Victoria

A Guide to Internet Legal Resources in Victoria

• Arts Law
• Community Legal Centres — General
• Consumer Debt/Credit
• Court Matters
• Disability
• Discrimination
• Domestic Violence
• Employment
• Environment
• Family Law
• Freedom of Information
• Gay and Lesbian Legal Issues
• General Legal Information
• Government (complaints about)
• Guardianship
• HIV/AIDS
• Immigration
• Indigenous Australians
• Legal Aid
• Legal Practitioner Complaints
• Legislation and Cases
• Media/Communications
• Motor Vehicle Issues
• Privacy
• Property
• Public Interest
• Social Security
• Tenancy
• Translators/Interpreters
• Victims of Crime
• Young People

Arts Law Centre of Australia

Community legal centre offering a specialised legal and business advice and referral service. Professional development resources and advocacy for artists and arts organisations.

http://www.artslaw.com.au

• Information sheets
• Publications
• Services

IP Australia

Grant and maintain Patents, Designs and Trademarks.

http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au

• Patent and Trademark forms
• Database of registrations

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National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC)

Association of state community legal centre organisations in Australia.

http://www.naclc.org.au/

• Contact details for community legal centres throughout Australia
• Reports and submissions

Federation of Community Legal Centres (Vic) Secretariat

The peak body for Victoria's community legal centres.

http://www.communitylaw.org.au/cb_pages/federation_of_clcs.php

• Information on law reform campaigns in Victoria
• News on community legal sector developments

See also:

• General Legal Information for the Community Law website

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Consumer Action Law Centre

Consumer Action provides free legal advice and representation to vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers across Victoria, and is the largest specialist consumer legal practice in Australia.

http://www.consumeraction.org.au/

http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au

• Fact sheets ranging from credit & debt to renting and ecommerce
• Consumer Affairs hot topics

Financial & Consumer Rights Council

Peak body for financial counselling and consumer support services in Victoria.

http://www.vicnet.net.au/

• Financial counsellor referrals
• FIDO — Australian Securities and Investments Commission

http://fido.asic.gov.au

• 'How to complain' guide (including links to relevant sites)
• Online complaint form
• Online Financial Information Directory

Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman

Free independent resolution of complaints and disputes regarding telecommunications services.

http://www.tio.com.au

• Online complaint form
• Search list of TIO member organisations
• Fact sheets

Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria)

Investigates and resolves disputes between Victorian electricity, gas and water customers and their providers.

http://www.ewov.com.au/

• Online complaint and questions forms
• Guide to complaint process

Financial Ombudsman Service

The Financial Ombudsman Service provides accessible, fair and independent dispute resolution for consumers and financial services providers.  The Mutuals Division of the Financial Ombudsman Service deals with disputes about credit unions and other mutual financial services providers and will consider disputes that were previously dealt with by the Credit Union Dispute Resolution Centre 

http://www.fos.org.au/centric/home_page.jsp

Policies and procedures

• Terms of reference
• Jurisdiction checker
• Banking code of practice plus other publications

Mortgage Industry Ombudsman Scheme

Independent dispute resolution process free of charge to customers of the Mortgage Industry Association of Australasia (MIAA), which is now called the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA).

www.mfaa.com.au/default.asp?menuid=176

• Guide to resolving a dispute
• Search for whether dispute is with a member of the MIAA or the complaint should go through the Australian Banking Industry Ombudsman

Consumer Credit Code Website

Details of the code governing all credit transactions in Australia.

http://www.creditcode.gov.au

• Detailed information on what is covered by the code
• Downloadable documents

Financial Industry Complaints Service (FICS)

Provide free advice and assistance in relation to complaints with the financial services industry.

http://www.fics.asn.au

• Lodge a complaint online
• Determinations and adjudications
• FICS rules

Insolvency Trustee Service Australia

Government agency responsible for the administration and regulation of the personal insolvency system.

http://www.itsa.gov.au

• Statutory forms for bankruptcy
• Debt agreement information
• Legislation

See also:

• National Children's and Youth Law Centre for information on mobile phones. See Young People for contact details
• Court Matters Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal contact details

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Magistrates Court of Victoria

http://www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au

• Information about jurisdiction of the court
• Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal
• Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

http://www.vcat.vic.gov.au

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Legislation
• Forms

Federal Magistrates Service

Independent federal court.

