Legal Education for New Migrants
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Overview
The Legal Services Commission runs a special project for new and emerging communities wanting to know more about Australia law.
What are the aims of the project?
The Family Law and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities Project works with new migrants to promote an understanding of Australian family law and how to access the legal system.
Community legal education plays an important role in helping new migrants become more self-reliant through improved awareness of their rights and obligations under Australian law.
This education encourages access to the legal system through the provision of information about legal services. It is also an effective way to engage with communities and identify legal needs and gaps in service provision. Community legal education also can increase migrant's understanding of political and judicial structures and how that impacts upon their lives.
What was involved?
In collaboration with migrant communities and settlement service providers, the Project team's legal education officer and bi-cultural worker developed a program for culturally appropriate and practical legal education. This was achieved through group workshops, easy to understand learning resources and theatre.
Topics included how to get help with a legal problem, disciplining children, violence at home, marriage, divorce and property. It also included a session on rights and responsibilities when interacting with police.
The project started in 2005 and continues to run full time.
Who participated?
This project was trialled and tested with migrants and former refugees from Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as professionals working with these communities. The project has provided legal education for over 6000 new arrivals and their service providers.
This is an ongoing project, with sessions taking place each month.
What were the outcomes?
Understanding Australian family law, child protection and domestic violence laws presents a major challenge for many people from vastly different cultural and legal systems. The complex needs of these clients require a flexible approach to meetings and session times, as most contact occurs outside business hours. The success of this project is due largely to the commitment of the project staff to after hours work. The workshops for adult migrants are non-academic, informal and interactive, and use a story telling approach based on the oral traditions of the communities. Sessions are supported by audiovisual resources such as PowerPoint and flash cards, as well as accredited interpreters.
Where can I get more information?
Further information on this project is available.
Kate Howard
Legal Services Commission of South Australia
Telephone: 08 8463 3396
Email: howard.kate@saugov.sa.gov.au