By Sophie Poredos
Hills Community Aid has an exciting new partnership with Western Sydney Community Legal Service, offering free legal advice in the Hills.
Western Sydney Community Legal Centre provides representation for those in Western Sydney who face financial hardship or barriers, with offices based in Parramatta and Rooty Hill, To answer the growing demand of legal advice in the community, Hills Community Aid (HCA) has partnered with the Legal Centre as the first free legal service in the Hills. Solicitor Gladys Amal will be operating at the clinic on the first Wednesday of the month by appointment. Gladys expressed how the service will benefit the area and answer the growing demand for legal access for those suffering domestic violence:
“This is a much needed service for women and children who are experiencing family and domestic violence. Our service will offer assistance to those who may still be in a FDV situation or going through a separation”.
Samiha Alameddine, who is the managing Family Law Solicitor at Western Sydney Community Legal Centre organised the outreach program with Hills Community Aid. With over 10 years experience in the field, Samiha’s background in law revolves around family and domestic violence, including previous experience in the Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service.
Samiha is excited to share the pro-bono service with Hills Community Aid as it reiterates the mission of her workplace:
“The focus of Western Sydney Community Legal Centre is to ensure that those in need have access to legal services and adjacent social services, to help with navigating the justice system and in doing so, improve their lives”.“We were looking for a service in the area where we could support people experiencing family and domestic violence with legal advice. Hills Community Aid was recommended to us and we are very excited to be working with them on this collaboration, and are looking forward to servicing the Hills area”.
Mici Beer who has facilitated this journey, is the Executive Officer & Program Director for Hills Community Aid. Mici experienced firsthand the growing number of people asking for legal advice, and is excited for this opportunity to meet that demand.
“Hills Community Aid saw that there was a need in our community for free legal advice in the Hills, especially with the growing number of people needing family support services. We want to make sure people are getting the correct advice with Western Sydney Community Legal Centre. We look forward to the partnership and the support we are going to be able to offer our community in the future”.
Appointments will begin on the 4th of September where people can book with HCA for free legal advice on areas of family law and domestic violence. The clinic will be run on the first Wednesday of each month, with appointments available by contacting Hills Community Aid on 9339 8620 or [email protected].
