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Previous Virtual Information Sessions
Our Previous Training Sessions:
25 June 2026 – 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Young people often face legal issues that can impact their housing, finances, employment and wellbeing — but they may not always recognise them as legal problems or know where to go for help.
This free one-hour online session introduces Legal Link Up, a new resource designed to support community workers and frontline staff to better identify and respond to these issues.
The session will help you build the knowledge and confidence to:
- identify common civil legal issues affecting young people
understand key areas of law including fines, housing, employment, Centrelink and family matters
connect young people with free legal help and support in the Barwon region
Legal Link Up Resource Flyer- 2026
Law for Community Workers – Legal Link Up Web Resource Launch – June 2026
16 April 2026 – 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Disasters such as bushfires and floods can have a profound and lasting impact on communities.
Guest speakers: Allied Justice, Consumer Action Law Centre and Mortgage Stress Victoria.
In the aftermath, people may face complex legal issues — often at a time when they’re least equipped to navigate them.
This free one‑hour online training is designed for community workers and frontline staff who support people impacted by disasters.
The session will help you to build the knowledge and confidence to:
- Identify potential legal issues faced by disaster‑affected community members
- Understand key areas of law that commonly arise after disasters
- Connect people with free legal help when they need it most
Law for Community Workers – ID legal issues after disaster – April 2026 Slides
30th September 2025 – 1:00-2:00pm
Presented by: Barwon Community Legal Service in collaboration with Consumer Action Law Centre (CALC).
Training covered how Generalist and Specialist CLCs work together, about the protections available under consumer law, common examples and consumer law explainers, and how and when to refer to CALC.
Our Community Development Manager Alexandria Jones was joined by CALC Engagement and Learning Lead Sarah Newman and Senior Lawyer Matthew Adreas in the session.
Presented by: Barwon Community Legal Service in collaboration with Exploring Barwon
Obtaining identification can lead to life changing outcomes including obtaining employment, housing, drivers licence, receiving social security payments and affirming gender identities.
This session is aimed at helping you to better understand how to support individuals across a range of different ages and scenarios to obtain identity when it is not straightforward.
In partnership with Exploring Barwon, and as part of our Law for Community Workers online training session, this session helps community workers understand how to support clients experiencing challenges in obtaining identification.
This session aims to delve into topics renters experiencing rental stress may be affected by including notices to vacate and possession applications, unlawful eviction and risk of homelessness, and tenancy problems involving family violence.
You will gain an understanding about the laws surrounding these issues and where to refer your clients.
This session is ideal for anyone working with renters in private housing who are at risk of eviction and homelessness, affected by family violence, First Nations renters, new migrant arrivals, facing cultural and language barriers and over 55-year-olds.
24th July 2024 12:00pm-1:00pm
Presented by: Barwon Community Legal Service in collaboration with Youth Law.
This session aims to delve into crucial topics that affect young people including barriers in accessing legal services, where to refer for legal help, and understanding the laws surrounding common issues such as sexting and consent, rights with police, vaping regulations, and more. This session is ideal for anyone working with young people and those supporting young people in navigating legal issues.
20th May 2024 12:00pm-1:00pm
Hosted by: Barwon Community Leal Service with guests Social Security Rights Victoria (SSRV) as part of Law Week 2024.
Ever worked with a client who has had a problem with Centrelink? Did you know Centrelink issues are legal issues? We know they can be confusing and tricky to navigate. Join community lawyers and experts for an informative session about social security law. You’ll be guided through supporting your clients with common Centrelink issues, how to navigate problems, access information and support as a worker and where to refer your clients for help!
28th March 2024 12:00pm-1:00pm
Hosted by: Barwon Community Legal Service
This session is designed to help equip community workers with essential knowledge about future planning documents – wills, powers of attorney, medical treatment decision makers, advanced care plans and more.
As Lawyers, we understand the importance of these legal instruments in safeguarding individuals’ futures but know they can be complex to navigate.
