Services

SERVICES

The MRCLC provides free advice and legal assistance in various areas of law, including residential tenancy (QSTARS program), elder abuse (EAPSS program), family law, domestic violence, consumer protection, debt, neighbourhood disputes (including about trees, fences and noise) and employment. The centre does not provide advice on some areas of law, such as commercial matters, personal injuries, criminal law, immigration law and conveyancing.

Please contact us on (07) 4953 1211 for more information or to make a booking.

Solicitors are able to provide legal advice between 9am–4pm Monday to Friday by appointment, but times between 8:30am – 5pm can be arranged. Advice appointments are also provided once a month in Bowen, Proserpine, Cannonvale, Moranbah and Sarina.

Legal advice evenings are held 2 evenings a month between 5:30pm – 8:00pm. Volunteer solicitors provide information, advice and referrals by appointment.

Upon request, the MRCLC can also provide free general legal information (Community Legal Education) sessions on various areas of law to the public or workers of community organisations.

The majority of our day service, Legal Advice Evenings and outreach are funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.

OUTREACH SERVICES – BOWEN, CANNONVALE, PROSERPINE, MORANBAH AND SARINA

Please contact us on (07) 4953 1211 to book your appointment with a solicitor.

Bowen, Cannonvale and Proserpine (Whitsundays)

The MRCLC provides legal advice appointments at the Bowen Neighbourhood Centre on the fourth Thursday of the month, and on the following day (the fourth Friday of each month) at the Whitsunday Counselling & Support Inc. (WC&S) and Proserpine Community Centre.

Bowen Neighbourhood Centre is located at 34-38 Gregory Street, Bowen.  WC&S is located at 1/157 Shute Harbour Road, Cannonvale.  Proserpine Community Centre is located at 36 Gardenia Street, Proserpine.

Moranbah Outreach (Isaac region)

The MRCLC provides legal advice appointments at the Moranbah Youth and Community Centre on the second or third Wednesday of the month.  MYCC is located at 2 Appleton Street, Moranbah.

Sarina Outreach (Mackay region)

The MRCLC provides legal advice appointments at the Sarina Neighbourhood Centre on the second Tuesday of the month.  Sarina Neighbourhood Centre is located at 65 Broad Street, Sarina.

PROGRAMS

The MRCLC operates these programs:

  1. Community Legal Services Program (CLSP)
  2. Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS)
  3. Elder Abuse Prevention and Support Service (EAPSS)
  4. Mental Health Review Tribunal Representation Service (upon referral from Legal Aid Queensland)
  5. Domestic and Family Violence Duty Lawyer Service at the Mackay Magistrates Court
  6. Family Advocacy and Support Service (upon referral from Legal Aid Queensland)
  7. Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Service

More information on these programs is provided below.

1. Community Legal Services Program (CLSP)

Legal assistance is provided across many areas of law, predominantly family law, but also employment, domestic violence, debt, consumer disputes, neighbourhood disputes (trees, fences and noise), social security, discrimination and human rights.

The Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General and the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department provide funding to the MRCLC under the National Legal Assistance Partnership.

2. Queensland Statewide Tenant Advice and Referral Service (QSTARS)

The MRCLC provides advice, ongoing assistance, information and referrals to tenants and rooming accommodation residents pursuant to the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation Act 2008. Please call the QSTARS hub on 1300 744 263 if seeking assistance. A referral will be made to our service if required. More information about QSTARS can be found here. QSTARS is managed by Tenants Queensland and is funded by the Queensland Department of Housing, Communities and Digital Economy.

3. Elder Abuse Prevention and Support Service (EAPSS)

Relationships Australia Queensland provides funding to the MRCLC to provide legal advice, information and referral to people aged 60 and over, or 50 and over for First Nations people, at risk of experiencing elder abuse residing in the Mackay local government area. Please call Relationships Australia Queensland on 1300 063 232 if seeking assistance under this program.  More information about this program can be found on Relationships Australia Queensland’s website here.

4. Mental Health Review Tribunal Representation Service

The Mental Health Act 2016 mandates that some people coming before the Mental Health Review Tribunal are required to be represented. The MRCLC receives referrals and funding from Legal Aid Queensland to provide this representation. This is a referral only service.

5. Domestic and Family Violence Duty Lawyer Service

Since October 2015 the MRCLC has provided a domestic and family violence duty lawyer service at the Mackay Magistrates Court in relation to domestic violence orders. The MRCLC may assist the aggrieved or respondent. This is funded by Legal Aid Queensland.

6. Family Advocacy and Support Service (FASS)

The MRCLC receives referrals from Legal Aid Queensland to provide legal advice and assistance in certain family law matters being heard in the Rockhampton registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia. This is a referral only service and is funded by Legal Aid Queensland. This program commenced for the MRCLC in October 2022. More information can be found on Legal Aid Queensland’s website here.

7. Queensland Workplace Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Service (QSHADS)

The MRCLC provides legal advice and assistance to people experiencing workplace sexual harassment or discrimination in the workplace. This program commenced in September 2022.

This is funded by the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department and allocated by the Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General.

IMMIGRATION LAW
The centre does not currently provide immigration legal advice or assistance. MRCLC has no migration agents or solicitors practising in this area of the law. The Refugee and Immigration Legal Service (RAILS) may be able to assist you. They are a community legal centre providing free immigration legal advice and assistance in some matters. Their website is: https://www.rails.org.au/.
PRACTICAL LEGAL TRAINING PLACEMENTS

We are able to offer a limited number of placements for law students undertaking their Practical Legal Training course at our Centre on a voluntary basis. Please send us a covering letter and resume to admin@mrclc.com.au if you would like to apply for a position or contact us for further information.