Canberra Community Law

Canberra Community Law Canberra Community Law is a community legal centre providing legal services to people on low incomes or facing other disadvantage in the ACT and its region

Canberra Community Law (formerly Welfare Rights and Legal Centre) has been providing legal services to people on low incomes for over 30 years and has substantial advocacy experience and expertise in its areas of speciality. However we cannot provide legal advice via this page. Please contact us on 6218 7900 or [email protected] if you would like legal advice. This page is monitored

between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. Canberra Community Law operates this page to:

• Provide updates about CCL;
• Provide information about the rights and obligations of Canberrans in our specialist areas of practice;
• Provide information about the activities of CCL including events and outreach;
• Share links to other organisations that assist Canberrans by providing information, advice and/or support;
• Engage with clients and stakeholders;
• Share content (news, photos etc) relevant to clients and stakeholders. Aside from our own posts, comments posted to this page by members of the public or other organisations do not represent the opinions of Canberra Community Law. We may choose to follow organisations or individuals that are relevant to Canberra Community Law. Being followed by Canberra Community Law does not imply endorsement of any kind. Responses to your comments, questions and messages

We will try our best to answer or respond to as many of your comments, questions and messages as possible during business hours but this will not always be possible, especially during busy times. If you do not get an answer to your question through Facebook, please contact us on 6218 7900 or [email protected]. Disclaimer

This page provides information about the law designed to help users understand their legal rights and obligations. However legal information is not the same as legal advice (the application of law to an individual’s specific circumstances). Although we make all efforts to ensure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult Canberra Community Law for advice specific to your circumstances. Please note that this page is NOT intended to be used as a substitute for specific legal advice or opinions and the transmission of this information is NOT intended to create a solicitor-client relationship between the Canberra Community Law and members of the public. Please also note when a post was last published or updated, as the law may have changed. Feedback

Your feedback is important to help us improve the way we help people. Please consider providing us with more information, either by phone on 6218 7995, or [email protected]. Moderation Policy

We support lively, open discussion and welcome your comments, questions and contributions on this page. We monitor this page regularly, at least once a day Monday to Friday and your comments will be ‘post-moderated’, that means moderated after you have posted them. We will usually allow comments that:

• are on relevant to CCL and its areas of responsibility;
• are constructive and respectful of others views;
• do not infringe on the rules below. We reserve the right to delete any comments that don’t comply with our rules, or which are otherwise deemed inappropriate. Where possible, we will contact you if we remove your post to provide you with an explanation as to why it has been removed and the necessary action(s) for the content to be reposted. We ask that you keen the following rules in mind when posting on our page.

• do not post your personal details about yourself or any other person including full name phone number, address, location, email address or any other personal information;
• do not use inappropriate language including obscenities;
• do not post anything that could be considered obscene, offensive, pornographic, vulgar, profane, indecent or is otherwise illegal;
• do not incite violence or hatred, or are likely to offend, insult or humiliate others based on race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation or any physical or mental disability;
• do not make personal attacks, abuse and threats to cause physical or mental harm;
• do not post content which you know (or is reasonably expected to know) is false, misleading or deceptive;
• do not post content that contain is defamatory to any person;
• do not spam the page with multiple or lengthy posts or links to or endorsements of unrelated websites, businesses, commercial products or services;
• do not post links to pages that contain the aforementioned material. Any users who repeatedly break these rules may be blocked from posting on the page. If you see content that you feel does not comply with the rules above, please report it to us at [email protected].

If you or someone you care about has experience with Canberra’s mental health system, there is an important opportunity ...
27/08/2026

If you or someone you care about has experience with Canberra’s mental health system, there is an important opportunity to have your say.

The ACT Government is reviewing parts of the Mental Health Act 2015 and is seeking feedback from people with personal experience of the mental health system, as well as families, carers, kin and supporters.

The review is looking at what is working well and where changes may be needed, including around safety and support, information sharing, privacy, sexual safety and the reporting of deaths.

Your experiences and perspectives can help inform changes to the Mental Health Act and improve safety and support for people interacting with the mental health system.

Consultation is open until Friday 23 October 2026.

Find out more and have your say:
https://yoursayconversations.act.gov.au/mental-health-act-review

If you need support to provide feedback, you can contact ADACAS - ACT Disability, Aged and Carer Advocacy Service before Friday 16 October 2026 on 02 6242 5060 or [email protected].

