Client Stories

debt waived

will I see my son again

Alhaadi was an international student from Kenya studying in Australia. He was of low means and unable to afford a private lawyer. During his time here, he married Eidi and they had a child. The relationship broke down after a dispute arose back in Kenya about the dowry that Alhaddi’s family was expected to pay to his bride’s family.

conflict over child access

Louise, 26, sought help and advice from PCLC when her former partner David 28, had applied for parenting orders, in relations to their son, Toby, aged 3.  Prior to this application, David hadn’t seen his son for a year.

scared by escalating threats from partner

Cho 34 lived with her partner, their baby and her ten year old son from a previous relationship. Cho’s partner would often make horrible threats to her. In one instance, they were driving in the country and he said that if he drove the car off the cliff and jumped out at the last minute she would die and police would think it was
an accident.

falling between the cracks

Sebastian is a 49 year old man of Anglo background.  He is gay and has been subjected to ongoing discrimination, including physical and verbal abuse,  for most of his life.

The Rooming House Outreach Team visited him at the rooming house where he has lived for the past two years.

informed and empowered

A support worker from a family violence outreach service referred Jamila to our duty lawyer at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.

Jamila is from Bangladesh where she met and married her husband Assad. Shortly after, they came to Australia to live.

tenant sinking deeper and deeper

Aaron, a single parent, aged 40, was struggling financially and had fallen behind in his rent. His landlord took action in VCAT for rent arrears and possible possession. Aaron represented himself and managed to negotiate a resolution whereby the landlord allowed him to remain in the property if he submitted to a payment plan to cover the arrears.

taking steps towards recovery

Jason is 26 years old and has a long history of drug and alcohol addiction.  Whilst he struggled with his addictions he had been a carer for his disabled mother and was living with his parents.  Jason’s relationship with his brother had always been volatile and one night when his brother came to visit an argument ensued.  The disagreement became physical and police were called.

from invisible to empowered

It was an ordinary day at the Dandenong Duty Service for our tenancy advocate. She was sitting at the back of the court observing proceedings when she noticed a young woman enter the court with her child in a pram.  The woman took at seat at the bar table and stayed silent, while the member read the material and directed all his questions at the agent.  Just as he was about to make a possession order as the current rent arrears stood at approximately $3,500, the duty advocate stood up and alerted him to the fact that the tenant had arrived late and was in fact in Court.

from no support to supporting others