This session will not only help you understand the different types of powers that can be appointed, but will explain how and when they apply, as well as addressing common issues, enabling to better assist those you work with if you’re ever faced with any questions.
29th November 2023 12:00 pm-1:15 pm
Hosted by: Barwon Community Legal Service with guests Tenants Victoria
We know that working with clients experiencing tenancy issues can be confusing and generate lots of questions.
We hosted Tenants Victoria for an informative session focused on supporting your clients with common tenancy issues, how to access answers and supports as a worker and where to refer your clients for help.
The information session runs for 1 hour with 15 minutes at the end reserved for a Q&A.
Do you know how to identify and respond to suspected elder abuse?
Our Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse session features a panel of local experts as they discuss ways of helping you identify, respond to and support someone who might be experiencing elder abuse in the Barwon region. We discuss local referral pathways and the sometime complex intersecting issues relating to legal assistance, financial counselling, housing and support.
Our panel of local experts includes:
- Carol Stuart, Senior Community Lawyer, Barwon Community Legal Service
- John Sheehan, Financial Counsellor, Cultura
- Rose Marsh, Service Development Coordinator, Wintringham
- Mandy Strange, Clinical and Program Leader Elder Services, Better Place Australia
Discussion is facilitated by Alexandria Jones, Community Development Manager, Barwon Community Legal Service.
This Law for Community Workers Virtual Information session was presented as part of the Exploring Barwon series – a monthly series of presentations sharing information about the available resources in the Barwon Area.
Barwon Community Legal Service (BCLS) provides free legal information, advice and casework to people living in the Greater Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and Colac Otway communities. We also convene the Barwon Elder Abuse Primary Prevention (BEAPP) Network.
Supporting your clients with Family Violence Intervention Orders and related legal issues
18th May 2023 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Hosted by: Barwon Community Legal Service
In this information session join our community lawyers Brett Hogan and Sarah Eid for an informative session focusing on fines and infringements. This session focused on the following areas to help you support your clients with outstanding fines and infringements:
- Who enforces fines in Victoria: the role of Fines Victoria and consequences of not dealing with a fine
- The life cycle of a fine – different stages of fines and steps to take at each stage and why it is important to act early with fines
- Special circumstances – How to know whether you client might have special circumstances
- Connecting your clients to free legal assistance -how a community legal centre can assist your clients with fines
- We also cover the Work Development Permit and Family Violence Schemes and provide some useful self-help resources that can be used to better support your clients with outstanding fines.
In this information session join our Family Violence & Family Law Practice Manager Tamara Kotowicz and Community Development Manager Alexandria Jones for an informative session focusing on family law basics to assist you to support your clients with family law problems.
The session will focus on the following areas to help you support your clients through often complex family law issues:
- Understanding the Family Law Process
- Common Frustrations and Misunderstandings about the Family Law System
- Intersection of Family Violence and Family Law
- When should your client seek advice?
Supporting your clients with Family Violence Intervention Orders and related legal issues
24th November 2022 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Hosted by: Barwon Community Legal Service
In this information session join our Community Lawyer Sam Hawkins and Community Development Manager Alexandria Jones for an informative session focusing on supporting your clients with Family Violence Intervention Orders and other related legal issues.
This session focused on the following areas to help support your clients through what is often a very traumatic time in their lives.
This session covers:
Family Violence Intervention Orders –
- What is a Family Violence Intervention Order
- The process for applying for a Family Violence Intervention Order
- Understanding the court process
- Breaches of a Family Violence Intervention Order
Interactions with other areas of law
- Fines and infringements
- Residential Tenancy (House Rentals)
- Loans/consumer credit
- Family law
- Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT)
Recording of our session is available here
Request a tailored training session for your team or organisation
In addition to our online training and monthly webinars, we may be able to provide a tailored training session for your organisation on a particular area of law.
For a list of the areas we can provide training about please see our website.
If you would like to request a tailored training, please complete our online request form below.
Tailored training requestBarwon Community Legal Service acknowledges the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn and work, and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
