About Us
Advocating for Equality, Empowering Communities: Our Journey, Your Justice
Our Story
Assisting people to realise their legal rights. We promote social justice for all, focusing on those who experience social and economic disadvantages.
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About Illawarra Legal Centre
The Illawarra Legal Centre (ILC) was established in 1985.
Our employees, volunteer solicitors, clients and the Illawarra community often refer to us as ‘the Legal Centre’ or just ‘the Centre’.
We are very much part of the fabric of the Illawarra.
However, the essence of what makes the ILC a real Community Legal Centre is not the old, familiar building in Greene Street, Warrawong, or the offices at one of its outreach services. It is the hard-working, dedicated team of lawyers, advocates, community legal educators, administrative staff and volunteers that provide the services so urgently needed by the people of the Illawarra and South Coast.
In 1985, when we first opened our doors it was a direct result of community action and support.
The Centre’s sole staff member, a part-time solicitor, was assisted by a local solicitor to develop our inaugural advice roster. This enabled us to to provide free legal advice to the local community, and in particular, to those who had little hope of accessing affordable legal help.
What We Hope To Achieve
Maintain services
Provide advice, advocacy and/or referral
Undertake policy analysis, review existing laws and to lobby
Develop and implement community legal education programs
What We Believe In
The Illawarra Legal Centre Inc (ILC) is part of a group of community based legal centres throughout NSW and the rest of Australia. Legal Centres define three major areas of their work – Casework, Community Legal Education and Law Reform.
The ILC has a philosophy of making law accessible to those who are disadvantaged in our society due to a lack of finances, education, English language proficiency and those people generally considered in poverty. The ILC recognises that poverty and other forms of disadvantage are about access to power – power over resources, information, relationships and decision making. Along with other community legal centres, the ILC attempts to address this lack of power in relation to the law.
The ILC believes in approaching matters in a non-adversarial way and uses litigation as a last resort. We acknowledge that for many matters the only appropriate resolution available is through the court system.
Where You Can Find Us
ILC is located in Wollongong, within the Illawarra region, south of Sydney.
We provide free legal advice and Financial Counselling across the local government areas of Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama.
In addition to these areas our Tenants & Welfare Rights Services reach as far as Wingecarribee, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Bega Valley.
The ILC is one of nearly 180 independent, non-profit community legal centres across Australia, all of whom are members of the Community Legal Centres Australia.
Board
The ILC is managed by a Board comprised of representatives from the legal profession, the local community and staff members. The 2023 – 2024 Committee members are:
Michael McGrath
Peter Moggach
Solange Frost
Angela Robinson
David St.Quintin
Mark Rix
Ron Witton
Catherine O’Neill
Claire Brown
Jackson Cocks
Louise Farroway
Phillip Dicalfas
Funding Sources
The Illawarra Legal Centre would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank all of our funding bodies for their continued support of our services. The Illawarra Legal Centre’s core operation sources of funding are:
State and Commonwealth Governments
through the Community Legal Service Funding Program (CLSP). These grants are administered by Legal Aid NSW.
NSW Fair Trading
which supports our Tenancy and Financial Counselling programs.
Department of families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
supports our Financial Counselling Gambling Program.