Two in three locked out of legal help as community legal centres launch plan to expand access

Federation of Community Legal Centres

This morning, Victoria’s 50 community legal centres will come together at the Victorian Parliament to launch the sector’s 2026 election campaign - Community Legal – We’ve Got Your Back. 

This campaign calls on all political parties and candidates to commit to five-year funding security for community legal programs and to invest an additional $120 million over the next term of parliament to help give 120,000 more Victorians the help they need.

Community legal centres are on the front line of responding to the growing cost-of-living crisis and provide a critical service to Victorians experiencing a range of challenging situations, such as housing stress and family violence, or those recovering from disasters.

Victoria's 50 community legal centres provide free, quality legal services to more than 75,000 Victorians each year, but the increasing need for help means many more are missing out on this life-changing support.

The level of community need is leaving community legal centres with the capacity to provide legal services to only one in three Victorians who actively seek their help.

At a launch event to be hosted at Parliament House today, Federation of Community Legal Centres CEO Louisa Gibbs, along with representatives from across the sector, partner organisations and former clients, will outline how this funding investment will help reduce unnecessary personal and community harm, save costs across the justice system and make the Victorian community safer.

Launch event details:
10:30 - 11.:30am Thursday 18 June 2026
Legislative Council Committee Room, Victorian Parliament

Quotes attributable to Federation of Community Legal Centres CEO Louisa Gibbs:

“Last year, community legal centres helped more than 75,000 Victorians with over 170,000 legal problems."

“Growing demand means that many more Victorians are unable to access this life-changing support, with community legal centres being forced to turn away two out of every three people who come to us seeking our help."

“When things go wrong, we all need somewhere to turn, and community legal centres resolve the kind of life and legal challenges all of us can face from time to time."

“Often, people faced with a legal issue don’t know where to even start looking for help, and the 50 community legal centres across the state have the incredible ability to prevent small problems from spiralling into grave situations."

“Investing in community-based legal assistance is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to make our community safer and our legal system work better for all of us.”

The Federation of Community Legal Centres is the peak body for Victoria’s community legal and Aboriginal Legal Services. 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. See www.fclc.org.au for more information.

Daniel Scoullar - 0402 596 297 / [email protected]