Please help support the human rights of Older Persons, for which Townsville Community Law has been a long-term advocate and representative of Community Legal Centres Australia.

Townsville Community Law Inc* is a non-profit community legal centre providing legal assistance to people experiencing financial hardship.

Bill Mitchell OAM, the Principal Solicitor of Townsville Community Law,  has been invited to participate in various official meetings that will feed into the 11th and 12th sessions of the United Nations Working Group on Ageing in New York City.

He needs $4,000 by April 1 to contribute to airfares and accommodation in relation to expert consultations and non-governmental meetings that are being planned for later this year.

Can you help?

Bill will present on the rights of older persons on access to justice, the right to work, social security, and education (including lifelong learning).

Bill has previously represented Community Legal Centres Australia** at the United Nations concerning a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons and is now a recognised expert, but Community Legal Centres Australia and Townsville Community Law cannot absorb the high costs of attendance.

Bill has been a long-term advocate for Older Persons’ Rights and was awarded the Australian Human Rights Commission Law Award in 2008. He is a Life Member of the Townsville District Law Association, was named an Outstanding Alumni of James Cook University in 2012, the winner of the 2019 QLS Award for Community Legal Centre member, a winner of the 2019 Law Council of Australia's President's Award, and was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in January 2020. 

* Townsville Community Law was previously known as Townsville Community Legal Service.

** Community Legal Centres Australia was previously known as National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC).