WA Community Legal Centres Receive Additional $2 Million Funding
The Western Australian Government will provide an additional $2 million in funding to Western Australia’s community legal sector over the next two years.
The funding, covering the 2026-27 and 2027-28 financial years, will be distributed across community legal centres throughout the State, providing greater flexibility and certainty for organisations delivering frontline legal assistance services.
Community legal centres may use the funding to address local priorities and cost pressures, including workforce expenses, service delivery requirements and practising certificate fees.
According to the State Government, the initiative comes in response to increasing cost pressures faced by the sector. Attorney General Dr Tony Buti said community legal centres provided an essential service.
“Community legal centres are an essential part of the justice system and play a critical role in helping people access legal information, advice and representation.
“Every day they help people facing family violence, housing insecurity, financial hardship and other complex legal issues.
“This additional funding will help community legal centres manage increasing costs, maintain services and continue supporting vulnerable members of the community.
The funding will be distributed proportionally among individual organisations, giving them the flexibility to use it according to their operational and financial needs.
The Department of Justice provides approximately $32 million annually in State and Federal Government funding to the community legal sector.
There are 25 community legal centres in Western Australia that provide free or low-cost legal services to people experiencing vulnerability or financial disadvantage in metropolitan and regional areas.
In August the New South Wales government announced it would be funding the establishment of a dedicated LGBTIQA+ legal service in conjunction with the Inner City Legal Centre. In Victoria Q+Law provides dedicated support for LGBTISA+SB people, while Queensland it’s own LGBTI Legal Service.
