Specialist Showcasing

2010

Presented by: Madeleine Heath & Josie Smith

Wirringa BaiyaABORIGINAL WOMEN’S

LEGAL CENTRE Inc.

Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre

Wirringa Baiya

• Wirringa Baiya – (meaning and language groups)

• Wirringa – Women

Central inland New South Wales

• Baiya – Speak

The Sydney language groups which includes the Eora, Dharug and Darrkinyung comes from the North-West of New South Wales

Wirringa Baiya

• Wirringa Baiya is a community legal centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and youth

• Wirringa Baiya is funded by the NSW Attorney General’s Department.

• Wirringa Baiya is a state-wide community legal service (NSW)

• Wirringa Baiya is managed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women

• Wirringa Baiya provides a free call 1800 telephone information and advice line 5 days a week

Wirringa Baiya - staffing profile

• Coordinator (Aboriginal) - 35hrs/pw

• Principal Solicitor - 35hrs/pw

• 2 Part time Solicitors @21hrs/pw

• Community Legal Educator (Aboriginal) - 21hrs/pw

• Administration Officer (Aboriginal) - 35hrs/pw

History & Purpose

• Wirringa Baiya was founded in 1997 in response to an identified need to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women with legal information and advice particularly in relation to issues regarding violence

Statistics

The NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research 2003 shows that Aboriginal women are:

4 times more likely to be a victim of murder

5 times more likely to be a victim of domestic violence The offender was Aboriginal in 85% of domestic violence assaults

Aboriginal women are more than 3 times more likely to be a victim of sexual assault

Statistics cont;

A study of the Aboriginal female inmates in NSW prisons showed that 78% of the group were victims of violence as adults

70% were victims of child sexual assault

44% were victims of adult sexual assault (Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council, ”Speak Out, Speak Strong” 2002)

Wirringa Baiya

Wirringa Baiya strives to participate equally in the 3 areas of legal work

1. Legal casework (advice and information)2. Law reform3. Community legal education

Legal Advice providedGeneral advice (no casework)

• Family Law• Credit & Debt• Medical negligence• Child Support• Personal Injury & accidents• Complaints against doctors & nurses• Neighbourhood disputes• Guardianship Tribunal matters

Legal advice and caseworkGeneral advice only

• Family Law• Care and Protection • Credit and Debt• Personal injury and accidents• Medical negligence• Wills and Estates• Complaints against doctors and nurses• Guardianship Tribunal matters• Neighbourhood disputes• Employment and unfair dismissals• Legal Aid (i.e. how to get it)

Legal advice and casework

• Domestic violence (Apprehended Violence Orders and victims compensation claims)

• Victims compensation • Sexual harassment• Abuse of process in relation to young people (e.g. complaints

against juvenile detention centres • Discrimination• Sexual assault and child sexual assault (victims compensation

claims) • Freedom of information applications• Complaints against the police, correctional services and Community

Services NSW

No advice

• Buying a house

• Native Title

• Anything in relation to a business or company

• Workers Compensation

• Women calling on behalf of adult male relatives or friends in relation to a legal problem

Fact Sheets Me & Security Guards Bullying Domestic Violence & AVO’s Me & the Gunjies Going to Court Need a Lawyer? Discrimination & Sexual Assault Victim’s Compensation Depression & Self Harm Homelessness Drink Safe Do You Need Legal Help? Don’t Be Shame - Let’s Yarn!

Projects

• Aboriginal Women’s Corroboree

• Sexual Assault Campaign - ‘Sexual Abuse is not our Lore’

• ‘Black Out Violence’ Campaign

• ‘Drink Safe’ project

• Little Black Book for strong black women

DRINK SAFEWatch your drink for spiking !

Drink Safe - wallet card

Aboriginal Women’s Corroboree

2002 Marrickville, 2004 La Perouse, 2005 Redfern, 2006 Redfern & 2008 Central Coast

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are needed to see this picture.

Little Black Book for strong black women

2009/2010

Yabun Concert - Survival Day

January 26th 2006

The end