Our Work

Westjustice is a community organisation that provides free legal help to people in the Western suburbs of Melbourne.

We can help with a broad range of everyday legal problems including consumer disputes, credit and debt, family law and family violence, fines, motor vehicle accidents, tenancy, youth criminal law and more.

We have offices in Sunshine and Werribee, as well as a number of outreach services. Visit our Legal Help page to find out more.

Our Vision

Fairness, Safety and Justice for Melbourne's West.

Our Purpose

We deliver targeted services and drive meaningful change. 

Our Impact Areas

• Economic and Housing Rights 
• Women and Gender Diverse People's Rights 
• Children and Young People's Rights 
• Workers' Rights 
• Our Team

What We Do

• Targeted legal, financial counselling and social work services 
• Empowerment through education and community development 
• Develop and nurture impactful networks and relationships 
• Prevention and early intervention that addresses the causes and impacts 
• Advocacy and system reform

Our Values 

• Courage – providing creative solutions and fearless advocacy 
• Community-led – accessible and meaningful engagement towards empowerment 
• Real Impact – targeted and holistic outcomes through collaboration 
• Respect – continuing commitment to inclusion and cultural safety 
• Kindness – dedication to helping people 
• Trust – act with integrity and renowned for producing high quality results 

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We are pleased to introduce our Westjustice Strategy 2024-27.

We welcome your feedback.

Our impact areas 2024-27 are: 

• Workers' rights 
• Women and gender diverse people's rights 
• Economic and housing rights
• Children and young people's rights 
• Our team

Our priority cohorts 2024-27 are: 

• People experiencing family and gender-based violence 
• People with a disability 
• LGBTIQA+ people 
• People experiencing poverty 
• First Nations people 
• Culturally and racially marginalised people 

Funding Bodies

WEstjustice receives State and Commonwealth government funding through Victoria Legal Aid. We receive funding for our Consumer Advice and Advocacy Program and our Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Program from Consumer Affairs Victoria.

Our Clinical Legal Education program receives funding from Victoria University.

Our community development and law reform projects are funded by a variety of philanthropic and other sources including:

• Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Victorian Government
• Department of Justice and Regulation, Victorian Government
• Department of Social Services, Commonwealth Government
• Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
• Hobsons Bay City Council
• Hoppers Club
• Insurance Council of Australia
• Jack Brockoff Foundation
• Legal Services Board Victoria
• Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
• Newsboys Foundation
• R E Ross Trust
• Scanlon Foundation
• Slater and Gordon
• Taxi Services Commission
• Victorian Government CLC Assistance Fund
• Victorian Women’s Trust
• Wyndham City Council 

Partner Organisations

WEstjustice works in partnership with our communities to provide legal services for vulnerable people, build legal capacity in our community and address systemic legal issues that affect access to justice.

Our partner organisations include:

• Ashurst
• Australian Bankers Association
• CommUnity Plus
• Djerriwah Health Services
• EACH Social and Community Health
• Djerriwarrh health services
• Domestic Violence Victoria
• Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW
• Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria
• Financial Counselling Australia
• Grange P-12 College
• HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
• Insurance Council of Australia
• King and Wood Mallesons
• MiCare New Hope Foundation
• Social Security Rights Victoria
• Tandem Media
• Victoria University
• Werribee Mercy Hospital
• Wyndham Community and Education Centre
• Wyndham Youth Resource Centre

We also collaborate closely with:

• AMES
• Anglicare
• Catholic Care
• Deakin University
• Good Shepherd
• Hobsons Bay City Council
• ISIS Primary Care
• Sunshine Legal Aid
• Williamstown Community Education Centre
• Women’s Health West
• Wyndham City Council

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We are pleased to share our Westjustice 'Innovate' Reconciliation Action Plan.

You can find our previous 'Reflect' RAP Reconciliation Action Plan here

Our WEstjustice Constitution can be found here.

Our WEstjustice Privacy Statement can be found here.

Client Service Charter

Our WEstjustice Client Service Charter can be found here.

Victim’s Charter complaints

The Victim’s Charter Act 2006 (Victims Charter) aims to recognise the impact of crime on the victims of that crime, including on their families, witnesses, and in some cases, the broader community.

WEstjustice is a designated victims’ service agency under the Victim’s Charter. This means that when staff become aware or should be reasonably aware that a client is a victim of crime or person adversely affected by crime (as defined in the Victim’s Charter) it must have regard to the Charter’s Principles in dealing with them.

Victims may make a complaint to WEstjustice if they believe the centre has not upheld a Victim’s Charter Principle. If they are dissatisfied with WEstjustice’s response, they may seek a review from the Victims of Crime Commissioner.

WEstjustice staff must provide clients with information about the complaints process under this Policy if they raise concerns about compliance with the Victims Charter Principles.

To make a complaint contact your lawyer or email admin@westjustice.org.au.