NSW Legal Assistance Strategy

The NSW Legal Assistance Strategy and Action Plan (PDF, 2.3 MB) is a collective vision to inform the NSW legal assistance sector’s work over the next three years and articulates the NSW Government’s priorities for the delivery of legal assistance services.

The NSW Legal Assistance Strategy and Action Plan recognises the important work performed by the legal assistance sector and provides support for a connected, accessible and culturally responsive legal assistance sector that helps people experiencing disadvantage address their needs and thrive in their communities.

Strategy priorities

The NSW Legal Assistance Strategy sets out four key priorities:

1. The legal assistance sector is focused on addressing the needs of people who experience disadvantage.
2. The legal assistance sector mobilises all avenues and opportunities available to them to meet the outcomes of the Closing the Gap Agreement.
3. The legal assistance sector supports efforts to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence.
4. The legal assistance sector collaborates to strengthen and focus its collective capacity to support equitable access to legal services.

Action on the priorities

The NSW Legal Assistance Action Plan reflects the collective approach the legal assistance sector has taken to realise the strategic priorities outlined above. Some highlights of the Action Plan include:

• a project to develop a more clear understanding of legal need and gaps in NSW
• a whole-of-sector forum on culturally safe and responsive legal service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients
• supporting the establishment of the Aboriginal Women's Advisory Network to guide Aboriginal-led and place-based solutions to address domestic and family violence
• sharing experiences and initiatives to drive whole-of-sector advancements and innovation in the delivery of legal assistance services.

Background

The NSW Legal Assistance Strategy and Action Plan has been developed in accordance with the National Legal Assistance Partnership 2020-2025, and in collaboration with key stakeholders including Legal Aid NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT and community legal centres through Community Legal Centres NSW. It aligns with the National Strategic Framework of Legal Assistance, the NSW Premier’s Priorities and the strategic plans of the legal assistance sector.

The National Legal Assistance Partnership 2020-2025 is a national partnership agreement between the Australian Government and all States and Territories for Commonwealth funded legal assistance services.

For more information

If you have any questions about the NSW Legal Assistance Strategy and Action Plan, please contact dcjlegalassistanceteam@dcj.nsw.gov.au

About the artwork

The artwork above features a textured mosaic of lines and dots, which symbolises the complex legal landscape for people experiencing disadvantage in NSW. The legal assistance sector is shown as four interconnected circles, which represent the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT, community legal centres, Legal Aid NSW and other service providers (such as Family Violence Prevention Legal Services and private lawyers).

Together, the sector seeks to provide accessible and culturally safe services to those navigating their way through this complex legal landscape.

Charmaine Mumbulla.