New domestic violence service for people with disabilities

 

The Australian Centre for Disability Law has established a free legal service for people with disability who are victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.

People with disabilities experience significantly higher levels of family, domestic and sexual violence than someone without a disability and are also far more likely to face barriers in accessing support services, information and legal assistance to leave violence.

Australian Centre for Disability Law has established a free legal service assisting people with disability who are victim-survivors of domestic, family and sexual violence.

The Australian Centre for Disability Law provides free and confidential legal advice, information, referrals and representation services to people with disabilities across New South Wales.

The new family, domestic and sexual violence service will provide tailored and accessible legal advice, legal representation and information to people with disabilities to assist them to leave abusive situations.

Australian Centre for Disability Law can assist with problems including:

  • Escaping family violence, assistance to report to police and understanding the legal process;
  • Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders;
  • Family law matters including divorce, parenting and property applications;
  • Applications to the Victims Support Scheme for counselling and financial assistance;
  • Referrals to support organisations for crisis accommodation, medical needs and other related needs.

Contact

Advice line: 1800 800 809

Email: adviceline@disabilitylaw.org.au

Information for community legal centres

The Australian Centre for Disability Law is focused on increasing awareness in the community legal sector of how to effectively assist people with disability who are experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence to identify DFSV, effectively access DFSV services and increase their ability to leave abusive situations. This could include running workshops and sharing resources. If you think your community legal centre would be interested in working with the new Australian Centre for Disability Law service to leverage and build upon your staff’s existing expertise, please contact rebecca@disabilitylaw.org.au.

Client stories

Jane* left an abusive relationship a year ago and is self-represented in family law parenting proceedings in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. She was seeking sole parental responsibility for her daughter and a relocation order to move closer to family support.

Australian Centre for Disability Law assisted her with drafting and advising on her Initiating Application and affidavit and her prospects of success in the proceedings. The community legal centre was also able to assist Jane in understanding the court process, engaging a support person to assist her during court events, and support with accessing Court services available to assist victim-survivors of domestic violence.

Jane also had an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order in place against her former partner, and Australian Centre for Disability Law provided her with advice and information regarding the terms of the ADVO and how to strengthen the terms of the ADVO.


Ahn* was assaulted by his former partner, Angus, and required hospitalisation. The assault left him with an ongoing physical disability. Australian Centre for Disability Law assisted him with understanding the terms of the ADVO that the police applied for on his behalf and with an application to the Victims Support Scheme for counselling and a recognition payment.


Theo* has a 15-year old son who is non-verbal, autistic, and has a severe intellectual disability. Theo and his ex-wife have equal shared parental responsibility for their son, and parenting orders for equal time. Theo's ex-partner has refused to return their son to him for over a year and he has significant concerns for his son’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Australian Centre for Disability Law provided Theo with information and advice around filing a contravention application with the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia and obtaining a recovery order for the police to return Theo's son. The service also provided advice on guardianship options and appointing a financial manager for his son once he reached 18 years of age.


* Peoples' names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.