Frontline community workers from
the Riverina area will gather in Albury on 29 November 2010 to hear first-hand
stories about homelessness and the legal system’s impact on disadvantaged
people.
The community service workers
will join a one-day training workshop presented by the Public Interest Advocacy
Centre (PIAC) and Legal Aid NSW.
Called Law for Non-Lawyers,
the workshop addresses common legal problems faced by homeless people. These
include problems with fines and debt, tenancy problems and problems with
Centrelink.
One of the workshop speakers
is Kevin, a person whose own experience of homelessness shatters the
stereotypes. Kevin is now a member of the NSW Premier’s Advisory Council on
Homelessness.
Law for Non-Lawyers will also provide information for local community workers about Legal
Aid’s homeless outreach service.
Legal Aid’s Homeless Outreach
Solicitor, Anna Nightingale (pictured), said the aim of Legal Aid’s homeless outreach service
is to assist clients to deal with their legal issues.
‘This can break the cycle of
homelessness or prevent circumstances leading to homelessness,’ Ms Nightingale
said.
Legal Aid’s homeless
outreach service runs specialist legal clinics in the Riverina region,
including a drop-in clinic at The Hub, 562 Macauley Street in Albury on the third
Tuesday of each month between 11.00am and 1.00pm.
MEDIA
CONTACTS:
PIAC Media and Communications Officer, Dominic O’Grady: 02
8898 6532
Homeless Outreach Solicitor, Legal Aid NSW, Anna
Nightingale: 6921 6588