News
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Statement in response to the Australian Government’s immigration reform announcement
18 September 2026 Immigration reforms risk making it harder for women on temporary visas to find safety. At a time when multicultural and migrant communities are under increasing attack by somepoliticians and media, the Government should focus on making laws that promote inclusion,safety and fairness for all people who call Australia home. Immigration reforms announced…
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Specialist legal services bridge gaps to keep thousands of women safe
11 September 2026 Women’s Legal Services Australia releases evaluation of Temporary Visa Holders Experiencing Violence Pilot. Specialist wraparound legal services, where lawyers, social workers and financial counsellorswork together to resolve interconnected family violence, family law, immigration and safetyissues, are highly innovative and best practice, an independent evaluation has found. Research indicates that one in three…
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DFSV Commissioner’s report reinforces the need for long-term funding for women’s legal services
11 September 2026 Women’s Legal Services Australia welcomes the Commissioner’s yearly report and its focus on justice and family law reforms in the year ahead. Too often, Australia’s legal systems are harnessed by users of violence to continue their abuse and control. Too often, women are forced to endure years of systems abuse without legal…
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Legal services for all victim-survivors must be core to Australia’s plan to end violence against women
11 August 2026 Women’s Legal Services Australia (WLSA) has called on all Australian governments to recognise specialist legal assistance as a core frontline service in the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032. In its submission to the Second Action Plan, WLSA has warned that women and…
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SDA Amendment Bill is a threat to all women
21 June 2026 Feminists, women’s organisations and community coalitions have united to express their opposition to the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sex-based Rights) Bill 2026, tabled in the Federal Parliament last week by the Nationals’ Alison Penfold MP. This is the second attempt in less than a year to weaken the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth),…
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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…