Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool
People who are Homeless
More information about this project can be found here. 
This project has been endorsed by the Law Council of Australia.
Priorities identified in the Justice Project Final Report
Priorities Identified in the Justice Project Final Report[i]:
- Recognise the essential role legal assistance plays in preventing and reducing homelessness. Provide reliable, secure and recurrent funding of specialist homelessness legal services and related critical supports. Existing specialist services need to be supported in RRR areas and the establishment of specialist homelessness legal clinics needs to be supported in jurisdictions that lack specialist services.
- Improve legal, policy and service frameworks to prioritise homelessness prevention.
- Investment in safe, secure and appropriate housing, including crisis, bail and post release accommodation, for vulnerable groups who are at risk of homelessness.
- Investment in better exit strategies, including wraparound supports, transition services, through care and affordable accommodation, to prevent homelessness amongst those exiting government institutions, including the child protection system, detention, hospitals and mental health facilities.
- Review and amend laws that criminalise homelessness.
- Review problematic tenancy laws, policies and practices, with a view to achieving an appropriate balance between the human rights of tenants at risk of homelessness with the rights of property owners.
Other Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool Summaries
Directory of Organisations
Quick links to organisations by location
Quick links to tables by location:
National
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (AAEH) – Supports Australian communities to end homelessness. They work with practitioners, policymakers, academics, corporate and community leaders to build increased understanding of the complex and interconnected causes of homelessness, the challenges of overcoming it, and the most effective initiatives, programs and policies for preventing and ultimately ending it. From this increased understanding, they aim to inspire strategic, evidence-based and socially just action. | 2, 3 | ✔ | ||
| Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) – National independent research network. It is exclusively dedicated to research regarding housing, homelessness, cities and related urban research. Through their national network of university research partners, they undertake research leading to the advancement of knowledge on key policy and practice issues. | 2, 3, 4, 6 | ✔ | ||
| Homelessness Australia – National peak body for homelessness in Australia. Homelessness Australia was defunded by the Federal Government in 2015 and now provides its services on a voluntary basis and with the support of members. It works to end homelessness through leadership, highlighting the structural drivers of homelessness, policy development, advocacy and capacity building. | See here. | 2 | ✔ | |
| Mercy Foundation – Strives to end homelessness, human trafficking and slavery and bring about greater social justice in communities across Australia. The Foundation is committed to advocating for social justice by making submissions to State and Federal Governments. The Foundation also provides grants predominantly for projects that focus on chronic homelessness and women who experience chronic homelessness. | We prefer pro bono lawyers who need limited supervision. Given the nature of our work, adhoc or short-term support is likely to be needed. We aren’t direct service providers and don’t work with clients directly; often our needs are related to contracts or agreements with other organisations and copyright issues. We usually engage legal support with an agreement between us and the pro bono provider, noting the terms of the agreement and outcomes expected. If you are interested in providing pro bono support for the Mercy Foundation, please contact CEO, Sue Mowbray at sue.mowbray@mercyfoundation.com.au. | 3, 4, 6 | ✔ | |
| National Shelter – Aims to improve housing access, affordability, appropriateness, safety and security for people on low incomes. It works towards this goal by influencing government policy and action, and by raising public awareness about housing issues. | 2, 6 | ✔ |
Organisations with homelessness initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre For Social Impact – Their purpose is to catalyse positive social change, to help enable others to achieve social impact. They do this through transformational research and education that is rigorous and purpose-driven. One social issue they focus on is housing. They have partnered with PwC Australia, Australian Red Cross, and Mission Australia, CSI launched The Constellation Project – a new initiative working towards ending homelessness in a generation. | 2, 3, 6 | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ask Izzy – search tool to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness find shelter, food, health and other critical support services. It also directs users to legal services. | 1 | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Everybody’s Home – Campaign to improve Australia’s housing system. | To sign their petition click here and to sign up as a campaign partner click here. | 3, 6 | ✔ | |
| Right to Home – Campaign seeks to get the NSW, Commonwealth and local governments to deliver more housing that is affordable, sustainable and connected to adequate transport and community infrastructure. It is an initiative of St Vincent de Paul Society. | See here. | 3 | ✔ |
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Shelter – ACT Shelter is an independent peak community organisation that provides strategic advice and advocacy on housing policy issues that affect people with no, or on low to moderate incomes. | See here to become a member. | 3 | ✔ | |
