New partnership for legal support

Anew

partnership that aims to improve health and legal outcomes through early intervention of legal problems has started at Grampians Community Health.

The two-year Health Justice Partnership, HJP, between Central Highlands Community Legal Centre and Grampians Community Health has State Government support from Department of Justice funding.

The Health Justice Partnership program is based at Stawell Health and Community Centre and will also be accessible at Ararat and Horsham Grampians Community Health venues.

The partnership allows a lawyer to become immersed in day-to-day community health service activities while providing services to Grampians Community Health clients.

Grampians Community Health chief executive Greg Little said he had no hesitation when approached by Central Highlands Community Legal Centre to be part of the partnership.

“A call came out of the blue on a Saturday morning from Lisa Buckland, centre manager of Central Highland Community Legal Centre, asking me if I wanted to partner in having a Health Justice Partnership lawyer working at Grampians Community Health for our community – I could not say yes quick enough,” he said.

Ms Buckland said Central Highlands Community Legal Centre was just as excited as Grampians Community Health in bringing the program to the region.

“The increased awareness of family violence has highlighted the need for greater access to local legal support for people from all walks of life in our community,” she said.

“This is about giving back to the western Victorian community a program that has worked well in other areas. There has been a gap in the west of the state.”

Central Highlands Community Legal Centre and Grampians Community Health have appointed lawyer Bronte Maddaford, who has experience in family law, family violence, dispute resolution and mental health, to work from Grampians Community Health four days a week.

Ms Buckland said the HJP lawyer would be complementary to the privately practising lawyers.

“The focus for the HJP is on people who are vulnerable or disadvantaged, often where there is a gap that Legal Aid isn’t able to cover,” she said.

“We know that if people are able to identify and take action to address their legal issues there is a likelihood of reducing health problems including stress and anxiety.”

Part of Ms Maddaford’s role will be providing training for Grampians Community Health staff and broader health sector representatives to identify correct and timely legal help for people.

Mr Little said people often confided in a community health professional on issues and until now staff members had a gap in how they could help them.

“Grampians Community Health staff will now have the knowledge and the resource in Bronte to get in early and stop legal issues progressing before they have an adverse impact on the health and welfare of a person or family,” he said.

People can contact the health justice lawyer or any Grampians Community Health service by calling 5358 7400 or visiting Horsham, Ararat or Stawell offices.