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National coercive control training now available free to all Australian lawyers
A consortium of leading legal organisations has launched two free online training courses to help lawyers across Australia identify and respond to coercive control. 12 June 2026 Women’s Legal Service Victoria, First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence, Women’s Legal Services Australia, and National Legal Aid have today launched the Understanding Coercive Control when Providing Legal…
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Historic child support reforms a win for women — but the work is far from done
BUDGET 2026-27 12 May 2026 Women’s Legal Services Australia welcomes the Australian Government’s commitment to address the weaponisation of child support, but investment in frontline services to meet women’s safety needs missing. Women’s Legal Services Australia (WLSA) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s commitment of $182.6 million in the 2026–27 Federal Budget to address the weaponisation…
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Federal Budget Submission 2026-27
Read our submission here. Executive Summary We should all be able to live free from violence, whether at home, work, in the street or navigating government systems. Unfortunately, rates of gendered violence remain persistently high, and too many laws and systems continue to perpetuate gender inequity and facilitate abuse against women by perpetrators of violence.…
ACHIEVING JUSTICE, SAFETY AND EQUALITY FOR WOMEN
Our mission is to promote a legal system that is safe, supportive, non-discriminatory and responsive to the needs of women
What we do
- We provide a national voice for Women’s Legal Services to advocate for laws and policies that will create better outcomes for women.
- We enable Women’s Legal Services to share expertise and build capacity by providing forums for collaboration and information sharing across Australia.
- We ensure that Women’s Legal Services are coordinated across Australia and working in partnership to deliver high quality services.
“We are a national network of women’s legal services who believe that by working together we can improve gender equity and justice for women.”
ELENA ROSENMAN
Board Chair
Our History
FOUNDED IN 1996
For decades, Women’s Legal Services have contributed their expertise to advocate for women’s access to legal assistance to escape and recover from family violence.
The Women’s Legal Services Australia network was established as a network in 1996 to provide a collaborative forum for members to share and build their expertise and influence.
Today, Women’s Legal Services Australia represents 13 organisations providing services across Australia and advocates with, and on behalf of, women for better laws and policies to achieve justice, safety and gender equality.
NEW TRAINING FOR LAWYERS
Understanding Coercive Control
Women’s Legal Services Australia is proud to support the launch of the Understanding Coercive Control training for lawyers. The training equips lawyers with the skills to recognise when a client may be experiencing coercive or controlling behaviour, engage with them safely and provide support. The courses are aligned with the National Principles to Address Coercive Control and draw on decades of trauma-informed, culturally responsive legal service delivery experience.
Women’s Legal Services Victoria and First Nations Advocates Against Family Violence co-developed the training as part of a partnership with Women’s Legal Service Australia and National Legal Aid. This is a national project funded by the Australian Government.
The more lawyers who complete this training, the safer our clients will be.
If you need legal advice or referral to an appropriate service, please find a Women’s Legal Service in your State or Territory.
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