Ruah Legal Services is the state’s only community legal service for people facing justice issues related to their mental health and offers legal assistance in other areas such as family and domestic violence and care and protection matters.
With lawyers and social support staff working closely together, they are able to ensure clients receive genuinely wraparound services and support with expert legal advice and representation, as well as access to the community services they need.
A Lotterywest grant has made it possible for Ruah Legal Services to move into new Hay Street offices, where it shares a building with Women’s Legal Service WA, Consumer Credit Legal Service WA and Circle Green Community Legal.
Ruah Legal Services will now be located within easy walking distance of the Perth Courts and the State Administrative Tribunal.
As well as reducing travel time for client work, the new base will provide a safe space to meet in person with first time clients who might otherwise be intimidated or overwhelmed in the setting of busy court waiting areas.
The move will also allow Ruah to engage and collaborate more closely with the other specialist community legal centres sharing the building, and relevant nearby service providers and government agencies.
Those important stakeholders include Legal Aid, Aboriginal Legal Service, the Department of Justice, Director of Public Prosecution, Commissioner for Victims of Crime, Office of the Public Advocate and Community Legal WA.
Parliamentary Secretary to the Attorney General, Hon Matthew Swinbourn MLC said the $135,320 grant has been put to good use by securing a space that will help the service advocate for vulnerable and disadvantaged people facing injustice and discrimination.
“People living with mental illness and disadvantage are twice as likely to experience legal problems and often struggle to navigate the courts legal system,” he said.
“The hard-working lawyers and social support staff at Ruah are now ideally placed to provide the best support, representation and connection to other providers for the vulnerable people using their services.”
