The Albanese Government is improving access to justice for vulnerable Australians by awarding $67.5 million over 5 years to 14 grant recipients under the Community Legal Services Program 2025-2030 grant opportunity.
The funding will support essential legal services to keep the justice system within reach for people facing disadvantage, including by providing timely and appropriate legal assistance to women, children and young people, people experiencing family and gender-based violence, those representing themselves in court and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
This includes offering culturally appropriate support, outreach services in remote areas and community training and education on legal rights and issues. The funding will also contribute to the outcomes and priority reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The Program complements the Albanese Government's broader $3.9 billion investment over five years through the National Access to Justice Partnership 2025-2030, which supports state and territory delivery of legal assistance services to the community.
Funding will be provided to a number of national legal assistance peaks to support their members to deliver legal assistance services across Australia:
- Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited on behalf of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services
- First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence Limited
- National Association of Community Legal Centres Ltd
- Women's Legal Service Victoria on behalf of Women's Legal Services Australia
It will also continue a number of national services:
- Arts Law Centre of Australia - Artists in the Black
- Australian Pro Bono Centre
- Financial Rights Legal Centre - Insurance Law Service
- With You Training - Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales
- amica online dispute resolution tool - Legal Services Commission of South Australia
- National Children's and Youth Law Centre
The program will also fund a number of self-representation services which provide legal support to unrepresented individuals in the justice system:
- Justice Connect - NSW, Vic, ACT and Tas
- Justicenet SA Incorporated - SA and NT
- LawRight - Qld
- Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia - WA
