Client Stories

persistence pays off

Therapeutic justice – helping people to live

Simon was not travelling well; he had suffered with depression and anxiety for more than a decade. Following the recent breakdown of his 16-year relationship, his mental health began to deteriorate. This downfall was exacerbated by being unable to afford psychiatric support.

debt waived

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.

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.

fines debt waived

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.