News

TALS launches a new Family Violence Prevention Legal Service (SiS)

Friday 16 September, 2022

Tasmania Aboriginal Legal Service will launch a new family violence prevention legal service – SIS – Support, Information & Strength – at 11am, Monday, September 19.

TALS Acting-State Manager Hannah Phillips said TALS received funding for SIS through the National Indigenous Australians Agency.

ā€œThe service will be for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Tasmania,ā€ Ms Phillips said.

ā€œIt will provide a family violence prevention legal service to support victim/survivors of family violence and sexual abuse in Tasmania in 2021.

ā€œThe $1.1 million project will provide the service until the end of 2023. We hope to engage in further negotiations as soon as possible to secure ongoing funding for this crucial service.ā€

Ms Phillips said SIS will be run by Managing Lawyer Emma Smith.

ā€œSIS will ensure clients receive both legal and non-legal, holistic, wraparound wellbeing support,ā€ Ms Smith said.

ā€œSIS will provide non-legal case management services and individualised referral, information and support services.ā€

ā€œOur lawyers and client engagement coordinators will work together to avoid a victim/survivor needing to re-tell their story a multitude of times.

ā€œWe will ensure both legal and holistic non-legal needs are met and provide opportunities to improve legal outcomes.ā€

WHAT: Launch of SIS

WHERE: tagari lia Child & Family Centre, 23 Green Point Rd, Bridgewater

WHEN: 11am, Monday, September 19

Special Note: TALS Managing Lawyer Emma Smith will be available for media interview. There will other stakeholders available as well as children at the Centre able to filmed/photoragphed.

Ms Phillips said TALS also received funding of $623,000 over a four-year period as part of the increased legal assistance for vulnerable women.

ā€œWith this extra funding, TALS will expand ā€˜SIS’ service to Northern Tasmania.ā€

SIS will provide: community engagement and education, legal information, advice, case management, counselling services, referrals, and the opportunity for people to have a voice and choice about their future.

ā€œSIS will be provided in a culturally safe environment.ā€

Lee-Anne Carter, TALS Community Engagement and Programs Manager said the experiences of Aboriginal family violence victims are often ignored.

ā€œA lack of cultural awareness and little insight into the impact of Aboriginality and its intersectionality with family violence often leads to the misidentification of victims,ā€ Ms Carter said.

ā€œThere must be culturally appropriate and holistic responses to meet the needs of Aboriginal victims.ā€

Media Contact: A.Mark Thomas, M&M Communications, 0422 006 732

There must be culturally appropriate and holistic responses to meet the needs of Aboriginal victims

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