| Council to Homeless Persons (CHP) – Provides leadership on preventing and ending homelessness by developing, supporting and promoting evidence-based policy and practice. They also have a Homelessness Advocacy Service that advocates for and provides advice and information to consumers who are homeless or at risk of experiencing homelessness. | See here. | 1, 2, 3, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Launch Housing – Committed to ending homelessness. They believe access to safe, secure and affordable housing is a fundamental right. They undertake evidence-based research to understand the causes and consequences of homelessness and use research findings to advocate for a better approach for the 24,800 Victorians who are currently homeless. | 2, 3 | ✔ | ||
| Street Law – Free and confidential outreach legal service for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Street Law provides legal advice and casework assistance and connects clients with other services. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Tenants’ Union ACT – Not for profit community legal centre offering free services for people renting their homes in the ACT. They run a Tenants’ Advice Service that provide free tenancy advice, advocacy and referrals as well as information, presentations and training. Although they have been defunded, they still operate as a volunteer organisation. | 1, 2, 3 | ✔ | ||
| Housing Law – A specialist service of Canberra Community Law providing free, independent and confidential legal help. Housing Law can provide you with free legal advice if you are having problems with Housing ACT or a community housing provider in the ACT. Some examples of problems we can help you with are: difficulties getting public housing, evictions, rent arrears, housing transfers, housing debts and repairs and maintenance. | We have capacity to coordinate pro bono support and resources to train pro bono lawyers, including training and support on how to work with vulnerable clients. Currently our pro bono partnership arrangements include case referrals and secondment placements but we are also open to other types of partnership arrangements. We are open to partners who provide ad hoc or short-term support as well as long-term and/or holistic commitment. If you are interested in providing pro bono assistance to our organisation, please contact our Program Manager and Senior Solicitor, Anusha Goonetilleke on (02) 6218 7929 or email agoonetilleke@canberracommunitylaw.org.au. | 1, 2, 3 | ✔ |
New South Wales (NSW)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In New South Wales, please contact Justice Connect.
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coast Shelter – Provides free meals, assessment, referral and support to help homeless, vulnerable, financially disadvantaged and socially isolated community members. It offers free legal advice Friday fortnightly provided by Central Coast Community Legal Centre. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Eastern Area Tenants Service (EATS) – Offers free advice, information and help to tenants who are having problems with their landlords or real estate agents. EATS helps tenants in private rental and public housing. They also help boarders and lodgers. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Homelessness NSW – Homelessness NSW is a not-for-profit organisation that works with its members to prevent and reduce homelessness across NSW. Members include small, locally based community organisations, multiservice agencies with a regional reach and large State-wide service providers. It regularly produces reports and other publications to encourage law reform to prevent homelessness. | See here to become a member. | 2 | ✔ | |
| Shelter NSW – State’s peak housing policy and advocacy organisation. They carry out research and policy development, advocacy and communications, sector consultation and coordination, and capacity building. | We are a small organisation so have limited resources and would prefer experienced pro bono support if possible. Ways in which pro bono partners can assist with our organisation includes: research, finance and alternate funding model advice, digital transformation, architecture, planning, policy, government relations, communications, legal, survey design, engagement and training. We are open to either long term or ad hoc pro bono partnership arrangements. We do a lot of project work for which pro bono support could be useful on an ad hoc basis. It would be desirable for lawyers who provide pro bono assistance to Shelter NSW to have an awareness, sensitivity and commitment to the needs of people who have insecure housing, especially those on low and very low incomes (eg. older women with low super who are renters etc.) If you are interested, please contact Shelter NSW at admin@shelternsw.org.au. | 2, 3, 4, 6 | ✔ | |
| Tenant’s Union NSW – A community legal centre specialising in housing law. It is the State’s peak non-government organisation for tenants and aims to represent the interests of all tenants in NSW. It is also the main resourcing body for Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Services (TAASs). | See here to become a member or volunteer. Pro bono lawyers will have the chance to assist with the advice line (Mondays), drafting submissions and assisting with public interest cases. We have an established training program for tenants advocates. We can offer places to pro bono lawyers who need such training. Priority for places in training go to employed advocates in the Tenants Advice and Advocacy Program. We have had various assistance from pro bono firms such as legal advice to the Tenants Union as an entity. We are open to both long term relations and ad hoc assistance, but the preference is for a long term pro bono partner. If you are interested in providing pro bono support for our organisation, please contact the Tenant’s Union of NSW on contact@tenantsunion.org.au. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| The Shopfront Youth Legal Centre – Provides free legal assistance for homeless and disadvantaged young people aged 25 and under. The Shopfront also campaigns to raise public awareness of issues affecting young and disadvantaged people and makes submissions to government and parliamentary enquiries to improve laws and policies. The legal services are provided by Herbert Smith Freehills on a pro bono basis. | They are looking for private practitioners to provide pro bono assistance with matters that are outside the Shopfront’s expertise, mainly civil and family law. They also welcome applications from volunteer students, mainly law and PLT students but these can also include admitted practitioners if they are willing to commit to come in one day per week. See here. | 1, 2, 5 | ✔ | ✔ |
