Are you building, renovating or dealing with a tradie dispute?
Join us for a FREE legal talk presented by HoBAS –the Home Building Advocacy Service.
This workshop aims to assist people to:
know their rights,
resolve disputes sooner, and
know when & where to ask for help and advice.
HoBAS is a NSW statewide legal service supporting homeowners and consumers who are experiencing problems with builders, tradespeople, or owner-builders. The service is independent, free, and available to anyone in NSW.
Come along to their FREE legal talk at Wollongong City Library on 12th February 2026 at 6pm.
For forty years, the heartbeat of the Illawarra Legal Centre has been its people. ILC has grown because countless individuals have give their time, skill, courage and compassion to the pursuit of justice.
On 10 December, the world marks Human Rights Day and reaffirms its commitment to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This historic document upholds the inherent rights to which every individual is entitled as a human being – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or any other status.
The theme for this year is “Human Rights, Our Everyday Essentials”. It reminds us that human rights are not abstract ideals—they shape and support our daily lives in ways we may not always see. From access to housing, safety, education and healthcare, to the ability to speak freely, participate in community, and live without discrimination.
Human rights underpin the dignity and wellbeing of every person.
As the world faces challenges new and ongoing; climate change, conflicts, pandemics, racism and inequalities, the values, and rights enshrined in the UDHR provide guideposts for our collective actions that do not leave anyone behind.
This year’s theme also reminds us that human rights are positive, essential and attainable (Our Everyday Essentials), and that protecting them is the key to building stronger, fairer and more resilient communities.
ILC actively contributes to the advancement of human rights by providing free legal services to members of our community. We strive to empower individuals to realise their legal rights, with a particular focus on those experiencing social and economic disadvantages in the Illawarra and surrounding areas.
By acknowledging this significant day, we underscore the importance of promoting initiatives to address issues such as exclusion, inequality, gender equity, discrimination, homelessness, poverty and justice for all.
Stand up for your rights. Stand up for the rights of others.
Human rights are our everyday essentials. We all have a role to play.
ILC Annual Report 2025 – Celebrating 40 Years of Justice & Community
From our humble beginnings in 1985, with just one lawyer and one youth worker, Illawarra Legal Centre has grown into a vital and resilient institution with over 20 dedicated staff. This growth is more than just numbers – it refelects a deepening commitment to access to justice and a community that continues to place its trust in us.
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations (UN) recognised day held on 3 December each year to celebrate the contributions and achievements of people with disability.
The UN theme for IDPwD this year is ‘‘Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress” — reminding us that real social progress depends on ensuring everyone can participate fully, contribute, and belong.
In Australia alone, there are 5.5 million people with disability – neighbours, colleagues, classmates, friends, family. Not all disability is the same, and some disabilities are invisible.
By joining the conversation and listening to the stories and lived experiences of people with disability, we can challenge our own perceptions about disability and help make positive changes in the community.
We encourage everyone to get involved and join the celebration! Together, we can all take action to make our community more accessible, challenge stereotypes, remove barriers, and promote inclusive and respectful attitudes and behaviours in our community.
For more information about IDPwD, visit www.idpwd.com.au or follow @idpwd on Facebook and Twitter.
Today, let’s commit to building a community where everyone belongs, everyone matters, and no one is left behind.
Illawarra Legal Centre (ILC) is proud to mark 40 years of service to the Illawarra and South Coast community, celebrating four decades of providing free legal services, advocacy, and support to people facing social and economic disadvantage.
Founded in 1985 after years of determined campaigning by local community activists, ILC began with little more than a bare lino floor and a big commitment to justice. From those humble beginnings, the service has grown into one of the region’s most trusted voices for fairness, human rights, and community empowerment.
Over the past four decades, Illawarra Legal Centre has assisted tens of thousands of people through programs spanning General Legal, Welfare Rights, Tenants Service, Financial Counselling, Child Support, Children’s Court Assistance, Aboriginal Legal Access Program, Community Legal Education, and Law Reform.
ILC Chairperson Michael McGrath said the milestone reflects the centre’s longstanding commitment to reducing barriers to justice.
“For forty years, Illawarra Legal Centre has stood beside people who would otherwise have nowhere to turn. We work with people facing discrimination, unfair debts, family breakdown, homelessness, family violence, financial hardship and many other challenges. Our goal has always been simple — to help people realise their rights and ensure that justice is not just for those who can afford it.”
ILC Coordinator Louise Farroway highlighted the power of the organisation’s integrated approach. “Our clients rarely have just one issue. Many people have a range of complex and intersecting issues. Someone seeking help with a tenancy problem may also be managing Centrelink disputes, financial stress, or family issues. We’ve built a multidisciplinary service so people can get meaningful, holistic support in one place, from people who understand their circumstances.”
The 40-year celebration will place a key focus on honouring the hundreds of volunteers who have bolstered the Centre from its inception. This esteemed group encompasses a wide range of roles, from volunteer solicitors and law students to community advocates and board members. Their commitment spans decades, with many having volunteered for over 20, 30, or even the full 40 years of the Centre’s history.
“Our volunteers are the heart of our organisation,” Ms Farroway said. “We rely on them. For decades, they have freely given their time, skills, and compassion to make sure people in our community have access to justice. Their support is essential to our service and community.
“From bold campaigns challenging unfair government decisions, to supporting young people at the Children’s Court, to working alongside people facing disadvantage and discrimination, ILC’s commitment has never wavered.”
“Across four decades, what has remained constant is our belief that everyone deserves fairness,” Ms Farroway said. “This celebration is not only about looking back — it’s about renewing our commitment to justice for the next 40 years.”
