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 Strategic Plan
Our current 2020-2025 Strategic Plan guides West Heidelberg Community Legal’s work and identifies our 4 key strategic priorities.
Our Staff
Stephanie Price – Principal Lawyer
Lilly Jackson – Managing Lawyer – Family Law and Family Violence
Ankita Krishna – Community Lawyer – Family Violence
Marissa Johnpillai – Family Violence Lawyer – Partnerships & Integrated Practice
Tom Warne-Smith – Managing Lawyer – Mental Health
Elizabeth Collins – Senior Community Lawyer – Mental Health
Chrisi Pantazis – Senior Community Lawyer
Anna Morrow – Community Lawyer and La Trobe Student Association Lawyer
Caitlin Woodland – Graduate Lawyer
Leanne Montalto – Legal Access and Intake Lead
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
- Anthony Carbines MP
- Magistrates Courts Victoria