The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW (LJF) recently completed stage two of the review of Legal Aid NSW outreach services. The review highlights the diversity in outreach practice that arises in response to diverse needs and capabilities of clients, geographical contexts, resourcing, opportunities for local engagement, and the available local services scaffolding to build upon. The outreach review details features of good practice which include: well planned and targeted services. coordination and collaboration of outreach, within Legal Aid NSW and between Legal Aid NSW, host agencies and other services. services that connect and engage clients. services that are appropriate to clients' legal need and capability, and that are consistent and flexible. effective referral pathways. recognition that legal outreach may be considered a specialist form of practice. suitable administrative support arrangements for all stages, from intake through to referral. sustained and supported services. Information request 5.3 The Commission seeks feedback on how best to facilitate effective referrals for legal assistance between organisations responsible for human service delivery, and, where appropriate, greater information sharing across departments and agencies. Experience has shown that facilitating effective referrals and information sharing between human service agencies and legal assistance services requires multiple approaches. Legal Aid NSW has a number of programs and initiatives that facilitate effective referral and information sharing. Examples outlined below include outreach legal advice services, the Cooperative Legal Service Delivery Program, legal checklists and health/justice partnerships. Outreach legal advice services Outreach services have been shown to effectively reach people with complex needs who have not sought assistance before or who would not have otherwise sought legal assistance. In 2012-13, Legal Aid NSW provided 12,781 legal advice services through outreach. The 198 outreach locations and host agencies are selected based on legal need, existing use by the targeted client group and accessibility. Outreach service locations include homeless services, Aboriginal medical services, Aboriginal community organisations, Migrant Resource Centres, Neighbourhood Centres, Settlement Services, Centrelink, courts and correctional facilities.
The Law and Justice Foundation of NSW (LJF) recently completed stage two of the review of Legal Aid NSW outreach services. The review highlights the diversity in outreach practice that arises in response to diverse needs and capabilities of clients, geographical contexts, resourcing, opportunities for local engagement, and the available local services scaffolding to build upon. The outreach review details features of good practice which include: well planned and targeted services. coordination and collaboration of outreach, within Legal Aid NSW and between Legal Aid NSW, host agencies and other services. services that connect and engage clients. services that are appropriate to clients' legal need and capability, and that are consistent and flexible. effective referral pathways. recognition that legal outreach may be considered a specialist form of practice. suitable administrative support arrangements for all stages, from intake through to referral. sustained and supported services. Information request 5.3 The Commission seeks feedback on how best to facilitate effective referrals for legal assistance between organisations responsible for human service delivery, and, where appropriate, greater information sharing across departments and agencies. Experience has shown that facilitating effective referrals and information sharing between human service agencies and legal assistance services requires multiple approaches. Legal Aid NSW has a number of programs and initiatives that facilitate effective referral and information sharing. Examples outlined below include outreach legal advice services, the Cooperative Legal Service Delivery Program, legal checklists and health/justice partnerships. Outreach legal advice services Outreach services have been shown to effectively reach people with complex needs who have not sought assistance before or who would not have otherwise sought legal assistance. In 2012-13, Legal Aid NSW provided 12,781 legal advice services through outreach. The 198 outreach locations and host agencies are selected based on legal need, existing use by the targeted client group and accessibility. Outreach service locations include homeless services, Aboriginal medical services, Aboriginal community organisations, Migrant Resource Centres, Neighbourhood Centres, Settlement Services, Centrelink, courts and correctional facilities.