Ruah Legal Services and Mental Health Law Centre

22/06/2026

We honour the rich histories, experiences and achievements of LGBTQIA+SB communities, and reflect on the importance of creating communities where everyone is respected, valued and free to be their authentic selves. We celebrate the resilience, strength, leadership and vibrancy of LGBTQIA+SB people and reaffirm our commitment to fostering spaces where everyone feels welcome, safe and connected.

At Ruah Legal Services, this commitment is particularly reflected in the work of the Sexual Assault Legal Service WA (SALSWA), which provides specialised legal and psychosocial assistance to victim-survivors of sexual violence who identify as male or as part of the LGBTQIA+SB community. Through SALSWA, we are committed to ensuring people can access inclusive, trauma-informed legal support that recognises and responds to their unique experiences.

This Pride Month, we continue to elevate LGBTQIA+SB voices, and work towards a future where everyone can live with dignity, equality and belonging.

To learn more about SALSWA and the support available, visit our website: https://ruahlegal.org.au/services/sexual-assault-legal-service/

04/06/2026

As part of Reconciliation Week, members of our team attended the Revealed Exhibition, an inspiring showcase of the work of over 100 new and emerging Aboriginal Artists from across Western Australia.

The exhibition explores language, community, identity and Country, providing a platform for artists to share stories and celebrate culture.

Delivered under the custodianship of the Aboriginal Art Centre Hub Western Australia, Revealed is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led, with proceeds from artwork sales directly supporting artists and their communities.

We were moved by the expansive artworks and grateful for the opportunity to deepen our understanding of culture, place, and the diverse stories represented through the exhibition during this important week.

https://revealed.org.au/exhibition/

29/05/2026

28/05/2026

26/05/2026

We would like to sincerely thank Nathalie Heenan, Dr Rachael Griffiths, Dr Mandy Vidovich and Luke Cassidy for their valuable contributions to our Law Week 2026 event: Recognising Mental Impairment and What To Do Next.

Your insights, expertise and generosity in sharing your knowledge were greatly appreciated by all.

Thank you to everyone who attended, contributed to the discussion and stayed for refreshments afterwards - it was wonderful to connect with people from all over the legal profession.

Thank you to the Public Purposes Trust for supporting our event. We look forward to Law Week 2027!

The Law Society of Western Australia

25/05/2026

More than 20 regional and remote WA courthouses are set to close for at least three months because of court security concerns.

This is not just an operational issue. It is an access to justice issue.

When courts close, people face delays, long travel distances, disrupted family and community responsibilities, and barriers to getting legal help and fair hearings. These impacts fall hardest on regional and remote communities and Aboriginal people.

We share the serious concerns raised by our members and partners, including Pilbara Community Legal Service Inc and the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Limited about the consequences of relying on remote appearances, reducing in-person court access and delaying access to justice.

As Pilbara Community Legal Service CEO Joanna Collins highlighted, these changes risk creating significant financial and logistical barriers for people already facing disadvantage, particularly across the Pilbara and other remote regions.
Everyone deserves safe, accessible and properly functioning courts, regardless of where they live.

Read the ABC report here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-15/courts-close-in-remote-western-australia-police-security/106684268

22/05/2026

We are so pleased to launch a new resource for the community legal sector — Integrated Legal Services: A Guide to Policy, Procedure and Practice.

📘 Since 2020, Ruah Legal Services and Mental Health Law Centre has been at the forefront of integrated legal service delivery in Western Australia, and we have seen firsthand the positive impact this approach has for our clients. We know that supporting clients to address the underlying issues contributing to their legal problems is essential to achieving lasting positive outcomes.

🤝 To effectively support integrated legal service delivery and provide meaningful services to our clients, we developed a strong foundation of policies and procedures to support robust collaboration, manage competing professional obligations, and safeguard legal professional privilege.

📖 This guide is intended to support legal services in developing their own frameworks and policies, recognising that integrated legal service delivery will look different within every organisation.
By sharing our learnings and selected excerpts from our policy documents, we hope to support other organisations in creating the foundations needed for integrated legal services to thrive.

Download your own copy from our website:https://ruahlegal.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/260521-RLS-IntegratedLegalServicesGuide.pdf

⚖️ We hope this guide provides valuable support throughout your journey.

22/05/2026

⚖️ As Law Week 2026 comes to a close, we finish by thinking about ‘community’ - the final theme of this year’s ‘Justice, Connection and Community’ focus.

Being a part of community can reduce isolation, strengthen wellbeing, and empower people to make positive decisions about their future.

Through our integrated legal services, we aim to enhance our client’s access to justice as well as empower them to take steps into communities that support their wellbeing, independence and long-term stability.

One of our client’s reflected on his experience, and the community that he found with the help of an RLS Key Worker.

💬 “As I stop working with Ruah Legal Services, I have received news that I am now on the Priority Housing List, with the Department of Housing. Which will offer me secure housing in the future. I have started to attend some English-speaking classes in my local community. This is helping me to learn the language more and meet new people. I have also started to attend a men’s cooking class. I am hopeful that with the ongoing support of Ruah’s Stronger Ground team, I can continue to work hard on my future goals.”

This is an example of how community comes together to offer ongoing support for our clients.

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” — Coretta Scott King

21/05/2026

🤝 Stronger together: connection and working together advances access to justice.

We’re continuing our reflections on the ‘Justice, Connection and Community’ focus of Law Week 2026.

Collaboration and connection are vital to coordinate and maximise the reach of our services, and working together helps us to respond to problems and advocate for reforms to laws that disproportionately impact vulnerable members of our community.

When legal, health, and community services work together, clients are better equipped to navigate complex systems, access the support they need, and work towards fair and meaningful outcomes.

“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” — Mother Teresa

📸 Here are some photos of our team with our legal and mental health sector colleagues. Access to justice is improved when we are connected.

20/05/2026

This morning, in celebration of Law Week, our team laced up their sneakers to take part in the Walking for Justice event hosted by Law Access , joining the community to recognise the importance of equitable access to justice for all.

The walk from Barrack Square to Point Fraser brought people together in support of a fairer, more inclusive community – highlighting the importance of ensuring everyone can access the support they need to navigate the justice system.

Law Week is an opportunity to shine a light on the barriers many people face when seeking justice, while also celebrating our collective efforts between organisations, advocates and the wider community working towards a more connected, equitable society.