Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) is collecting funds to expand its legal and related services to communities and people experiencing disadvantage While governments (Commonwealth, Victoria Legal Aid and most local governments) provide financial support, demand for the services (from the population of about 900,000) far outweighs these resources. Using skilled volunteers as well as professional staff, ECLC is able to utilise its limited resources very efficiently to provide key programs across eight sites.

How will the funds be used?

The funds will be used to provide increased services to the community. Using a dynamic mix of over 100 volunteers along with professional staff, ECLC undertakes a broad range of activity across Melbourne's east, from its offices in Box Hill, Boronia and Healesville and 11 outreach locations. This work includes:

• legal information and referral
• legal advice and casework (on-going work on a legal matter)
• advocacy on Family Violence matters at Ringwood Court
• community development projects
• community legal education with a range of target groups.

It also undertakes a range of community development and partnership projects including education, publications and advocacy. ECLC's priority areas for both direct assistance and community development and education are:

• family violence,
• the Yarra Ranges,
• human rights education,
• seniors rights,
• cultural diversity and
• children and young people.

Key Areas of Expenditure

• Improving integrated legal and support responses to women and children experiencing family violence
• Preventing and responding to elder abuse
• Working with culturally diverse communities
• Community legal education for young people
• Tenancy advocacy, particularly to prevent homelessness