In a recent open letter, a coalition of leading health professionals urge government ministers to increase investment in the legal assistance sector. We need change now, for the health and wellbeing of our community.
We know that seeing a lawyer can be good for your health.
As Research Director Suzie Forell explains, some of the issues health professionals see on a day-to-day basis may have legal solutions – issues ranging from housing to debt, employment, domestic violence and more. In fact, says paediatrician Professor Sharon Goldfeld, health services contribute just 10% to people’s actual health. Bringing legal assistance into health settings is critical to ensuring the health and wellbeing of our communities.
The open letter reads, “The new legal assistance agreement needs to be supported with a significant increase in investment in the sector from 2025. As health and social sector leaders, we strongly urge you to endorse this investment in improving access to justice, and consequently the health and wellbeing outcomes of the most vulnerable in our community.”
Endorsed by:
When we break open professional silos, everyone wins.
Across health and justice, people are coming together to collaborate. These are the professionals, says paediatrician Professor Sharon Goldfeld, who see their role as making a fundamental difference to the social fabric of this country.
“Some people come to the table like me with a strong public health lens, others come to the table through the private sector, and others don’t come to the table at all. That’s just the nature of the beast, I don’t think you can force people to the table.”
“But for those who do want to come to the table: we can learn from each other, and we can make a difference.”
Let's talk about where funding should come from.
The National Access to Justice Partnership
The NAJP (formerly the NLAP) is the main source of funding for the legal assistance sector, but it’s not enough. We call for a significant increase in investment from 2025.
The NAJP can support healthcare
A strong legal assistance sector contributes to reforms in health and social sectors, including Closing the Gap, the safety of women and children, and mental health.
The NAJP is currently being negotiated. Health and social sector leaders strongly urge governments across Australia to increase their investment in legal assistance.
Healthcare staff just aren't equipped to deal with legal complexity.
While it does sound strange to have a lawyer embedded in a healthcare service, we know it makes a real impact, says Tom Dalton, CEO at Australia-wide community health organisation Neami National.
“Our healthcare staff don’t necessarily feel equipped with information and understanding of the legal system, yet they find themselves spending a lot of time with clients trying to work through legal complexity.”
Case study: Accessing legal help within an abusive relationship
Ella was a patient at a perinatal mental health unit. She had two children with her partner, who was stalking and controlling her, and threatening to harm her and himself.
He’d also hacked into her phone, bank accounts and social media accounts, and Ella was concerned he was monitoring her texts and calls.
The mental health until referred Ella to their health justice partnership for help.
Because it was likely Ella’s partner was tracking her, the partnership lawyer met with her at an appointment with her psychologist. This familiar environment also helped make Ella feel more comfortable.
The lawyer gave Ella advice about applying for a Family Violence Order but she was terrified of how her partner would respond.
Five days later Ella contacted the lawyer to apply for the order. The lawyer met her at the Magistrates Court and successfully applied for an Interim Family Violence Order. The lawyer also worked with the police to make sure the order was served to her partner when he did not have their children with him.
Ella’s partner eventually accepted the orders and the abuse on the phone stopped. Ella’s psychologist told the partnership lawyer Ella would not have had the confidence to apply for the Family Violence Order without having had the initial meeting with the lawyer and the psychologist.
Legal problems impact a family's health and wellbeing.
Paediatrician and Associate Director of Research at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Professor Harriet Hiscock, has seen first-hand the benefits of lawyers embedded in healthcare services alongside healthcare workers.
“In my own practice I had a 14-year old girl in country Victoria who was living with her father. She was unable to go to school because she had some neurodiverse issues… they had just enrolled her in a virtual school when Dad got an eviction notice. So I looked at their local community health centre, saw through Health Justice Australia that there was a lawyer and I emailed the dad and said, hey you can go there for free, and this is your way in to see the lawyer. That’s what he did – and the lawyer was able to help with housing support.
