St Kilda Legal Service Annual Report 2006-2007 - Community Law

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Chairperson’s ReportWe can anddo make adifference.Heartfeltthanks toeveryoneinvolvedfor anothergreat yearChairperson Renata Alexanderin a sisterly hug with InkaThis is my 32nd year as a volunteer at St. KildaLegal Service and I remain as appreciative andsupportive as ever of the fine work and assistanceprovided by the staff and volunteers in so manydifferent contexts and spheres.We continue to operate a busy community legalcentre with a great team of staff and volunteerswhose commitment over many years reflectsthe commitment and resilience of the many staffand volunteers that work in the community legalcentre sector generally.Initial thanks to our hardworking staff, Suzy Fox(congratulations on 20 years with the Service),Anthea Teakle, Jacinta Maloney, Kerrin Panlook,Vanda Hamilton and Adrian Snodgrass whobetween them have close to 50 years of combinedservice to our community.Thanks also to our equally dedicated volunteers- particularly Inka Alexander for 24 years ofvolunteering, locums, Co-operative members andco-residents at St. Kilda Community Centre.Last but not least thanks to the Board membersRichard Zatorski (Treasurer), Chris Atmore(Secretary), Adam Meyer, Les Rosenblatt andSuzy Fox (staff representative) who diligentlyattend monthly pizza-catered meetings and extrameetings and planning days and help steer ourservice along the right policy and fiscal tracks.There have been a number of staff changes inthe last year. We farewelled Peter Lunt and AnnJorgensen in the Drug Outreach Lawyer positionand welcomed Vanda as the new full-time DrugOutreach Lawyer after having played musicalchairs with Jacinta in the CLE/Law Reformposition. We also welcomed Adrian as the newpart-time CLE/Law Reform Lawyer who is nowjob sharing with Jacinta Maloney who returned tothe position 2 days per week in December after12 months maternity leave.We managed to secure on-going funding for ourdrug outreach lawyer program and thanks andappreciation to Victoria Legal Aid and the StateAttorney Generals for their continued support ofthe program and to Les Rosenblatt for researchingand developing the submission and following upletters of support.A major update of our Service’s Policy andProcedures Manual was undertaken last yearand the Board and staff continue to monitor itsapplication making necessary adjustments asrequired. It has helped to successfully resolvevolunteer and staff issues to date.This year has also seen an injection of additionalState funding aside from CPI increases and anallocation of capital equipment to the Service.The capital equipment included updatedcomputer software and hardware which wasgreatly welcomed. The funding increase was theresult of successful negotiations undertaken withVictoria Legal Aid by the Australian Service Union(ASU) on behalf of Community Legal Centre stafffor a proposed Multi Business Agreement. TheMBA provides better pay and conditions for staffcompared to entitlements provided for by theSACS Award.After lengthy negotiations had been undertakenbetween Victoria Legal Aid, the Department ofJustice, the ASU and CLC representatives, theBoard considered the final draft and agreed tobe a party to the MBA with the ASU and staff.This however was not before VLA and the Stategave a commitment to CLCs to also fund theCommonwealth proportion of costs involved inimplementing the MBA.Our thanks and appreciation to all parties involvedin the negotiations and we look forward to thefull implementation of the MBA which will gosome way to improving our staff’s wages andconditions.Our service caters to the many diverse legaland associated issues and needs facing ourclients and we need to continue to represent andadvocate for those clients at all levels of decisionmakinginside and outside the legal system. Wecan and do make a difference.Heartfelt thanks to everyone involved for anothergreat year.Renata AlexanderChairperson, Board of Directors Annual Report 2006 – 2007
