backgrounds to become peer educators in their community and to co-design and distribute educational resources to places frequented by newly arrived women. The Take the First Step video was developed by the Hume group: https://vimeo.com/685304715.
We empower diverse young women living in Merri-bek to make informed choices regarding their economic security, bodies, and relationships. The project addresses key risk factors and drivers of family violence and homelessness. Working across schools, youth programs, and other appropriate settings, our peer educators co-design effective engagement strategies and multi-media education tools, and deliver a range of activities that aim to support young, diverse women to confidently assert boundaries and reach out for assistance when required.
This project piloted a scalable Lawyer Assisted Dispute Resolution program by partnering with a Monash Law Clinic, and Family Relationship Centres (FRCs). We upskilled community Lawyers in property law, built the capacity of FRC mediators to work with community lawyers in property mediations, and tested a model of swift, accessible, limited legal assistance that avoids the need for expensive litigation. The pilot successfully improved family law property access and outcomes for victims-survivors of family violence. Further funding is required for mediation and litigation services.
The Rights, Independence, Self-Empowerment (RISE) Project promotes independence and economic security for young women under 25 who are experiencing family violence and financial abuse. Integrated within local women’s health organisations, we deliver targeted legal support and education. Knowing how to deal with Australia’s civil and family law systems empowers these young women to persevere through a vulnerable, transitional stage in their adult life.
Working with young people in schools and other youth contexts in the City of Hume, this project aimed to mitigate trauma arising from family violence and related social issues  and enhance resilience, safety and wellbeing among this age group. 
Dallas Neighbourhood House Project
In partnership with Dallas Neighbourhood House, NCLC trained 12 women from the City of Hume to support other women in their community experiencing family violence. The project included the co-design of an educational video and the launch of our Take the First Step campaign, which provides resources and information for newly arrived women.
Legally Minded
The Legally Minded Project was a joint project of Northern Community Legal Centre and Mind Australia.
TEALS Project
Funded by the Victorian Law Foundation, the Technology-Enhanced Access to Legal Services (TEALS) Project aimed to explore whether an interactive online tool – the 'Legal Connector' – could streamline NCLC's triage process in an efficient, safe and informative way.
Early Resolution Service
NCLC received funding under the Justice Recovery Plan (JRP) to participate in an Early Resolution Service (ERS) for family violence intervention order (FVIO) matters.
COVID Response Clinic
During the first few years of the COVID-19 pandemic, NCLC implemented a Free Legal Advice Clinic exclusively for those having legal issues arising from the pandemic.
International Student Clinic
Funded by Merri-bek City Council, this project provided legal advice and assistance to international students who live, work and study in the Hume, Merri-bek and Mitchell Shire local government areas.
Communities for Children
Funded by the Communities for Children Grant (Department of Social Services), this project worked with grassroots groups to support gender equity by increasing awareness of factors that contribute to violence against women and children.
Kangan TAFE Project
From December 2018 to December 2020, Northern Community Legal Centre provided community legal education, legal advice and casework services to approximately 800 people of refugee and recently arrived backgrounds enrolled in the Adult Migrant English Programs (AMEP) at Kangan Institute, Broadmeadows.
Indian Women's Family Violence Project
The Indian Women’s Family Violence Project commenced in early 2019 and concluded in April 2021. Extra funding has been provided to extend the project's integrated service model to include all women on temporary visas who are experiencing family violence across a wider area of Melbourne - now the Safe Landing (Extension) Project.







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