I’m pleased to say they’re now in stable housing and not having to live in their car. What a huge affect on the health and wellbeing of this young girl and her father.”
“We haven’t seen inequities for children shift in over a decade and we’re still seeing really high poverty levels, but we’re one of the richest countries in the world. At some stage, we have to step up and say, ‘this is not ok’.”
Building relationships across health and justice
“In the words of our staff? The difference we’ve seen from our health justice partnership is outstanding.”
cohealth, a non-government organisation supporting people with health and social needs, has praised the outstanding impact health justice partnership has made for their staff and clients alike.
Chris Turner, Deputy CEO, says, “We know that the things impacting someone in their legal context can have really negative impacts on their health, and particularly their mental health.”
Lawyers, financial counsellors and healthcare services.
Our recent report further explores what happens when we break down professional silos and work together.
Lawyers, financial counsellors, and healthcare facilities: what if people could walk through one front door and find all the services they need to address their complex, compounding issues?
In our recently published financial wellbeing report, 84% of lawyers who work in health service settings reported that they also provide some kind of referral to financial counsellors.
Research Lead Ruth Pitt says, “The arrangements that health justice partnerships have for working with financial counsellors have arisen in response to a number of factors. Funding is one of these factors. Lack of funding constrains options.“
“The diversity of health justice partnerships is really a reflection of the diversity of the communities they serve. To funders wanting to support such work, I’d suggest embracing the diversity of health justice partnerships, considering how to provide funding in way that enables local decision-making and allows services to work in ways that best suits clients and community.”
Services work better, together.
TEDx speaker and author Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine says, “It might seem funny to think about seeing a lawyer as being good for your health, but legal need is one of those problems that has impacts in terms of people’s health and wellbeing.”
Watch Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine’s TEDxBrisbane talk on Marni’s story of mould in public housing, and how seeing a lawyer can be good for your health.
It’s time to add your voice.
Click here to read the open letter and join Australia’s leading health, social sector and legal professionals in urging our government to increase funding into the legal assistance sector.
Your voice can make a difference.
Share your name and email below to sign the open letter. All other fields are optional. If your organisation would like to get involved with the campaign, please email us at healthjustice@healthjustice.org.au.
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Signed,
- Sheree Limbrick, CEO at Health Justice Australia
- Professor Harriet Hiscock, Group Leader, Health Services and Economics at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
- Tom Dalton, CEO at Neami National
- Nicole Bartholomeusz, Chief Executive at cohealth
- Paul McDonald, CEO at Anglicare Victoria
- Melanie Walker, CEO at Australian Alcohol & Other Drugs Council
- Maree Walk, CEO at Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies
- Professor Daryl Higgins, Director at Australian Catholic University, Institute Child Protection
- Edwina McDonald, Acting CEO at Australian Council of Social Services
- Prue Warrilow, CEO at Australian Research Alliance for Children and Young People (ARACY)
- Deb Tsorbaris, CEO at Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
- Dr Elizabeth Deveny, CEO at Consumers Health Forum of Australia
- Rob McPhee, CEO at Danila Dilba Health Service
- Hayley Stone, Director, National Disability Policy and Advocacy, Deafness Forum Australia
- Renee Carr, Executive Director and Co-Founder at Fair Agenda
- Jamie Crosby, CEO at Families Australia
- Jackie Brady, Executive Director at Family and Relationship Services Australia
- Domenique Meyrick, co-CEO at Financial Counselling Australia
- Julie Edwards, CEO at Jesuit Social Services
- Mindy Sitori, Executive Director at Justice Reform Initiative
- Nicky Bath, CEO at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
- Dr Robyn Miller, CEO at MacKillop Family Services
- Jocelyn Bignold, CEO at McAuley Community Services for Women
- Emily Wolter, Acting CEO at Mental Health Victoria
- Nieves Murray, CEO at Suicide Prevention Australia
- Annette Vickery, CEO at WestCASA
- Sophie Cusworth, Acting CEO at Women with Disabilities Australia