http://www.fmc.gov.au

• Judgments
• Procedures
• Forms
• Commonwealth Courts

http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink.nsf/pages/goingtocourt#HeadingA

• Links to Commonwealth Courts and Tribunals

See also:

• Victoria Legal Aid for "Your Day in Court" information. See Legal Aid for contact details
• Immigration for Tribunal contact details
• Family Law for Family Court details
• Social Security for Tribunal information

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Disability Discrimination Legal Service

Independent, community legal centre that specialises in disability discrimination legal matters.

http://www.communitylaw.org.au/ddls/

• Fact sheets
• Publication: Using Disability Discrimination Law — a guide for people with disabilities

Mental Health Legal Centre

Community legal centre specialising in the field of mental health law.

http://www.communitylaw.org.au/mentalhealth/

• Guide to making complaints
• Publications

Villamanta Legal Service

Community legal centre specialising in disability-related legal issues.

http://www.villamanta.org.au/

• Fact sheets on a range of issues

See also:

• Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission: Disability Rights Unit. See Discrimination for contact details
• Guardianship for the Office of the Public Advocate

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Australian Human Rights Commission

National independent statutory government body. AHRC investigate alleged anti-discrimination law infringements, undertake human rights education and conduct public inquiries.

http://www.humanrights.gov.au/index.htm

• Anti-discrimination legislation
• Publications on human rights and discrimination issues
• Online complaint form and guidelines
• Election of jurisdictions information

http://www.eoc.vic.gov.au

• links to anti-discrimination legislation
• guidelines for individuals and organisations regarding anti-discrimination practice
• Complaint information

See also:

• Court Matters for contact details for Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal which also deals with discrimination matters
• Disability for disability discrimination matters
• Employment for employment and sex discrimination issues
• Gay and Lesbian Legal Issues for related discrimination

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Domestic Violence Resource Centre (Vic)

Statewide resource centre for information about domestic violence and sexual assault.

http://www.dvirc.org.au

• Training information
• Publications
• Consultation and resourcing for caseworkers
• Online document library

Australian Domestic and Family Violence Clearinghouse

National resource on issues of domestic and family violence.

http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/

• Publications
• Resource database
• Links

Australian Institute of Criminology

National focus for the study of crime and criminal justice in Australia and for the dissemination of criminal justice information.

http://www.aic.gov.au

• Statistics and reports regarding the incidence of domestic violence

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Job Watch

Specialise in employment law for those in Victoria.

http://www.jobwatch.org.au/

• Rights information

Links

Guides to employment law.

Business Victoria

http://www.business.vic.gov.au/BUSVIC/LANDING/SEC04.html

• Advice and assistance
• Fact sheets
• Entitlements and conditions

Australian Industrial Relations Commission

Facilitate agreement between employers and employees, conciliate and work within industrial disputes.

http://www.airc.gov.au

• Details of the law relating to employment
• Procedures involved in making a claim

Workplace Authority

The Workplace Authority accepts lodgement of workplace agreements and assesses them against the no-disadvantage test (NDT).

http://www.workplaceauthority.gov.au

• Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA) complaint form
• AWA no-disadvantage test
• Bargaining Agents Referral List

Working Women's Centres

Information and advice to working women on a range of employment issues.

http://www.wwc.org.au

• Awards and employment agreements
• Information on sexual harassment, discrimination, unfair dismissal, workers compensation and workplace bullying

Victorian WorkCover Authority

State government department managing the workplace safety, injury management and workers compensation systems.

http://www.workcover.vic.gov.au

• Industry-specific information
• Legislation
• Information on lodging a claim

Comcare

Responsible for workplace safety, rehabilitation and compensation in the Commonwealth jurisdiction.

http://www.comcare.gov.au

• Forms
• Processes
• Legislation
• Incident notification information

Australian Workplace

Commonwealth government website with information on employment, workplace relations, government assistance, jobs, careers, training and wages.

http://www.workplace.gov.au

• Employment legislation and policy information
• Details of available schemes

See also:

• Young People for employment information for young people

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Environmental Defenders Office

Community legal centre providing free legal advice, representation and community legal education on environmental matters.

