Law challenges

By Melissa Grant
PAKENHAM police have welcomed the addition of a community legal service to assist victims of family violence across Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong.
They say the service, launched this week, will give victims a chance to get legal advice and to gauge the options available to them.
Last month there were 22 reported cases of domestic violence in Cardinia and while this number is down on recent times police said it was important for victims to have nearby places to go for support.
The Casey Cardinia Community Legal Service (CCCLS), based in Dandenong, is one of a network of centres across Victoria to receive State Government funding through Victoria Legal Aid for dedicated family violence lawyers.
Deputy Premier Rob Hulls, who launched the service on Tuesday, said the centre would be of great assistance to those suffering at the hands of their family members.
“This funding has allowed the Casey Cardinia CLS to establish a family violence program providing outreach services, as well as advice at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court, and legal education to the local community,” he said.
“The lawyers who are working in the program support those who are applying for family violence intervention orders – providing legal advice, court representation and other assistance.
“For many, going to court to apply for an intervention order is one of the bravest things they’ll ever do.”
Pakenham police Acting Sergeant Frank Bodor said the Casey-Cardinia CLS would give family violence victims who didn’t want to contact police another option.
“People have generally relied on family members in most cases – unless it gets to a serious confrontation they tend to sort it out within their family unit,” he said.
“This service offers a legal perspective of what they can do and can’t do; the people that are victims of family violence but haven’t contacted us, they can contact the service to find out what their options are.”
The state-wide family violence Community Legal Centre initiative was funded in the 2007-08 State Budget.
The Victorian Government committed $24.7 million in the 2008/09 Budget, aiming to break the cycle of abuse by stopping family violence before it happens and extending support for victims.
Later this year the Government will introduce a new Family Violence Bill to better protect victims of family violence and hold perpetrators to account for their actions.