The Federation is the peak body for Victoria’s community legal centres and Aboriginal Legal Services. Our members are at the forefront of helping those facing economic, cultural or social disadvantage and whose life circumstances are severely affected by their legal problem.
For 50 years, community legal centres have been the heart of a powerful movement for social change, reshaping how people access justice, creating stronger more equitable laws, and more accountable government and democracy.
We want a community that is fair, inclusive and thriving: where every person belongs and can learn, grow, heal, participate and be heard.
The Federation:
- enables a strong collective voice for justice and equality
- mobilises and leads CLCs in strategic, well-coordinated advocacy and campaigns
- works with members to continuously improve the impact of community legal services
- drives creativity and excellence in the delivery of legal services to communities
- helps make justice more accessible.
Click here to find out more about the Federation.
Our Team
You can read all about the Federation team here.
Our Board
Community legal centre Board Members
- Bryanna Connell (Chair), Barwon Community Legal Service
- Damian Stock, ARC Justice
- Elena Pappas, Law and Advocacy Centre for Women
- Melissa Hardham, WEstjustice
- Tracey Gaudry, commUnity+/Brimbank Melton Community Legal Centre
- Jenni Smith, Northern Community Legal Centre
Non-community legal centre Board Members
- Jo Bradley, Right Lane Consulting
- Emma Greeney, Mental Health Australia
Our Key Documents
- Federation Strategic Plan 2026-30
- Federation of Community Legal Centres Constitution
- Federation Privacy Statement
Annual Reports
- 2024-25 Annual Report
- 2023-24 Annual Report
- 2022-23 Annual Report
- 2021-22 Annual Report
- 2020-21 Annual Report
- 2019-20 Annual Report
- 2018-19 Annual Report
- 2017-18 Annual Report
- 2016-17 Annual Report
- 2015-16 Annual Report
- 2014-15 Annual Report
- 2013-14 Annual Report (pdf)
- 2012-13 Annual Report (pdf)
Our Members
The Federation is a membership organisation, bringing together specialist and place-based community legal centres.
Feedback
The Federation values your feedback.
If your feedback is about a community legal centre, please provide feedback to the individual centre directly. All community legal centres have an internal complaints policy outlining their complaints process. You can find internal complaints policies on individual community legal centre websites, or by calling the centre.
You can also provide feedback to the Victorian Ombudsman, which can investigate complaints against publicly funded community organisations in Victoria. You can contact the Victorian Ombudsman online or by calling or 1800 806 314.
If your feedback is about a community legal centre lawyer, you can contact the Legal Services Board + Commissioner, which is the regulator for the legal profession.
To provide feedback about the Federation or for all other enquires please contact [email protected].
Thank you
The Federation of Community Legal Services acknowledges the vital support of the Victoria Law Foundation in funding the redevelopment of this website.