Organisations with homelessness initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingsford Legal Centre – Provide free legal assistance on a range of issues including tenancy, fines and Centrelink problems. They are also committed to engaging in systemic advocacy, including law reform, and to representing the interests of their clients and local community on social policy and administration of justice issues. | See here. | 1, 2, 3, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Legal Aid NSW – Has a Homeless Outreach Legal Service, a specialist service of Legal Aid NSW. It runs advice clinics in a number of metropolitan and regional areas, mainly in places where homeless people hang out such as community centres. | To find out about the duty solicitor scheme, see here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Macarthur Legal Centre – Runs the South West Sydney Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (SWSTAAS) which provides advice to tenants, duty advocacy in the Tribunal, and community education to frontline workers as well as tenants. SWSTAAS also provides advocacy referral, and representation in the Tribunal conciliation and/or formal hearing. They engage in systemic advocacy work and participate in policy and law reform work concerning housing law in general. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Marrickville Legal Centre – Runs the Inner West Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (IWTAAS) which gives free telephone advice to tenants on their rights and responsibilities. IWTAAS also provides legal education sessions and lobbies for law reform to help tenants. In particular we want greater protection for people who live as boarders or lodgers, who are some of our communities’ most vulnerable people. It also runs the Northern Sydney Area Tenants’ Service (NSATS) which provides free telephone advice to renters on their rights and responsibilities. NSATS also provides legal education sessions and lobbies for law reform to help renters. | The Centre generally has resources to train pro bono lawyers and has done so in the past for tenancy related services but would also benefit from having experienced pro bono lawyers. The Centre has a large range of pro bono support from warm referrals to pro bono firms for advice and representation, secondment placements. For tenancy services, the Centre prefers a secondment placement as these have worked really well in the past. For tenancy, we would prefer a more long-term and holistic commitment to our organisation. This also benefits the pro bono lawyer who is getting the experience. We do not have particular requirements of pro bono lawyers, however, it is good to have pro bono lawyers who are empathetic and culturally competent. It is also beneficial to have lawyers who have trauma informed training. If you are interested in partnering with us, please contact Assistant Principal Solicitor, Justin Abi-Daher on (02) 9137 6051 or email jabidaher@mlc.org.au. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Metro Assist – Runs the Southern Sydney Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (SSTAAS) which provides free telephone information, advice and assistance to private and public housing tenants. SSTAAS also assists tenants through community education sessions on tenancy laws. SSTAAS is a program of. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Momentum Collective – Community collective creating real social change and inclusive opportunities. They also run a Specialist Homelessness Service. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre – Independent community organisation that provides free legal services. It also runs the Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, which provides free information, advice, advocacy and referrals to tenants in the Northern Rivers of NSW, many of whom are at risk of homelessness. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Public Interest Advocacy Centre – Conducts test cases and strategic litigation in the public interest, and provides legal assistance, policy advice and training. They also provide people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness with practical legal assistance through the Homeless Persons’ Legal Service. Informed by their casework and consumer feedback, they also address causes of homelessness through strategic engagement and policy advocacy with government and service providers. | We welcome discussions with law firms and legal service providers (such as in-house teams) with an interest in potential pro bono partnerships. In the first instance, please contact us, indicating any areas of special interest. Unfortunately, we are currently unable to offer opportunities to individual volunteer solicitors. See here. | 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Redfern Legal Centre – Engages in policy work as well as running the Inner Sydney Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (ISTAAS) which provides free, confidential legal information, advice and advocacy to tenants living in public and private residential housing. | See here. Redfern legal Centre has a strong tradition of pro bono partnerships which they develop as projects and opportunities arise. | 1, 2, 3, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Salvation Army – An international Christian movement that runs a legal service, Salvos Legal, which provides free legal advice to people who are unable to access legal assistance. This service provides legal advice in many areas including housing law. | 1 | ✔ | ||