Last week was Homelessness Week (3–9 August), and today, Tuesday 11 August, is the 2026 Census.The 2026 Census will shap...
10/08/2026

Last week was Homelessness Week (3–9 August), and today, Tuesday 11 August, is the 2026 Census.

The 2026 Census will shape Australia’s understanding of homelessness and housing need for years to come. The Census is Australia’s most comprehensive data capture method and is used to inform housing policy at every level of government.

Census data is a crucial source of information for services assisting people experiencing homelessness and is often used to plan and fund services such as:

🏠 Emergency shelters for individuals and families, including families experiencing domestic violence
🍽️ Access to fresh meals, medical care, mobile laundry facilities and warm showers
🔑 Transitional housing

An accurate count of the homeless population is especially important because people experiencing homelessness are among those most likely to be missed.

While official Census night is today, Tuesday 11 August 2026, specialist field officers will be conducting face-to-face interviews with people sleeping rough from 10–16 August.

For more information about how to complete the Census if you, or someone you are supporting, are experiencing homelessness, visit the Australian Bureau of Statistics website (https://info.census.abs.gov.au/help/information-people-experiencing-homelessness) to learn more about the count.

You can also visit ACT Shelter’s website (https://actshelter.net.au/2026-census-homelessness-housing-resources/) to find out where the ABS Community Engagement Team will be located across the ACT during Census week.

🏠 Housing is a human right 🏠 This Homelessness Week, we stand with the community in recognising that everyone deserves a...
07/08/2026

🏠 Housing is a human right 🏠

This Homelessness Week, we stand with the community in recognising that everyone deserves access to safe, secure and adequate housing.

From 1 January 2027, the right to adequate housing will be protected under the ACT Human Rights Act. This is an important step towards ensuring everyone in the ACT can access adequate housing without discrimination, be protected from unfair evictions, and have access to essential utilities.

At Canberra Community Law, we strongly support the recognition of housing as a fundamental human right and the ongoing work needed to make that right a reality for all Canberrans.

To learn more about the ACT's Human Right to Housing, visit: https://www.act.gov.au/law-and-justice/human-rights-in-the-act/human-right-to-housing

This Homelessness Week (3–9 August), we stand in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness across Australia and he...
05/08/2026

This Homelessness Week (3–9 August), we stand in solidarity with those experiencing homelessness across Australia and here in Canberra.

Canberra Community Law and our Street Law Program are proud to offer outreach legal services to people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. However, we would much rather see the root causes and impacts of homelessness addressed through firm, long-term commitment. Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a coordinated, multi-agency response to create lasting change.

In the ACT, homelessness is often hidden—from families couch surfing to workers sleeping in their cars due to skyrocketing housing stress. The ACT continues to face the nation's highest rate of persistent homelessness, leaving far too many Canberrans stranded in crisis.

Too many people experiencing homelessness die decades early, invisible to system records and forgotten by public accounting.

That is why we strongly support ACT Shelter's call during Homelessness Week for mandatory coronial reporting of homelessness deaths. No one should live without a safe home, and no one should die unseen or unnamed.

We would also like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to our wonderful outreach partners, who provide vital services to people in need every day.

We need . Everyone deserves a place to call home.

🏠 Learn more about the campaign and how you can support it: https://actshelter.net.au/

🎉 Welcome to our Semester 2 2026 ANU Clinical Legal Education Development (CLED) students!This week we were excited to w...
30/07/2026

🎉 Welcome to our Semester 2 2026 ANU Clinical Legal Education Development (CLED) students!

This week we were excited to welcome a new group of law students to Canberra Community Law as they begin their Clinical Legal Education Development (CLED) placement.

Over the coming months, our students will work alongside our team, gaining practical experience in community legal practice while developing their skills and contributing to improving access to justice for our community.

We look forward to supporting them throughout the semester, watching their confidence and knowledge grow, and seeing the valuable contributions they make along the way.

Welcome to the team – we’re glad to have you! 👏

27/07/2026

Transport Workers Union all-driver meeting – Thursday 30 July 2026

⚠️ Important safety information – TodayToday (Monday 27 July) at 2:00 pm (ACT time), a national AusAlert test will be se...
27/07/2026

⚠️ Important safety information – Today

Today (Monday 27 July) at 2:00 pm (ACT time), a national AusAlert test will be sent to mobile devices.

