Michael Smith
Michael Smith is the CEO of Eastern Community Legal Centre and has been leading the organisation for over twenty years. He leads a team of over sixty staff and many volunteers as a strong multidisciplinary legal service that works to prevent problems, progress fair outcomes and support the wellbeing and resilience of communities and community members in Melbourne’s East.
ECLC works across a continuum of response, early intervention and prevention with a range of programs including family violence, elder abuse, multicultural engagement and climate justice. It leads four major health justice partnerships and other multidisciplinary teams.
Michael was National Chair (and spokesperson) for the National Association of Community Legal Centres (now CLCs Australia) from 2010-2015. He is the Chair of Knowmore Legal Service (the national CLC for abuse survivors) and a Director of Holstep Health.
Michael is passionate about developing innovative partnerships and multidisciplinary approaches to client and community needs. Originally a youth worker (BA), Michael has postgraduate qualifications (Master of Social Work) and is a Graduate Member of the AICD.
Power in Partnership
Join us for two days of interactive and energising learning at Health Justice 2025.
Hear from international and local speakers on how power shows up in our work, and what it takes to power authentic engagement. Discover the latest in research, join the CollabLab, and find hope in energising conversations about how we can change our systems for a better future.
Date: 3 & 4 December, 2025
Location: University of Technology Sydney
Whether you’re working in legal, health, community services, government, policy, research or funding, you’ll find plenty of sessions to get inspired by at Health Justice 2025. With limited places to ensure a highly participatory event, get your tickets now and secure your seat.
In a world of growing complexity and uncertainty the importance of robust and innovative social, health and legal services cannot be understated. Innovation is, by its nature, challenging, meaning that gatherings like this one are all the more important.
The conference is a fantastic opportunity to really get to meet colleagues, friends, and other practitioners and professionals across both the legal profession as well as health. These events are so important because they really start the conversation around what our respective professions need in the future, and what our community needs.