| Western Sydney Community Legal Centre – Runs the Western Sydney Tenants’ Service (WESTS) which provides free tenancy advice, referrals, advocacy and in some cases representation for residential tenants at the Tribunal. They run regular community information sessions on tenancy issues. Their services are focused on, but not limited to, tenants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; who are low income earners; living in social housing; who suffer isolation; and/or who have disabilities. | See here. | 1 | ✔ |
RRR CLCs
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) – has two tenant advocacy services: • Western Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (WATAAS) • Greater Sydney Tenants Advice Service (GSATS) These specialist Aboriginal Services seek to empower Aboriginal individuals, families and communities who are experiencing housing stress by providing advocacy, advice, outreach and tenancy legal education to tenants who are faced with difficulties in the relationship with landlords and social housing providers. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Central Coast Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (CCTAAS) – Provides a free legal service for tenants that includes telephone and face-to-face advice, advocacy, and community legal education. It also engages in policy reform and advocacy regarding issues affecting tenants. | See here. | 1, 3, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Elizabeth Evatt Community Legal Centre – Runs the Blue Mountains Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (BMTAAS) which provides free, confidential advice and information about the rights of tenants, assistance with advocacy and representation regarding tenancy issues. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Hunter Region Neighbourhood Centre Forum – Runs the Hunter Tenants’ Advice and Advocacy Service (HTAAS) which provides free tenancy advice and advocacy services to tenants. | 1 | ✔ | ||
| Illawarra Community Legal Centre – Engages in policy work as well as running the Illawarra and South Coast Tenants Service (ISCTAAS), which provides free information, advice and advocacy. ISCTAAS helps Housing NSW tenants, community housing tenants, Aboriginal housing tenants, permanent residents of caravan parks and manufactured home estates, boarders and lodgers, and private tenants. ISCTAAS also provides free Community Education Workshops. | See here. | 1, 3, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Mid Coast Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (MCTAAS) – A free service providing information and advice to all tenants, including private and Housing NSW tenants, and residents of residential parks. They also provide education in tenants’ rights, for community workers, tenants, park residents and community groups. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Murra Mia Tenant Advocacy Service (Southern NSW Aboriginal TAAS) – Specialist Aboriginal Service that advises Aboriginal renters of their rights and obligations and provides community education. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| New England and Western Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (NEWTAAS) – Provides information, advice, education, and advocacy for tenants. Provides representation in NCAT for tenants who meet intake criteria, including appeals. NEWTAAS also takes up law reform opportunities (submissions, campaigns) when they have capacity to do so. They provide a rural and regional perspective on housing and homelessness issues, as they cover 57% of NSW. | See here. They welcome discussions with law firms wanting to form new pro bono partnerships. | 1, 2, 3 | ✔ | ✔ |
| The Northern NSW Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (NATAAS) – Specialist Aboriginal Service that provides advice and advocacy to Aboriginal clients who have issues with their tenancy whether in social, community, or private housing. NATAAS can provide face-to-face outreach services subject to availability. We also provide Community Education and Duty Advocacy. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| VERTO – Runs the South West Tenants Advice Service (SWTAS) which can help you to understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and will guide you through any issues you are having. They provide free confidential telephone advice, advice and representation at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (for eligible tenants), and referrals to other community services to assist with related issues. | 1 | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice Connect – Connects individuals and not-for-profit organisations with pro bono providers. Through their Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS) they help challenge and change laws that unfairly harm people facing homelessness, while providing on-the-ground legal help to people who need it most. They also run the Women’s Homelessness Prevention Project that offers legal advice to women at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness and have a ‘Close the Revolving Door’ prison project that helps prisoners maintain housing and manage debts to prevent them becoming homeless before and after release. | See here for law firms wanting to become a member. See here for individuals who want to volunteer. | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make Renting Fair NSW – Unfair Evictions Hurt Us All – Community campaign. The campaign working group is made up of representatives from a range of community organisations including: Tenants’ Union NSW, Homelessness NSW, Shelter NSW, Community Legal Centres NSW, Uniting Social Justice Forum and the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. | 3 | ✔ |
Northern Territory (NT)
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NT Shelter – peak body for affordable housing and homelessness. They carry out research and policy development, advocacy and communications, sector consultation and coordination, and capacity building. They represent and promote the important work and interests of their members across the affordable housing and homelessness sector with a view to achieving better outcomes for Territorians without access to appropriate and affordable housing. They are also responsible for delivery of the Darwin Pilot Homelessness Response Group (HRG) and the ShelterME website. | See here. | 2, 3, 6 | ✔ |
