CAWLS welcomes funding announcement for legal assistance services and calls for funding to be directed to specialist legal services

Women’s Legal Services Australia (WLSA), a national network of community legal centres specialising in women’s legal issues, welcomes the Government’s announcement of an additional $63.3 million for the legal assistance sector to provide services during and in response to COVID-19.

We further welcome 40% of this funding being used for matters involving domestic violence.

Together with other women’s legal services around the country, CAWLS is calling for some of the money for the legal assistance sector announced today to be directed to specialist women’s legal services and community controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s legal services.

The funding is urgently needed to assist women and children to access legal support and representation and safely navigate their way through the legal system during and after COVID-19.