http://www.edo.org.au/edovic/edovic.htm

• Fact sheets
• Advice
• Campaign information

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Family Court of Australia

http://www.familycourt.gov.au

• Step-by-step guide to proceedings in the family court
• Online court forms and brochures
• Family law legislation and cases
• Information specifically for young people

Family Law Online

Attorney-General's Department initiative.

http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/agd.nsf/Page/Families_Families?Open

• Information sorted by topic
• Links
• Child Support Agency

http://www.csa.gov.au

• Legislative information
• Forms
• Links to organisations
• Registry of Births Deaths and Marriages (Vic)

http://www.dvc.vic.gov.au/bdm.htm

• Forms for change of name
• Certificate application forms

See also:

• Legal Aid for You and Family Law publication

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Freedom of Information Online

Assistance and information to access information under the Freedom of Information Act (Vic) 1982.

http://www.foi.vic.gov.au

• Application form
• Guidelines

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Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby

Working to achieve equality and social justice for lesbians and gay men.

http://www.vglrl.org.au/

• Facts sheets including Statutory Declaration of domestic partnership
• Campaign and lobby information
• Links to legislation and resources

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Legal Online

Victorian Government's legal information website.

http://www.legalonline.vic.gov.au

• Legislation
• Information sheets
• Links

Community Law

An online community legal resource centre.

http://www.communitylaw.org.au

• Online home to several Victorian commmunity legal centres
• Legal resources, publications, forums, news and events

Victoria Law Foundation

Independent organisation providing plain English information about the law, the legal system, legal education and the legal profession.

http://www.victorialaw.org.au

• Plain English legal publications
• Information on pro bono services and grants
• Bookshop
• Law Institute Victoria

http://www.liv.asn.au

• "Public information" on a range of topics
• Victorian Bar

http://www.vicbar.com.au

• Legal Assistance
• Find a Barrister

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Ombudsman Victoria

Investigate complaints concerning administrative actions taken by any government department, public statutory body or by officers or employees of any municipality to which the Ombudsman Act applies.

http://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au

Complaint guidelines

Legislation

Commonwealth Ombudsman

http://www.ombudsman.gov.au

• Online complaint form
• Legislation
• Freedom of Information guide

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Office of the Public Advocate

Promote the rights and interests of people with disabilities through guardianship, advocacy and education.

http://www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au

• Information on various forms of power of attorney
• Forms and guides
• Tribunal information

See also:

• Court Matters for contact details for Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal which deals with guardianship matters

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Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations

Leadership, information, advocacy and policy. AFAO is the peak non-government organisation representing Australia's community-based response to HIV/AIDS.

http://www.afao.org.au

• Information on a range of issues affecting people living with HIV/AIDS

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Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre

Provide casework, advice, education and training.

http://www.rilc.org.au

• Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) clinic
• Links

Immigration Advice and Rights Centre

NSW community legal centre providing free legal advice and assistance in relation to immigration law matters.

http://www.iarc.asn.au/

• Fact sheets
• Information on steps to take in relation to applying for various visas and how to appeal a decision at the Migration Review Tribunal

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights

Network of Australian lawyers active in practising and promoting awareness of international human rights standards in Australia.

http://www.alhr.asn.au

• Asylum seeker legal resources
• Refugee kit

Refugee Council of Australia

Peak organisation providing diverse refugee support.

http://www.refugeecouncil.org.au

• The Advocate's Help Kit (downloadable in PDF format)

Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs

Federal government department responsible for immigration.

http://www.immi.gov.au/

• Frequently asked questions and migration fact sheets
• Visa information and online application facility

Refugee Review Tribunal

Independent merits review tribunal which reviews decisions made by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to refuse or cancel protection visas to non-citizens in Australia.

http://www.rrt.gov.au

• Forms
• Decisions
• Handbook

Migration Review Tribunal

Independent merits review body which reviews certain decisions made by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

http://www.mrt.gov.au

• Forms
• Decisions
• Interpreter information

Administrative Appeals Tribunal

Independent review of administrative decisions made by the Commonwealth government and some non-government agencies.

http://www.aat.gov.au

• Forms
• Fees
• Legislation and jurisdiction

See also:

• Social Security for National Welfare Rights Network information for residents and newly arrived migrants

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Social Justice Commissioner

Office established within the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to deal with discrimination and disadvantage affecting Indigenous Australians.