Organisations with homelessness initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Australian Women’s Legal Service – Delivers a holistic, culturally safe, trauma informed legal service for women, particularly for those affected by domestic violence. The Central Australian Women’s Legal Service can also help with information about legal issues, legal advice and representation, referral to support services, community legal education and law reform advocacy. | 1, 2 | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Darwin Community Legal Service – A free confidential service that supports members of the community to protect their rights through fair access to legal advice and support. Runs the Tenants’ Advice Service, a community-based advice and advocacy service for residential tenants and manages the Make Renting Fair, Safe and Certain Campaign. | See here. | 1, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Top End Women’s Legal Service – Not-for-profit specialist women’s legal service providing free legal services on a range of issues including tenancy, for women in the Top End of the Northern Territory. They advocate to achieve justice for women, to promote women’s human rights, and to redress inequalities experienced by women. | To apply to become a volunteer, volunteer solicitor or apply for an internship or PLT position see here. | 1, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
Queensland (QLD)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Queensland, please contact LawRight.
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q Shelter – Queensland’s Industry Body for the Housing and Homelessness Sector. Works to improve housing outcomes for vulnerable Queenslanders. Q Shelter works with Government, the community sector and private sector to achieve solutions that make a positive difference. They also run a resource hub for Queensland’s community housing and homelessness sector called The Deck. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 3 | ✔ | |
| Tenants Queensland – Seeks to represent the concerns of all Queensland tenants who live in rental accommodation. It manages and delivers the Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS), which provides a statewide advice service for Queensland renters. They have also written submissions to government campaigning for better housing strategies. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1, 2 | ✔ | ✔ |
Organisations with homelessness initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LawRight – Independent not-for-profit community legal centre that improves the lives of vulnerable people by increasing access to justice through strategic partnerships with pro bono lawyers. LawRight operates a civil law referral service and undertakes law reform, policy work and legal education. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1, 2, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Salvation Army – An international Christian movement that runs a legal service, Salvos Legal, which provides free legal advice to people who are unable to access legal assistance. This service provides legal advice in many areas including housing law. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ |
RRR CLCs
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mackay Regional Community Legal Centre – regional service provider with the Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS). They take referrals from QSTARS but can provide direct assistance to clients where the matter is urgent or the client requires face-to-face advice. Mackawy Regional CLC run outreach programs in Mackay, Bowen, Sarina, Prosperine and Cannonvale | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Suncoast Community Legal Service – regional service provider for the North Coast region (Sunshine Coast, Noosa and Gympie government areas) with the Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS). They also run legal education seminars | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Gold Coast Community Legal Centre – provide specialist tenancy services regarding issues with rent, leases, bonds and disputes with landlords. They also run legal information sessions for not-for-profit community organisations and individuals | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ | |
| My Community Legal Gold Coast – provide free tenancy advice through drop-in advice nights and appointments. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ |
Referral Organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hart 4000 – An assessment and referral team that work closely with anyone who may be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Brisbane. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 1 | ✔ | |
| LawRight – Operates a civil law referral service and direct legal services for disadvantaged client groups, and undertakes law reform, policy work and legal education in Queensland. Operates a Health Justice Partnership which has helped Indigenous clients with complex legal issues. | See here for information on how to become a member. See here for students who want to volunteer, either individually or through university organised volunteer programs and internships at student clinics. See here for In-House and Government legal units who want to participate in pro bono work. See here for retired and career break practitioners who wish to volunteer. | 1 | ✔ | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make Renting Fair in Queensland – Alliance of organisations, which support progressive reform of our renting laws so that all Queenslanders can make the place they live in their home, whether they rent or own. | For pro bono opportunities in Queensland, please contact LawRight. | 3 | ✔ |
South Australia (SA)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In South Australia, please contact JusticeNet SA.
