Our Work

WEstjustice is a community organisation that provides free legal help to people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.

We can help with a broad range of everyday legal problems including consumer disputes, credit and debt, family law and family violence, fines, motor vehicle accidents, tenancy, youth criminal law and more.

We have offices in Footscray, Werribee and Sunshine, as well as a number of outreach services. Visit our Legal Help page to find out more.

We also provide free community legal education, undertake law reform activities and work in partnership with our local communities to deliver innovative projects that build legal capacity and improve access to justice. Visit our Community Development and Law Reform page to find out more. 

Our Vision

Westjustice believes in a just and fair society where the law and its processes don’t discriminate against people, and where those in need have ready and easy access to legal education, information, advice, casework services, systemic advocacy and reform.

Our Mission

To service the legal needs in the West in a way that addresses the systemic nature of disadvantage.

Our Aims

WEstjustice aims to be:

• A go-to organisation for state and national governments for input on relevant law and policy reform that is also routinely consulted by councils and the private sector
• A one-stop agency for legal services for vulnerable people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne
• Strongly engaged with the broader community and working within multi-agency relationships
• Supported by a highly skilled workforce with core and complimentary skills that works in collaborative cross-issue teams
• Supported by an organisational culture that values innovation, a strategic approach, public interest casework and advocacy and supports staff in their capacity to deliver our objectives
• Supported by financial stability sufficient to service the key specialist legal needs of vulnerable people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne

Our Values 

• Courage – providing creative solutions and fearless advocacy 
• Community-led – accessible and meaningful engagement towards empowerment 
• Real Impact – targeted and holistic outcomes through collaboration 
• Respect – continuing commitment to inclusion and cultural safety 
• Kindness – dedication to helping people 
• Trust – act with integrity and renowned for producing high quality results 

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We are pleased to introduce our WEstjustice Strategy 2020-23.

Our Strategy recognises that by refining our organisational functionality we can deepen the impact of our work within our communities.

We welcome your feedback.

We are pleased to introduce our WEstjustice Impact Areas 2020-23.

Our Impact Areas publicly demonstrate our areas of priority and the manner in which we will deliver our services. You can read our Systemic Impact Reports here, July - December 2023, January - June 2023, July - December 2022 and January - June 2022. 

We remain guided by the legal needs of our communities and will continue to consult and review.

We welcome your feedback.

Funding Bodies

WEstjustice receives State and Commonwealth government funding through Victoria Legal Aid. We receive funding for our Consumer Advice and Advocacy Program and our Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Program from Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Our Clinical Legal Education program receives funding from Victoria University.

Our community development and law reform projects are funded by a variety of philanthropic and other sources including:

• Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Victorian Government
• Department of Justice and Regulation, Victorian Government
• Department of Social Services, Commonwealth Government
• Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
• Hobsons Bay City Council
• Hoppers Club
• Insurance Council of Australia
• Jack Brockoff Foundation
• Legal Services Board Victoria
• Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
• Newsboys Foundation
• R E Ross Trust
• Scanlon Foundation
• Slater and Gordon
• Taxi Services Commission
• Victorian Government CLC Assistance Fund
• Victorian Women’s Trust
• Wyndham City Council 

Partner Organisations

WEstjustice works in partnership with our communities to provide legal services for vulnerable people, build legal capacity in our community and address systemic legal issues that affect access to justice.

Our partner organisations include:

• Ashurst
• Australian Bankers Association
• CommUnity Plus
• Djerriwah Health Services
• EACH Social and Community Health
• Djerriwarrh health services
• Domestic Violence Victoria
• Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW
• Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria
• Financial Counselling Australia
• Grange P-12 College
• HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
• Insurance Council of Australia
• King and Wood Mallesons
• MiCare New Hope Foundation
• Social Security Rights Victoria
• Tandem Media
• Victoria University
• Werribee Mercy Hospital
• Wyndham Community and Education Centre
• Wyndham Youth Resource Centre

We also collaborate closely with:

• AMES
• Anglicare
• Catholic Care
• Deakin University
• Good Shepherd
• Hobsons Bay City Council
• ISIS Primary Care
• Sunshine Legal Aid
• Williamstown Community Education Centre
• Women’s Health West
• Wyndham City Council

Like us on facebook and follow us on twitter.

We are pleased to introduce our WEstjustice Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan. 

Our WEstjustice Constitution can be found here.

Our WEstjustice Privacy Statement can be found here.

Client Service Charter

Our WEstjustice Client Service Charter can be found here.

Victim’s Charter complaints

The Victim’s Charter Act 2006 (Victims Charter) aims to recognise the impact of crime on the victims of that crime, including on their families, witnesses, and in some cases, the broader community.

WEstjustice is a designated victims’ service agency under the Victim’s Charter. This means that when staff become aware or should be reasonably aware that a client is a victim of crime or person adversely affected by crime (as defined in the Victim’s Charter) it must have regard to the Charter’s Principles in dealing with them.

Victims may make a complaint to WEstjustice if they believe the centre has not upheld a Victim’s Charter Principle. If they are dissatisfied with WEstjustice’s response, they may seek a review from the Victims of Crime Commissioner.

WEstjustice staff must provide clients with information about the complaints process under this Policy if they raise concerns about compliance with the Victims Charter Principles.

To make a complaint contact your lawyer or email admin@westjustice.org.au.