About Us
Objectives:
The objectives of the MRCLC are:
- to provide a free and accessible legal service
- to seek legal and social change in order to create a more just society
- to address inequalities within the law and society
- to promote legal education
- to provide a legal service that recognises the social/welfare issues facing its clients
- to provide crisis counselling and support and/or referral to appropriate agencies
- to encourage community participation in the delivery of the legal services it provides
- to develop and support self-help strategies and alternate methods of dispute resolution.
The Centre receives funding from the Commonwealth and State governments, which is administered by Legal Aid Queensland.
Community Legal Centres
In Queensland, community legal centres (CLCs) have in excess of 25 years of service providing information, advice and referral, community legal education, casework and representation to the community.
Each year CLCs:
- deliver in excess of 45,000 advice services
- assist more than 39,000 individual clients
- provide casework assistance to more than 10,000 clients
- appear in court on behalf of more than 4,000 individuals
- undertake more than 500 law reform projects
- provide more than 1,000 instances of community legal education ranging from shopping centre stalls to law handbooks and resources used by the legal profession.
HISTORY OF MACKAY REGIONAL COMMUNITY LEGAL CENTRE INC.
The establishment of the centre was an initiative of Domestic Violence Resource Service (Mackay & Region) Inc. (DVRS). This service identified that a gap existed in the provision of legal services in the Mackay regional community and that many people within the community found themselves disadvantaged within the mainstream legal system.
DVRS sought approval from the Department of Families for a change of purpose of funding; this subsequent approval provided funding to employ a Project Worker from August 2002 to December 2003. The first Annual General Meeting of the MRCLC was held in October 2003 and it was officially launched on 10 December 2003 by The Honourable Rod Welford MP, Attorney General and Minister for Justice.
Funding for MRCLC (from DVRS) ceased in December 2003, however committed volunteers from within the legal, welfare and community sector indicated their willingness to contribute to the service. Along with the invaluable contribution of George Street Neighbourhood Centre Inc. Management Committee, staff and volunteers, this service commenced service delivery to clients.
The first legal advice sessions commenced 4 February 2004 at George Street Neighbourhood Centre. MRCLC has continued to provide two legal advice evenings – the first and third Wednesday of each month.
This centre continues to be reliant on volunteers to provide the Legal Advice Evenings – solicitors, social workers, evening co-ordinators and administrative workers. With their invaluable contribution, today the centre is able to offer a limited, but very necessary service to our regional community.
In June 2005, MRCLC was successful in obtaining recurrent funding from the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General. This funding enabled the service to move to new premises and to employ a full-time solicitor and administration officer, allowing the centre to further develop the community's access to the legal service.
MRCLC opened its new premises at Suite 4, City Court Arcade, 80 Victoria Street, Mackay in January 2006 and these premises were officially opened by The Honourable Linda Lavarch, Attorney General and Minister for Justice on 18 August 2006.