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter SA – Drives change by facilitating collaboration amongst those who have an impact on housing, while providing evidence-based policy, advice, engagement, representation and strong advocacy for an effective housing system. | For pro bono opportunities in South Australia, please contact JusticeNet SA. | 3, 6 | ✔ | |
| Tenants’ Information and Advisory Service – Free, independent service, helping people maintain their tenancies in private rental, community housing or public housing. | For pro bono opportunities in South Australia, please contact JusticeNet SA. | 1 | ✔ |
Referral Organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JusticeNet SA – A legal service that that aims to provide a ‘safety net’ for individuals who cannot afford a lawyer or get the help they need from elsewhere. It runs Homeless Legal, a free outreach legal service for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. | See here for individuals who want to volunteer. | 1 | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make Renting Fair – Coalition of SA organisations campaigning reform of renting laws. | For pro bono opportunities in South Australia, please contact JusticeNet SA. | 3 | ✔ |
Tasmania (TAS)
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter TAS – Peak body for housing and homelessness in Tasmania. They aim to ensure low-income and disadvantaged people in Tasmania have access to housing that is affordable, safe, secure and appropriate to their needs. | We would anticipate pro bono assistance with policy development (eg.. understanding/recommending improvements to relevant legislation such as Residential Tenancy Act), contracts, assistance with internal docs such as our Constitution, and assistance with sector education such as new liabilities or understanding legal issues such as privacy. We are open to a range of different pro bono partnership arrangements such as co-counselling, public interest work, partnership, or direct assistance with emerging legal issues. As we focus on systemic advocacy, the ability to translate implications of new legislation into plain language and easy English would be very helpful. If you are interested in providing pro bono assistance to our organisation, please contact our CEO, Pattie Chugg at ceo@sheltertas.org.au. | 3 | ✔ | |
| Tenants Union of Tasmania – Specialist Community Legal Centre for residential tenants. Their aim is to secure the rights of all tenants by providing free legal advice, representation and education, kas well as advocating for the improvement of tenants’ rights. | To become a member see here. | 1, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
RRR CLCs
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North West Community Legal Centre – provides free one-off advice to Burnie, Smithton and the West Coast of Tasmania. One of their specialist areas is residential tenancy. This CLC also provides community legal education and participates in law reform | 1, 6 | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service Launceston – Aboriginal legal service with an office in Launceston. Services include providing tenancy information, referrals, advice and legal representation. | 1 | ✔ |
Victoria (VIC)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Victoria, please contact Justice Connect.
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Housing Victoria – Not-for-profit Housing Association that offers affordable housing to over 4,000 low income Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians. Their objectives include advocating for Aboriginal housing and fostering strong relationships among the community, housing and corporate spheres. | 3, 6 | ✔ | ||
| Frontyard Youth Services – Provide multidisciplinary holistic programs to meet the needs of young people aged 12 to 24 who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Frontyard Youth also runs Youthlaw, a community legal centre offering free legal information, advice and casework to people under 25 years of age. | See here. | 3 | ✔ |
Organisations with homelessness initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Legal Centre – Established a collaborative and effective project addressing the unmet legal needs of Bolton Clarke’s Homeless Persons’ Program. These clients are at risk of or experience homelessness, particularly those experiencing social isolation. | See here. | 1 | ✔ | |
| WEstjustice (Western Community Legal Centre) – Provides specialist advice through their Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Program. Additionally, the Centre engages in advocacy, through submissions to the government and policy reports. They have also previously run a Schools’ Couch-Surfing Myki Project and are looking to continue this project. | See here. | 1, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
Referral organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justice Connect – Connects individuals and not-for-profit organisations with pro bono providers. Through their Homeless Persons’ Legal Service (HPLS) they help challenge and change laws that unfairly harm people facing homelessness, while providing on-the-ground legal help to people who need it most. They also run the Women’s Homelessness Prevention Project that offers legal advice to women at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness and have a ‘Close the Revolving Door’ prison project that helps prisoners maintain housing and manage debts to prevent them becoming homeless before and after release. | See here for law firms wanting to become a member. See here for individuals who want to volunteer. | 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make Renting Fair – Coalition of over 70 organisations and local councils, and thousands of individual supporters calling for better rights for over 1.5 million Victorians who rent their homes. | 3 | ✔ |
Western Australia (WA)
Pro bono providers are encouraged to contact the Pro Bono Referral Schemes and Organisations to source pro bono matters. In Western Australia, please contact Law Access.
