The <strong>St</strong> <strong>Kilda</strong><strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong>is one of 52<strong>Community</strong><strong>Legal</strong> Centresoperating inVictoriaPaul Kounnas & his tiramisu!Wed night volunteerAlso in 1980, the work of the <strong>Service</strong> and thatof other <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Legal</strong> Centres was finallyacknowledged by the then Commonwealth <strong>Legal</strong>Aid Commission. The funding allocation of $3,000enabled the <strong>Service</strong> to employ a part-time solicitor.As funds increased over the years, the <strong>Service</strong> hasbeen able to expand its catchment area to includethe Cities of Port Phillip, Bayside, <strong>St</strong>onningtonand parts of Glen Eira.The <strong>Service</strong> has a long history of co-location withthe Port Phillip <strong>Community</strong> Group (previouslythe <strong>St</strong> <strong>Kilda</strong> <strong>Community</strong> Group) at the <strong>St</strong>. <strong>Kilda</strong><strong>Community</strong> Centre and until early 2005, the<strong>St</strong>. <strong>Kilda</strong> Branch of the Tenants Union of Victoria.The <strong>Community</strong> Group has provided muchsupport to the <strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong> over the years,including the provision of reception, workspaceand stationery resources in the early years whenthe <strong>Service</strong> was insufficiently funded for suchnecessities.Over the years the <strong>Service</strong> has received increasedfunding from various sources and has been ableto employ an administrator, a casework lawyer,a community legal education lawyer, a volunteercoordinator and a community drug outreachlawyer. The <strong>Service</strong> is primarily funded by the <strong>St</strong>ateand Commonwealth through the <strong>Community</strong><strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong>s Program, and administered byVictoria <strong>Legal</strong> Aid.In 2003 the <strong>Service</strong> initially received fundingfrom the Department of Human <strong>Service</strong>s – Drug<strong>St</strong>rategy Initiatives Grant Scheme to conducta pilot project which involved the provision oflegal assistance to people with a drug and/oralcohol problem. Funding for this program wasextended over an 18- month period. Despite theextensive lobbying undertaken by the <strong>Service</strong>and irrespective of the resounding success of theprogram, the Department ceased the funding inJune 2004. The <strong>Service</strong> was extremely fortunatehowever when the <strong>St</strong>ate Attorney Rob Hullsfavourably responded to the requests from our<strong>Service</strong> and our various supporters to fund thecontinuation of the Drug Outreach Program. TheAttorney General announced the provision offunding to enable us to continue the work of theprogram for a further 3 years for the 2005-<strong>2007</strong>funding period.In the lead up to the next funding cycle, withthe assistance of Les Rosenblatt, the <strong>Service</strong>submitted a report on the successful operationof the DOL program, including letters of supportfrom local and state government and localagencies. There was great relief when Victoria<strong>Legal</strong> Aid confirmed that the funding for the DOLProgram would continue as part of our <strong>Service</strong>’srecurrent funding allocation under the <strong>Community</strong><strong>Legal</strong> Centre program.The <strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong> NowThe <strong>St</strong> <strong>Kilda</strong> <strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong> is one of 52 <strong>Community</strong><strong>Legal</strong> Centres operating in Victoria.Today the <strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong> and the Port Phillip<strong>Community</strong> Group continue to work collaborativelyon common issues affecting members of thecommunity; some resources are shared, as isthe day-to-day responsibility for the <strong>Community</strong>Centre operations. Co-location has proven to beof benefit to both organizations, and their paidand unpaid workers and also to those seekingassistance from one of the various programsoperating within the <strong>Community</strong> Centre. Thisis because many people attending requireassistance with a number of issues, many ofwhich can be accommodated to varying degreesat the <strong>Community</strong> Centre.Although funding for the <strong>St</strong> <strong>Kilda</strong> <strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong>and other CLCs has certainly improved somewhatover the years, particularly with respect to <strong>St</strong>atefunding, it remains inadequate to meet theneeds of our local community. The capacity tooffer adequate levels of pay and better workingconditions for staff continues to be of concernto the Board and other <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Legal</strong> Centremanagements.Irrespective of our funding woes, the commitmentby the <strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong> Board of Directors, staffand volunteers to providing free and accessibleservices to the disempowered and disadvantagedmembers of our community remains as strongand as relevant as it was when the <strong>Service</strong>commenced in 1973.22 <strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2006</strong> – <strong>2007</strong>
Organisational <strong>St</strong>ructureSocialAccountability<strong>Community</strong>ProfessionalAccountabilityProfessional Bodies:<strong>Legal</strong> <strong>Service</strong> Board<strong>Law</strong> Institute of VictoriaBar CouncilFinancial& ProgramAccountabilityFunders:<strong>St</strong>ate/Cwth Gov<strong>St</strong>ructuralAccountabilityOffice of Business AffairsCooperative requirementsVictoria <strong>Legal</strong> AidCLC Funding ProgramBoard of DirectorsMade up of local residents and workers in thecommunity, members of the legal profession,and other legal service volunteers<strong>St</strong> <strong>Kilda</strong> <strong>Community</strong> Centre<strong>St</strong>.<strong>Kilda</strong> <strong>Legal</strong><strong>Service</strong> <strong>St</strong>aff• Principal <strong>Law</strong>yer• Administrator• Volunteer Coordinator• <strong>Community</strong> <strong>Legal</strong> Education <strong>Law</strong>yer• <strong>Community</strong> Drug Outreach <strong>Law</strong>yerPort Phillip<strong>Community</strong> Group• Neighbourhood House Program• Information and support program• Financial Counselling Program• ConnectED• Development ProgramSouthportSupport <strong>Service</strong>Alma Road<strong>Community</strong> HouseVolunteer ProgramNight <strong>Service</strong> Day <strong>Service</strong>Volunteer <strong>Law</strong>yer CoordinatorReceptionist<strong>Law</strong>yersArticled Clerks<strong>St</strong>udentsAdministrative Workers<strong>St</strong>udents<strong>Annual</strong> <strong>Report</strong> <strong>2006</strong> – <strong>2007</strong>
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