HEALTH JUSTICE PARTNERSHIPS DARA READ & CODY BAXTER

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1 HEALTH JUSTICE PARTNERSHIPS DARA READ & CODY BAXTER

2 WHO WE ARE The Civil Law Service for Aboriginal Communities (CLSAC) at Legal Aid NSW is a team dedicated to the legal needs of Aboriginal people, predominantly those living in regional and remote areas of New South Wales and Aboriginal women in custody. CLSAC has offices in Sydney, Orange, Lismore and Nowra, and conducts outreach to 21 communities across the state.

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4 We have a dedicated free call advice line for Aboriginal clients to get legal advice across NSW

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7 2.8 million people in NSW experience a significant legal problem each year 85%of these are civil problems only 50% of people will seek help, more likely from a health practitioner than a legal practitioner 20% of people will take no action Indigenous people who experience legal problems had an increased likelihood of experiencing multiple legal problems. 1 in 5 people say their civil law problem led to a health problem.

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10 "In Australia many people on low incomes have three or more legal problems a year. Evidence shows they are more likely to talk about these with a trusted health professional than a lawyer. And those legal problems can o=en contribute to - or even cause - their health problems." H E A L T H J U S T I C E A U S T R A L I A

11 HEALTH JUSTICE PARTNERSHIPS Uses informal and formal methods to refer patients between allied legal and medical services. Improve engagement with disadvantaged community groups and a better understanding of their legal needs Integrated care and support provided by relevant services to patients to achieve hollistic outcomes.

12 "GIVEN THE BARRIERS, SENSITIVITIES AND COMPLEXITIES ASSOCIATED WITH [HEALTH CARE], IT MAKES SENSE FOR LAWYERS AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TO WORK TOGETHER, RATHER THAN IN ISOLATION." Source: Justice Connect, 'a health justice partnership to address elder abuse - first year report March 2016'

13 CASE STUDY: TOM

14 CASE STUDY: SHARON

15 LELGAL AID NSW - HEALTH JUSTICE PARTNERSHIPS Red link Contact: Michael Bevan and Jessica McLaren FACS, Redfern Legal Centre and Sydney Local Health District Bidyari Aboriginal Health Centre (Miller) Contact: Mary Lovelock South West Sydney Local Health District and Legal Aid contact Mary Lovelock Bungee Bidgel Aboriginal Health Clinic Contact: Stephanie Steiner and Gabrielle Cantrall Partnership with the GP Unit of Hornsby Hospital Mid North Coast Civil and Family Outreaches Contact: Russell Cavanagh Tobwabba AMS (Forster) and Durri AMS (Kempsey) Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation (Airds) Contact: Damien Hennessy Sydney West Aboriginal Health Services (Mt Druitt) Contact: Michael Bevan Collarenebri District Hospital Contact: Michael Bevan Maayu Mali Rehabilitation Centre (Moree) Contact: Isabel Hunt North West AHS Outreaches Contact: Elizabeth Clark Brewarrina Aboriginal Health Service Bourke Aboriginal Health Service Central West Civil Outreaches Contact: Patricia Bray Murrin Bridge Aboriginal Health Services Condobolin Aboriginal Medical Centre Box Ridge AHS (Coraki) Contact: Merinda Dutton

16 WORK AND DEVELOPMENT ORDERS Work and Development Orders (WDOs) are a way to help people pay off fines. People can clear their fines by doing activities such as unpaid work, counselling, courses or treatment programs WDOs lift licence suspensions, business restrictions, and avoid bank account garnishees or other property seizure orders. Opens doors to engage with services and programs, new skills and employment opportunities WDOs are supervised by government agencies, organisations or health practitioners called WDO sponsors'.

17 $100 million in fines debt cleared Over 80,000 total WDOs have been approved since % of all WDOs are drug or alcohol treatment programs, the most common activity overall for all participants There are currently 2,238 sponsors registered to support WDOs, comprising: Non-government organisations 988 (44%) Health practitioners 942 (42%) Government agencies 308 (14%)

18 SPECIFICALLY FOR ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER CLIENTS: 21% of WDOs are completed by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander clients The average debt per participant was $3,281.27, which is approximately 6.77% higher than the average for non-aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants engage in higher rates of education/life skills courses and drug or alcohol treatment, but less medical or mental health treatment compared to the non-aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population (Page 32 of the WDO Annual Report)

19 CASE STUDY: TIM

20 WDO SPONSORS 1. Apply to Revenue NSW to become a sponsor (Legal Aid NSW can help you do this) 2. Agree on activities or a treatmen t plan 3. Report hours to Revenue NSW once a month

21 Contact:

22 QUESTIONS? When in doubt contact CLSAC directly on