By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
SPRINGVALE Monash Legal Service has announced a reduced 2014-’15 profit amid profound funding challenges ahead.
At its annual general meeting on 28 October, the service’s balance sheet showed a yearly profit of less than $5000 – built on abandoning $86,000 of office renovations and outreach services.
Executive director Kristen Wallwork said the service had heard nothing from newly-installed Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on reversing 30 per cent funding cuts from 2017.
In the meantime, funding levels are frozen at pre-2014 levels despite spiralling wage costs, she said.
“What we’re trying to do is plan and manage the service so we can wear it without cuts to services.
“It’s hampering us because I’m scared of setting up outreach services.
“There’s research which shows there are legal service gaps in this region but what’s the point of setting it up for 12 months if there’s no funding after that?”
Ms Wallwork expressed gratitude for a recent $100,000 state funding injection to help chronically-ill Monash Health patients with legal matters such as debt, employment disputes and family violence.
The funding will also cover boosting duty lawyers and services for family violence – the service’s most prevalent legal matter.
In 2014-’15, the service provided legal advice to more than 3600 clients, of which about 65 per cent were low income.
The meeting celebrated 42 years of community legal service, including a successful 20-year partnership with South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and 40 years with Monash University Law School.
It also unveiled its new patron, the soon-to-resign Justice Shane Marshall who spoke openly on his serious depression and his hope for a less stressful life after 20 years on the bench.
