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Fight For Your Rights
Strengthening Disability Advocacy Conference
March 2012
Our names are Jess Richter, Eleanore Fritze, Aimee Cooper and Rob Daly
We are lawyers from
Victoria Legal Aid.
Hello!
We will talk about what the law is
and what your rights are
We will talk about how
a lawyer can help you
fight for your rights
We will try and answer
your questions
What are we talking about today?
•Jess will speak about the Police and what happens if you break the law.
•Eleanore will talk about what you can do if someone hurts you or makes you feel unsafe.
•Aimee will talk about what you can do if the law affects your money.
•Rob will speak about fair treatment and discrimination.
What areas of law will we talk about?
Police and crime
What is a crime?
What powers do the Police
have?
What are some of the laws?
CrimePolice interviews
What are my rights?
ASK TO SPEAK TO A LAWYER
ASK FOR AN INDEPENDENT THIRD PERSON
SAY ‘NO COMMENT’
CrimeGoing to court
What are my rights?
SPEAK TO A LAWYER
Help and protection for victims
Intervention orders
Victims of crime support
What are some of the laws?
Intervention Orders
Is someone threatening you?following you?hurting you?making you feel unsafe?
This is against the law.
YOU CAN GET PROTECTIONSPEAK TO A LAWYER
What are my rights?
VictimsHow can I report a crime to the Police?
What happens when I report a crime?
What are my rights?
CALL THE VICTIMS OF CRIME HELPLINE
What are my rights?
Support & compensation
You can get supportto help you after the crime
You can apply to a Tribunal for money to help you
SPEAK TO A LAWYER
Money matters
Debts
Fines
Centrelink
What are some of the laws?
Debts If you are on Centrelink you may not have to pay back the money.
Sometimes you can show that you don’t owe the money.
If you have a debt you can see a financial counselor for help
What are my rights?
Fines You can ask to review the decision to give you a fine.
You can have your circumstances taken into account.
SPEAK TO A LAWYER
What are my rights?
Centrelink You can ask Centrelink to make a new decision about your payment.
You can ask a Tribunal to make a decision instead of Centrelink.
SPEAK TO A LAWYER
What are my rights?
Discrimination and unfair treatmentIt can be illegal to treat people differently on the basis of their disability.
Not all unfair treatment is discrimination, it has to be covered by law.
What are some of the laws?
You can complain about discrimination.
You may reach an agreement.
Or you may go to a Tribunal or Court.
SPEAK TO A LAWYER
What are my rights?
Now we will break into four small groups so that you can ask us questions.
Which group will you join?
Jess – Police and crime
Eleanore – Victims help
Aimee – Fines, debt and Centrelink
Rob – Discrimination
Want to know more?
So now I know about my rights.
How do I speak to a lawyer?
How can Victoria Legal Aid
help me?
We have lawyers who can help you
Most of our help is free
We have 15 offices.
About Victoria Legal Aid
We have a free phone line for legal help.
You can call this number
Monday to Friday
8.45 am to 5.15 pm
9269 0120
About Victoria Legal Aid
They understand the law
Meet with you,
talk with you,
help you understand
and fight for
your rights.
What does a lawyer do?
Write letters for you
Make phone calls for you
Go to court or
the tribunal with you.
What does a lawyer do?
We have free publications
About Victoria Legal Aid
Villamanta Disability Legal RightsServicePh 5229 2925
Disability Discrimination Legal ServicePh 9654 8644
Other people who can help
Federation of Community LegalCentresPh 9652 1500
Private lawyerLIV referral servicePh 9607 9550
Other people who can help
Victims of crime helplinePh 1800 819 817
Other people who can help