Board of Directors & StaffBoard of DirectorsRenata AlexanderRichard ZatorskiChris AtmoreAdam MeyerLes RosenblattSuzy FoxChairpersonTreasurerSecretaryStaff RepresentativeMembers of the Board of Directors act in avoluntary capacity in managing staff, resourcesand finances of the Service.The Board is responsible for ensuring that staffoperate within a safe workplace, and that allaward conditions and procedures and practicesare in place to facilitate the provision of accessiblelegal services to the community.It is the Board’s role to ensure the Service’soperations:• reflect the core principles of CLCs• are legally & financially accountable• meet requirements of the funders’ ServiceAgreements• are planned, developed, implemented andevaluated annually through workplansApart from managing the Service, Board membersalso contribute considerable time and energy bybeing involved in other aspects of the Service.Renata and Adam are also involved as volunteerlawyers at the night service advice sessions andLes has now replaced Richard as the Service’srepresentative on the St. Kilda Centre RenovationCommittee. Chris and Renata have also beeninvolved in staff selection panels this year, Chrisfor the CLE/Law Reform position and Renata forDrug Outreach lawyer position.The staff very much appreciate the continuedsupport of Board members throughout the year,and the personal time which they generously giveto the service.StaffSt Kilda Legal Service employs five staff members,with two of these positions being full-time. Thesmall staff team report directly to the Board.Community Casework Lawyer,Kerrin PanlookKerrin, as principal solicitor, is responsible for alllegal advice and casework undertaken by theService, and ensures that professional standardsand statutory requirements are met. Kerrinsupervises night service files as well as conductingher own legal matters during the day.Volunteer & Night ServiceCo-ordinator, Anthea TeakleAnthea recruits the Service’s day and eveningvolunteers, assists with their training and providesthem with ongoing support. Anthea also coordinatesthe night service advice sessions alongwith the volunteer Solicitor Co-Ordinators, aswell as undertaking some paralegal work andmonitoring the night service statistics.Community Legal Educationand Law Reform Lawyers(shared position) - JacintaMaloney and Adrian SnodgrassThe CLE/Law Reform Lawyer position changedinto a shared position upon Jacinta’s return from12 month maternity leave for 2 days per weekin late December. Vanda Hamilton had workedin the position during Jacinta’s absence andcontinued working on a couple of projects untiltheir completion. Adrian Snodgrass commencedin the shared position with Jacinta in early 2007and they share the responsibility for co-ordinatingthe community legal education, law reform andlegal policy activities undertaken by the Service.Both workers participate in local networks andFederation working groups and provide legaladvice and casework assistance as required.Administrator, Suzy FoxSuzy is responsible for ensuring the financialaccountability and reporting requirements of therelevant funding bodies are met. Suzy undertakesgeneral and casework administrative functions,undertakes some paralegal work and supports theday service volunteers. Suzy is also responsiblefor resourcing the Board on staff issues andoperational functions of the Service.Drug Outreach LawyerThis year there were a number of staff changesto the DOL program which had been operatingfor some time as a shared position employinglawyers Ann Jorgensen and Peter Lunt. Ann leftthe Service to take up a full-time position andwas followed shortly thereafter by Peter whodecided to leave to pursue other ambitions. Theopportunity was then taken to review the staffingof the program and the decision was made tochange it back to a full-time position.Vanda HamiltonSKLS Drug Outreach lawyerAnthea TeakleSKLS Staff memberAdrian SnodgrassCLE workerAnnual Report 2006 – 2007
Page 3 and 4: Thirty Four Years of the ServiceThe
Page 5: Organisational StructureSocialAccou
Page 9 and 10: FundingCommonwealthand State Recurr
Page 11 and 12: AdministrationLittle has changed wi
Page 13 and 14: Volunteer ProgramCurrent Night Serv
Page 15 and 16: Directors are outlined earlier, but
Page 17 and 18: and where there is a significant di
Page 19 and 20: In May an advocate/ guardian with t
Page 21 and 22: Drug Outreach LawyerThe drug outrea
Page 23 and 24: StatisticsAdvice & Casework Statist
Page 25 and 26: DOL Clients by Age65yrs&over50-64yr
Page 27 and 28: Director’s Declaration27
Page 29 and 30: Statement of Cash Flows for theyear
Page 31 and 32: Notes to and forming part of the Fi

St Kilda Legal Service Annual Report 2006-2007 - Community Law

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