Darwin Community Legal Service

Darwin Community Legal Service (DCLS) is a free, confidential service whereby we assist members of the community to protect their legal rights through fair access to legal advice and support. DCLS aims to be a fearless, independent advocate towards resolving issues of injustice and disadvantage.

DCLS offers a range of general and specialist services. Our Tenants’ Advice Service and Seniors and Disability Rights Service provide specialist advice, advocacy and information for the community.

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LATEST NEWS

NT Human Rights Awards

DCLS was honoured to be nominated for the NT Human Rights Justice and Social Change Awards last night. Worthy winners of these two categories were the YWCA Women of Worth program for their work in transitioning women from prison and reducing recidivism, and the...

Christmas Closure

Darwin Community Legal Service will be closed over the Christmas and new year period from COB Friday 21 December and will reopen on Wednesday 2 January 2019. Wishing you all a safe and happy festive season.

Media release – “Disrupted” report calls for fairness for renters

5 December 2018 Rental stress, poor living conditions, lack of responsiveness to repairs, discrimination in accessing housing and lack of security are all commonplace for those who rent their home. As renting becomes the new normal it is clear that laws and policy...

Changes to After Hours Clinics

Our final free legal session for 2018 will be on Thursday 13th December in our Darwin office. The sessions will resume in 2019 on Thursday 31st January. There will be some changes to the free legal advice service in the new year as we trial a new timetable. Details...

Protecting older Australians from financial abuse

This month we met with ASIC Connect and other members of the finance sector to discuss solutions to protect older Australians from financial abuse. We also raised the need to improve access to financial and banking services for people with disabilities. We were...

Media release – NT renters no longer subject to unjust ‘blacklisting’

New laws starting this week provide protection to Northern Territory renters from being unfairly ‘blacklisted’ and excluded from the private rental market. The new laws will ensure that renters are notified of listings and provide them with the opportunity to correct...

Elder Abuse Prevention Project Survey Report

On Friday the 15th June DCLS hosted an event to mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. Participants were involved in an information and discussion session to outline the issue and presence of Elder Abuse in the Northern Territory. Following the theme of 'RESPECT -...

NDIS workshop – register now!

The Seniors and Disability Rights Service will be rolling out a series of NDIS workshops which are funded by NDIS Innovation Grant. Please see the below image for further details....

MEDIA RELEASE – Reforms for renters long overdue

Today the Northern Territory Parliament marked its commitment to modernising tenancy law in the Territory by passing long overdue reforms to the Residential Tenancies Act to increase protections for tenants across the Territory. The amendments will remove the...

MEDIA RELEASE – Federal budget puts spotlight on Elder Abuse

Elder Abuse is the exploitation of the vulnerability of older people. This can be by scams targeting the elderly and also by close family members such as adult children. Financial abuse is a large component of elder abuse. DCLS is pleased that the Federal Budget...

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UPCOMING EVENTS

After hours legal advice sessions:

Final after hours legal advice

session for this year is:

Thursday 13th of December 2018

5.30pm – 7.00pm

DCLS Office
Level 2, 75 Woods St

First after hours legal advice

session for next year is:

Thursday 31st of January 2019

5.30pm – 7.30pm

DCLS Office
Level 2, 75 Woods St

DCLS Christmas closure dates:

COB Fri 21 Dec – reopen Wed 2 Jan 2019