Our new office in the Mallee supports easier access to justice

We were pleased to officially open our relocated Mallee regional office to a more modern and central location in the Mildura central business district (CBD) on Thursday 18 July.

Following a smoking ceremony with Lajti Lajti traditional custodians, Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes addressed staff and stakeholders to formally mark the start of operations.

Noting the anticipated population growth in the Mallee region, the Attorney-General reflected on the importance of the early resolution of legal problems, which we support. She noted the new facility is critical to provide culturally safe services for the large First Nation’s population in the region as well.

Having worked from a co-located office within Sunraysia Community Health Service (SCHS) since 2017, it will be our organisation's first standalone office space in Mildura.

‘We are thrilled to be relocating to a new and modern premises that aligns with our mission to provide accessible and high-quality legal assistance’ said Regional Manager Heidi Deason.

‘The move underscores our dedication to improving service delivery in the regions, for parity in access to justice.’

Located in the heart of the CBD, the new office is a short walk away from the Mildura Magistrates’ Court and other partner organisations, such as the Mallee Family Care Community Legal Centre. Additionally, the office’s central location enhances visibility and reinforces our commitment to a local resource for legal information, advice and support.

Our Mildura team supports people from across the Mallee and can help with a range of legal problems, including parenting disputes after separation, child protection, family violence, police charges, compulsory mental health treatment, tenancy eviction and guardianship issues.

Prior to the physical move, we progressively welcomed additional roles to the team, including a Family Advocacy and Support Services lawyer as part of a nationwide expansion of the program in 2022.

The team’s expansion allows us to better support clients with multiple legal matters who may have previously needed to go elsewhere.

‘Expanding services is also beneficial where a private lawyer or community lawyer might be unable to help a client for conflict reasons,’ said Heidi.

‘We are always looking to improve our services and service models so that we can better respond to the needs of our community – work that we do collectively as a sector as well.’

More information

Find out more about our office locations across Victoria.