A Critical Alert may cause your device to vibrate, light up and play a loud sound, even if it is on silent or Do Not Disturb.

If you use a hidden or safety phone, receiving the alert could put your safety at risk. If it is safe to do so:

✈️ Turn the device off or switch on aeroplane mode before 1:00 pm
⏰ Keep it off or in aeroplane mode for 24 hours
⌚ Check any other hidden or connected devices
🛡️ Only take these steps when it is safe to do so

Official AusAlert safety guides are available in 19 languages:
https://www.ausalert.gov.au/community-resources/staying-safe-ausalert

🚨 In an emergency, always call Triple Zero (000).

Please share this information safely with anyone who may need it.

As we reflect on NAIDOC Week 2026, we're reminded of the conversations and experiences our team shared during our Cultur...
15/07/2026

As we reflect on NAIDOC Week 2026, we're reminded of the conversations and experiences our team shared during our Cultural and Reconciliation Day on Ngunnawal Country as part of National Reconciliation Week.

A highlight of the day was spending time on Country with Richie Allen, whose knowledge, generosity and gentle approach created space for meaningful conversations about culture, reconciliation and truth-telling. While travelling by boat on Lake Burley Griffin, staff also took part in a traditional weaving workshop led by Shaniece, creating a hands-on opportunity to connect with culture while learning a new skill.

Some of the reflections from our team included:

💬 "One of the highlights of the day was the opportunity to have deep and honest conversations about reconciliation while spending time on Country. Richie's way of sharing and navigating difficult conversations was thoughtful and gentle, and it gave us plenty to reflect on long after the day ended."

💬 "It was interesting to reflect on how the design of Canberra overlooked the long history of the Ngunnawal people, whose connection to and care for this Country spans countless generations. The conversations throughout the day, including during the yarning circle, reinforced the importance of truth-telling and gave me hope that we can continue moving towards the aspirations of the Uluru Statement from the Heart."

💬 "Learning to weave was such a culturally immersive experience. Shaniece was an excellent teacher, and I even came away with a pair of earrings I'm proud to wear. It was a wonderful way to experience culture in practice."

At Canberra Community Law, we recognise that reconciliation is not confined to one week of the year. It is an ongoing commitment to listening, learning, building relationships and taking meaningful action.

We are grateful to live and work on Ngunnawal Country. We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we operate in the ACT and surrounding region, and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We also recognise any other people or families with connection to the ACT and Region.

We thank Richie Allen, Shaniece and everyone who shared their knowledge, stories and culture with our team. We look forward to continuing to learn, listen and strengthen our commitment to reconciliation throughout the year.

🖤💛❤️

As part of our NAIDOC Week 2026 celebrations, Canberra Community Law staff came together today to watch The Song Keepers...
08/07/2026

As part of our NAIDOC Week 2026 celebrations, Canberra Community Law staff came together today to watch The Song Keepers.

🎬 Chosen in recognition of this year's theme, "50 Years of Deadly", the documentary follows the Central Australian Aboriginal Women's Choir as they reconnect with history, language and culture through song. It is a moving story of resilience, family and community, highlighting the enduring strength of Aboriginal women and the importance of preserving culture across generations.

As we celebrate 50 years of NAIDOC Week, The Song Keepers reminds us of the power of storytelling, music and language, and the generations of First Nations peoples who have kept culture strong despite the lasting impacts of missions and displacement.

If you'd like to watch it yourself, The Song Keepers is available to stream for free on SBS On Demand and can also be viewed on YouTube.

🖤💛❤️💚🤍🖤

🎉 Join members of the Canberra Community Law team today at the Canberra Community NAIDOC Event!Come along to the Tuggera...
06/07/2026

🎉 Join members of the Canberra Community Law team today at the Canberra Community NAIDOC Event!

Come along to the Tuggeranong Community Centre between 10am–2pm to celebrate NAIDOC Week with live entertainment, community stalls, free activities and more. We'd love to see you there!

❤️💛🖤

Address

Level 5, 10 Rudd Street
Canberra, ACT
2611

Telephone

+61262187900

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