Welfare Rights Centre

About

The Welfare Rights Centre is a community legal centre specialising in social security and family assistance law and its administration by Centrelink.

The Welfare Rights Centre provides free legal information, advice and representation to thousands of NSW residents every year who are adversely affected by Centrelink decisions. The Centre also provides education to improve knowledge and understanding about social security law in the community. They use the knowledge and experience gained through their casework to advocate for reforms to the law and policy that would make the Australian social security system fairer for everyone. The Centre also provides assistance to the community through community education and training, law reform and lobbying.

The Welfare Rights Centre can advise people about their social security rights, entitlements and obligations and assist people through the social security review and appeals system, including Centrelink internal review and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

What kind of work?

The Welfare Rights Centre specialises in almost all aspects of social security and family assistance law.

Type of work done by employees: - Legal information - Legal advice - Assistance with self-advocacy - Legal representation - Interventions with Centrelink - Community legal education - Law reform and policy work

Location

Sydney

Student Opportunities

Students can volunteer at the Welfare Rights Centre as an Administrative Volunteer or a Casework/Advice Volunteer. Students must commit to half a day per week and have a dedication towards human rights and social justice.

Volunteers are responsible for answering calls, providing information to the public, booking appointments, and assisting with legal tasks.

You can find more information here: https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/jobs-and-volunteers

Graduate Opportunities

The Welfare Rights Centre offers Practical Legal Training (PLT) placements to graduates. PLT students are involved in legal research, drafting advice, drafting correspondence to clients and medical practitioners and client interviewing. PLT students assist solicitors in delivering advice to clients and making sure clients get back on payment.

More information can be found here: https://welfarerightscentre.org.au/jobs-and-volunteers

Fun Fact / Recent Project

Community legal education The Welfare Rights Centre runs monthly community legal education sessions on different topics, from Robodebt and social security and young people to domestic violence and disability support pension. Sessions are targeted toward different audiences, including yourh workers, social workers, migrant support workers, volunteers and lawyers. The Welfare Rights Centre is currently developing prerecorded materials that can be accessed online.