September 12, 2023 | Katie Wand
Originally established in 2000 as a tenancy rights and advocacy service providing support for people at risk of homelessness in the Loddon region, ARC Justice now operates two Community Legal Centres with offices in each of Bendigo and Shepparton, as well as continuing its work to support tenants with Housing Justice.
Covering a large and diverse part of Victoria, including 12 local government areas, one principal achievement of ARC Justice (formerly the Advocacy and Rights Centre) has been the establishment of Health Justice Partnership models that respond to interrelated legal and health needs in the community.
In 2015, the Shepparton Therapeutic Justice Project was launched to provide an integrated legal and health case management service to clients with criminal matters at the Shepparton Magistrates’ Court.
ARC Justice has gone on to establish four other Health Justice Partnerships, as well as other integrated partnerships across Loddon Campaspe and the Goulburn Valley. ARC Justice continues to build integrated partnerships, conduct research and undertake evaluations to design programs that effectively respond to diverse needs in regional communities.
