About WHCLS

Established in 1975, we are part of one of Australia’s longest running health justice partnerships.

For our first 40 years we were co-located with Banyule Community Health. In 2014, we formally merged with and became a program of Banyule Community Health.

The merger of the two organisations reflects our shared belief that community need is best met by a holistic and seamless service response. Today, working within our unique integrated service model, our dedicated team provides free legal services to some of the most vulnerable and marginalised residents of Banyule.

We are an accredited community legal centre and a member of the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres and the National Association of Community Legal Centres.

Our Staff

Stephanie Price – Principal Lawyer

Chrisi Pantazis – Senior Lawyer

Lilly Jackson – Family Law Lead

Tom Warne-Smith – Senior Lawyer (Mental Health)

Elizabeth Frampton – Senior Community Lawyer (Mental Health)

Marissa Johnpillai – Community Lawyer (Family Violence)

Anna Morrow – Community Lawyer and La Trobe Student Association Lawyer

Ankita Krishna – Graduate Lawyer

Julie Tang – Access and Intake Officer

Katie Keays – Service Development and Improvement Officer

Our staff are supported by a team of volunteer law clerks, who are studying law.

Acknowledgements

Our main office is located within the Olympic Village, West Heidelberg.

West Heidelberg Community Legal Service acknowledges that our office and catchment are located on Wurundjeri land. We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation as the traditional owners and spiritual custodians of land and pay our deepest respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

We also gratefully acknowledge the following for their support over the past 12 months:

  • Victoria Legal Aid
  • Commonwealth Government
  • Victorian Government
  • Victorian Legal Services Board
  • Deakin University
  • La Trobe University
  • Barrbunin Beek  – Aboriginal Community Controlled Committee
  • Banyule City Council
  • Victoria Law Foundation
  • Federation of Community Legal Centres
  • Community Legal Centres Australia
  • Gandel Philanthropy
  • Anthony Carbines MP
  • William Angliss Charitable Fund

Acknowledgement: Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Visit the Department of Health and Aged Care website (www.health.gov.au) for more information.

Disclaimer: Although funding for these Allied Health services has been provided by the Australian Government, the material contained herein does not necessarily represent the views or policies of the Australian Government.