Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre (BMCLC) is expanding its services to meet the growing needs of Melton and Moorabool residents.
At the official opening of the centre’s full-time, five-days-a-week office at Melton library last week, managing lawyer Stephanie Tonkin said a proper understanding of clients’ needs was crucial.
“We are trying to respond to what our clients need, and with many of them travelling to the city for work they aren’t able to make the most of our centre,’’ she said. ‘‘Having a Saturday morning clinic in Melton [starting next month] will be helpful for them.”
Services available in Melton include a family violence advice clinic, bi-monthly finance sessions and general drop-in sessions. Ms Tonkin said a duty lawyer had been spending time in Bacchus Marsh for the past 12 months.
The service is planning a pilot program at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre and the Metropolitan Remand Centre to help prison inmates reduce debt. BMCLC will also hold a ‘‘mortgage stress’’ roundtable discussion and advocacy workshops for lawyers and volunteers.
