Diversity Action Plan 2016-2017

OBJECTIVE

To promote access to justice through early intervention and prevention and better targeting of legal assistance to disadvantaged people

Deliver community legal education to improve awareness of the law to:
- elderly clients about cyber safety
- migrant communities about obtaining Australian citizenship
- people who are irregular maritime arrivals subject to fast track processing about their visa options and processing information
- young people who are recent arrivals about criminal law
- LGBT youth about criminal law
Produce publications to improve information and awareness for older people and children on
- employment discrimination against older Australians
- understanding rights and obligations about private training colleges
- ‘Get Street Smart’ in Arabic and African languages
Publish and distribute Legal Topics for Older People Diary 2017
Develop a strategy to ensure assigned matters involving clients with disability and from multicultural backgrounds are appropriately allocated to panel lawyers
Review, redesign and expand community legal education on domestic and family violence
Expand targeted services to communities disproportionately affected by domestic and family violence
Expand legal services to refugees settling in NSW in partnership with specialist non-government and government refugee services

To pursue excellence, innovation and efficiency in legal service delivery

Develop and review resources to improve communication with people with limited English skills
- Grants template letters to clients
- Animated legal information brochures
Develop a factsheet on Syria, in the Guide: Working with new and emerging communities, and provide training to staff
Test selected publications for targeted community groups to determine their effectiveness and usefulness
Investigate technological options to provide information to clients about their appointments in community languages
Review amenities for clients with disability at all offices
Develop a template letter containing information in community languages advising clients about interpreting services
Review data on services to people affected by domestic and family violence to ensure access to services for targeted groups
Pilot data collection on people with disability on the complaints online form

To support and develop our people and improve our systems to meet organisational goals

Conduct a survey of staff with disability and use the results to improve wellbeing of staff
Implement the workforce strategy for the recruitment, employment and retention of people with disability
Advertise selected vacancies on websites targeting people with disability
Develop a tip sheet to support selection panels when recruiting and interviewing candidates with disability
Implement initiatives for female solicitors to increase advocacy skills in the Criminal Law Division
Deliver training to staff to improve awareness and client service on:
- Demystifying the disability sector under NDIS
- Disability data collection
- Working with Muslim clients and colleagues
- Working with LGBTIQ communities
- Trauma-informed practice
Develop a strategy to assist older staff make arrangements for their transition to retirement

To build strong, effective service partnerships to respond to the legal and non-legal needs of our clients

Develop priorities for the delivery of community legal education to new humanitarian entrants in conjunction with government and non-government partners
Promote the e-learning modules on disability awareness and cultural awareness to panel lawyers and community legal centres
Provide internships for tertiary students with disability through the Stepping Into internship program
Provide community legal education and assistance with drafting wills, powers of attorney and enduring guardianships for targeted disadvantaged clients in collaboration with pro bono partners
Work with identified service providers to assist children and young people in out-of-home care identify civil law issues and provide appropriate referral pathways
Implement strategies to help reduce reoffending for children in residential homes in collaboration with NSW Police and NSW Ombudsman