Organisations for people at risk or experiencing homelessness
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Circle Green Community Legal – Circle Green is a community legal centre in Western Australia providing state-wide specialist legal services in employment, residential tenancy law, family and domestic violence, and migration services aimed at assisting people who are otherwise disadvantaged in their access to legal services. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1, 2, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Regional Alliance West – Provides free services such as Housing Assistance Programmes to help tenants residing in a Housing Authority or in private rental with tenancy issues. Helps homeless people with finding accommodation in private rental, government housing or sharing. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 3 | ✔ | |
| Shelter WA – Advocate for social and affordable housing and ending homelessness. They Drive change by facilitating collaboration amongst those who have an impact on housing, while providing evidence-based policy, advice, engagement, representation and strong advocacy for an effective housing system. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 3, 6 | ✔ | |
| Street Law Centre WA Inc. – Free outreach legal service for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness in Western Australia. Street Law seeks to address the underlying causes of homelessness by engaging in law reform and community legal education. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
Organisations with homelessness initiatives
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South West Community Legal Centre – Provides tenancy advice and education services. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1, 3 | ✔ | |
| Welfare Rights & Advocacy Service (WA) – A not-for-profit community legal centre that provides independent advice, information, referrals, representation and advocacy in relation to Centrelink, Family Assistance, Tenancy and Social Security prosecution matters. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1 | ✔ |
RRR CLCs
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goldfields Community Legal Centre – Offers advice to tenants about their rights and obligations; aims to reduce and prevent eviction and homelessness through their assistance to tenants with plans and strategies. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Midlas – Provide a specialist tenancy advocacy service that includes advocacy, education and support for tenants. They offer representation in negotiation, conciliation and court. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 | ✔ | ✔ |
| Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre – Provides tenancy advocacy, advice and education, and will appear in the Magistrates Court as Duty Advocates. The NSCLC Tenant Advocates are skilled negotiators advocating for the rights of both public and private tenants whilst also working with tenants to provide them with the necessary tools to improve their situation and to accept responsibility for the decisions they make. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Pilbara Community Legal Service – Provide a specialist Tenant Advice and Education Service for people in the Pilbara region. Their aim is to help resolve issues when the tenant is unsure what they can do or need assistance negotiating on their behalf or assisting them filling in forms, applying to court and/or representing them in court | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 1 | ✔ | |
| Wheatbelt Community Legal Centre – provides a specialist Tenant Advocacy service for those living in the Wheatbelt. Includes advice on rent, bonds, repairs, landlord disputes and legal action. | Not currently seeking volunteers | 1 | ✔ |
Referral Organisations
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law Access – Coordinates the giving of pro bono legal assistance by the Western Australian legal profession to not-for-profits and individuals. | See here – Opportunities are available to lawyers who register on the Law Access lawyer database. The database will send you information about your areas of interest. Law Access also welcomes secondees from private firms who second lawyers on a part-time basis to assist Law Access with triage and assessment of applications. | 1 | ✔ |
Campaigns
| Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Justice Project Priorities | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Make Renting Fair Alliance – Coalition of Western Australia’s key community organisations and people who rent their home. They are working together to improve living conditions for approximately 750,000 renters in WA. | For pro bono opportunities in Western Australia, please contact Law Access. | 3 | ✔ |
Please note the Centre undertook the research to identify which priorities have been mapped to individual organisations. Not all organisations have confirmed yet whether the identified priorities are accurately mapped.