Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool
LGBTI+ People
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]:
- Commonwealth, state and territory governments should create a dedicated LGBTI+ position at Commonwealth, state and territory levels to address the absence of LGBTI+ concerns from policy initiatives.
- Invest in building an evidence base regarding LGBTI+ engagement with the justice system and legal need, having regard to the research needs set out in this chapter.
- Recognise distinct groups represented by the LGBTI+ acronym, and craft tailored legal and policy responses, including through genuine consultation with multiple diverse participants.
- Commonwealth, state and territory governments should engage in law reform to address existing inequalities and create consistency, with reference to human rights frameworks, including by working towards:
- Consistent anti-discrimination protections across jurisdictions.
- Uniform and consistent recognition of parenting rights across jurisdictions.
- Consistent approaches should apply to identity documents across government agencies and jurisdictions. Legislation should uniformly ensure that surgery is not required in order for an individual to change their gender on their Birth Certificate.
- Commonwealth, state and territory governments should consult with LGBTI+ people when developing family violence policy and implementing family violence responses. Responses, including public awareness strategies, should recognise different experiences and types of family violence. Specialist family violence services, including inclusive accommodation services, should be expanded.
- Commonwealth, state and territory governments and the Law Council should continue to support the legal and broader justice system to continue the development of policies and processes to ensure they are inclusive, welcoming and sensitive towards the needs of LGBTI+ people. This could include:
- encouraging services to obtain Rainbow Tick Accreditation;
- implementing ongoing training programs to build cultural competence, as well as LGBTI+ specific protocols and guidelines; and
- implementing diversity and engagement measures, including through increasing the number of LGBTI+ police liaison officers.
- State and territory governments should support, fund and expand specialist LGBTI+ legal services. Funding for these services should recognise the importance of supporting services to engage in both advocacy and CLEI efforts, as both are essential to achieving access to justice for this group. Commonwealth, state and territory governments should invest in public awareness campaigns as an important means of overcoming discrimination and marginalisation of this group within the broader community
Justice Project: Pro Bono Tool Summaries
Directory of Organisations
Quick links to organisations by location
Quick links to tables by location:
National
Organisations | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
---|---|---|---|
Equality Australia Equality Australia exists to improve the wellbeing and circumstances of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia and their families through a range of services, programs and campaigns including substantial advocacy and law reform work. | See here. | ✔ | ✔ |
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 | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
---|---|---|---|
Inner City Legal Centre In addition to providing general legal, employment and family law advice, ICLC provides a state-wide legal advice service for the LGBTIQ community. ICLC can provide advice on same sex parenting, surrogacy, de facto relationships, discrimination, homophobic violence and vilification, neighbourhood disputes, domestic violence and employment. ICLC also provides court assistance and other support for people who are gay, lesbian or bisexual; people who are transgender; and people who are inter-sex and are experiencing or escaping an abusive relationship. | See here. | ✔ | ✔ |
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 | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
---|---|---|---|
LGBTI Legal Service – The Service recognises the difficulties faced by LGBTIQA+ community and strives to provide access to justice and legal assistance to all Queenslanders within the LGBTIQA+ community. The service also endeavours to regularly provide community legal education activities and resources in order to increase awareness of legal rights and issues relating to the LGBTIQA+ community in Queensland. The Service includes a Law Reform division which is actively involved in advocating for law reform and human rights affecting the LGBTIQA+ community. | ✔ | ✔ |
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 | Information for Pro Bono Providers | Direct Legal Services | Law Reform |
---|---|---|---|
LGBTIQ Legal Service The LGPTIQ Legal Service provides free legal assistance to LGBTIQ+ people in Victoria to those who: – Have experienced discrimination, harassment and/or violence on the basis of their LGBTIQ+ identity; – Have been impacted by family violence; or – Are trans and gender diverse and have legal issues related to their gender identities The LGBTIQ Legal Service also engages in law reform and systemic advocacy, provide training to family violence and legal professionals, and improving awareness of the legal issues that impact on our communities. | See here. | ✔ | ✔ |