Disclaimer: The material in this print-out relates to the law as it applies in the state of Victoria. It is intended as a general guide only. Readers should not act on the basis of any material in this print-out without getting legal advice about their own particular situations. Victoria Legal Aid disclaims any liability howsoever caused to any person in respect of any action taken in reliance on the contents of the publication.

We help Victorians with their legal problems and represent those who need it most. Find legal answers, chat with us online, or call us. You can speak to us in English or ask for an interpreter. You can also find more legal information at www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

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Community legal education and information

We provide legal education and resources to help build knowledge in the community about legal rights and responsibilities.

What we do

We aim to improve understanding of legal issues in the community to stop legal problems from happening or getting worse. We do this by:

  • providing information on legal rights and responsibilities and common legal issues
  • enhancing teachers’ and other workers’ capacity to deliver our legal education kits
  • delivering legal education for groups that are at risk of social disengagement
  • building relationships with community groups and organisations
  • collaborating with, and supporting, other organisations that do this work.

Visit Publications and resources to see our information resources, including booklets, pamphlets, education kits and videos. We have translated and easy read information on some topics.

Projects

We often collaborate with Victorian and national organisations on legal education projects.

Some of our current projects are:

  • Accessible content project – making our website service information more accessible for people who need communication supports, including easy read and Auslan
  • Law for helpers – a resource finder for community workers and other non-legal helpers to find training, tools, resources and information
  • Making community legal information – resources to help workers develop information about the law that is accessible and effective
  • Settled and Safe – a training package to help prevent family violence in newly emerging culturally and linguistically diverse communities
  • Sex, young people and the law – educating young people on sexual consent, age of consent, sexting and cyberbullying
  • Stay or go: young people, groups and the law – educating young people on co-offending
  • Street law – helping young people learn about their rights and responsibilities with police and protective service officers
  • What’s the law: Australian law for new arrivals and Australian law in orientation – educating newly-arrived people about common legal issues.

Past projects

Our past projects include:

  • Below the belt – a phone app with information on sex and consent
  • Connect sessions – delivering education sessions to mosques
  • Do not Knock campaign
  • Family Harmony sessions
  • Relationships, young people and the law
  • Space invaders – a theatre project focused on police powers
  • Shepparton sessions for newly arrived communities.

Project evaluations

We evaluate our education projects to check they are effective and learn how we can improve our work in the future. We share our findings to promote collaboration and learning across the legal assistance sector.

Does community legal education work? Researching the impact of the Learning the law education kit for young people with a mild intellectual disability
PDF 2.33 MB
(opens in a new window)
Does Community Legal Education Work? Educating English Language Students about Consumer Contracts – 2018
Word 244.48 KB
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Does community legal education work? Researching the impact of the Learning the law education kit (accessible version)
Word 3.83 MB
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What's the law? evaluation report
Word 3.65 MB
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Case study of the Below the belt phone app
PDF 1.97 MB
(opens in a new window)
Case study of the Below the belt phone app (accessible version)
Word 141.96 KB
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Space Invaders Evaluation
Word 1.82 MB
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Shepparton sessions for newly arrived communities evaluation report
Word 7.51 MB
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Family Harmony sessions for the newly arrived communities
Word 213 KB
(opens in a new window)

Want to know more?

Want to know more about our community legal education sessions, making community legal information or our projects?

Contact us at cle@vla.vic.gov.au or call (03) 9269 0234 and ask for Community Legal Education.

For updates on our resources and activities, subscribe to our Community Legal Education Update.

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