We are the peak body for Victoria’s Community Legal Centres and Aboriginal Legal Services.

The Federation is the peak body for Victoria’s Community Legal Centres. 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 over 40 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 learn About Community Legal Centres.

Our Team

The team that carries out the work of the organisation on a day-to-day basis.

• Serina McDuff
  CEO
• Natalie Hallam
  Victorian Accreditation and Capacity Building Coordinator
• Michelle Reynolds
  Senior Project and Policy Adviser 
• Laura Burke
  Senior Legal Policy Adviser
• Deborah Lawson
  Senior Adviser, Sector Strategy and Development
• Kieran Prendergast
  Project Manager - Data Standards
• Tarneen Onus-Williams
  Project Coordinator - Stories of Strength
• Jeanette Nkrumah
  Policy and Engagement Adviser

The Federation is managed by a committee comprised of elected Federation members and the Federation's Chief Executive Officer.

Our Management Committee

• Kris Wallwork
  Springvale Monash Legal Service (Chair)
• James Ferguson
  KPMG (Treasurer)
• Jackie Galloway
  Peninsula Community Legal Centre (Secretary)
• Zana Bytheway
  JobWatch
• Chris Povey
  Justice Connect
• Claudia Fatone
  Fitzroy Legal Service
• Hayley Mansfield
  ARC Justice

Our Key Documents

• Federation Strategic Plan 2018-22 (pdf)
• Federation Strategic Plan 2014-17 Overview (pdf)
• Federation of Community Legal Centres Constitution (pdf)
• Federation Privacy Policy (pdf)

Annual Reports

• Federation Impact Report 2017-18 (pdf)
• 2016-17 Annual Report (pdf)
• 2015-16 Annual Report (pdf)
• 2014-15 Annual Report (pdf)
• 2013-14 Annual Report (pdf)
• 2012-13 Annual Report (pdf)

Our Members

The Federation is a membership organisation, bringing together specialist and generalist community legal centres. If you represent a community legal centre and are interested in joining the federation, click here.

Thank you

The Federation of Community Legal Services acknowledges the vital support of the Victoria Law Foundation in funding the redevelopment of this website.