Nonetheless, the organisation believes there is "much more work to be done"
Health Justice Australia has praised the provision of $3.9bn in funding for the legal assistance sector.
The funding package will come via the new National Access to Justice Partnership. It was announced by the Australian government last week.
The agreement will come into effect on July 2025 and inject financing into frontline legal assistance services such as community legal centres, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, legal aid commissions, and family violence prevention and legal services.
acknowledged the Australian Government's recent commitment of $3.9 billion in funding to the legal assistance sector through the National Access to Justice Partnership. Beginning in July 2025, this funding will support frontline services, including community legal centres, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services, legal aid commissions, and family violence prevention and legal services.
“Legal assistance is an essential tool in preventing crisis in people's lives. A well-funded sector means that people can access the help they need when and where they need it, before they reach a crisis point. It is essential we fund services so they can provide timely intervention to deal with problems before they escalate”, Health Justice Australia CEO Sheree Limbrick said.
Leaders in the health and social sectors have been calling for this move; last week, Health Justice Australia issued a letter to federal health and social services ministers that signed by over 25 of these leaders. The letter highlighted the role of legal assistance in health and wellbeing.
Limbrick acknowledged that the funding announcement was “a welcome first step in addressing access to justice”.
“But there is much more work to be done”, she said.