http://www.hreoc.gov.au/social_justice/

• Statistics
• Information

National Womens Justice Coalition

The NWJC is a coalition of organisations and individuals which aims to promote women's equality before the law in Australia.

http://www.nwjc.org.au/

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Victoria Legal Aid

Assist socially and economically disadvantaged people to understand and protect their rights.

http://www.vla.vic.gov.au

• Who is eligible and how to apply for legal aid
• The type of matters legal aid undertakes
• Download VLA Handbook
• Publications on range of issues

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Legal Ombudsman

Receive and investigate complaints about legal practitioners.

http://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/www/html/78-the-victorian-ombudsman.asp?intSiteID=1

• Downloadable complaint form
• Information brochures

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Austlii

Australasian Legal Information Institute.

http://www.austlii.edu.au

• Full text legislation in all Australian jurisdictions
• Full text case law in most Australian Courts and Tribunals
• Full text international instruments
• ScalePlus

ComLaw

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/

• Full text legislation of the Commonwealth and non self-governing territories
• Functional index of law and law-related functions of the Commonwealth government

http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/

• Bills
• Acts
• Statutory Rules
• Parliamentary website

http://www.aph.gov.au

• Full text legislation
• Full text bills
• Hansard

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Communications Law Centre

Independent, non-profit, public interest organisation specialising in media, communications and online law and policy.

http://www.comslaw.org.au

• Information on defamation, media ownership and media ethics
• Legal Advice via Oz NetLaw (http://www.oznetlaw.net.au)

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Transport Accident Commission

Pays for treatment and benefits for people injured in road accidents.

http://www.tac.vic.gov.au

• Claim forms and information
• Information on reviewing decisions

See also:

• Young People for information on motor vehicle issues — National Children's and Youth Law Centre
• Legal Aid for Victoria Legal Aid publications on motor vehicle matters
• Court Matters for information on attending court for traffic matters

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Privacy Victoria

Key body regulating the handling of personal information by the Victorian government.

http://www.privacy.vic.gov.au

• Complaint form plus step-by-step guide to making a complaint
• Legislation
• Information sheets

The Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner

Promote privacy in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988.

http://www.privacy.gov.au

• Legislation
• Complaint form

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Land Channel

Victorian government web site providing access to land, resource and property information and services.

http://www.land.vic.gov.au

• Title and property certificates online
• Information
• Reports

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Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH)

Independent not-for-profit legal referral service.

http://www.pilch.org.au

• Schemes
• Projects
• Links

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National Welfare Rights Network

Advice and assistance to individuals relating to their rights and entitlements under the Australian social security system.

http://www.welfarerights.org.au

• Types of social security payments available and a guide to eligibility
• Fact sheets and information kits
• Information for migrants and residents
• How to complain or lodge an appeal
• Social Security handbook
• Policy papers

Social Security Appeals Tribunal

Review decisions made in relation to social security, education or training payments.

http://www.ssat.gov.au

• Forms
• Guides
• Checklists

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Tenants' Union of Victoria

For residential tenants living in Victoria who require information on their legal rights and community resources.

http://www.tuv.org.au/

• Links to other tenancy and housing services
• Legislation
• Facts sheets
• Multilingual information

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VITS Language Link

Language services provider which is a proclaimed State Business Corporation.

http://www.vits.com.au

• Interpreting
• Translating
• Telephone services

National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI)

National standards body.

http://www.naati.com.au

• Directory of practitioners in Australia

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS)

Australian government service.

http://www.immi.gov.au/tis/index.htm

• Guidelines
• Information on services

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Victim's Referral Assistance Service

http://www.justice.vic.gov.au and locate service via the "business units" link

• Information on counselling scheme
• Legislation
• Information on Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal
• Frequently Asked Questions

See also:

• Legal Aid for contact details
• Court Matters for the Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (Magistrates Court)

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National Children's and Youth Law Centre

Community legal centre providing legal advice, advocacy and education in respect of legal issues as they impact on children and young people.

http://www.lawstuff.org.au

Online advice service for young people via Lawstuff

Legal and rights information eg school issues, bullying, age of consent to sex and being charged with a crime.

YouthLaw

Specialist community legal service for young people in Victoria.

http://www.youthlaw.asn.au

• Information on a range of issues
• Site for youth workers
• Law reform discussion area

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