VICTORIA’S only legal clinic for international students could close unless it receives recurrent funding in next month’s state budget.
Western Suburbs Legal Service (WSLS), based at Newport, established the International Student Legal Advice Clinic after a string of violent attacks on Indian students and workers in the west in 2009 and 2010.
Legal Service manager Emel Ramadan said about $326,000 was needed to keep the clinic going – a fraction of the amount that international students inject into Victoria’s economy.
“We’re in a position now where if we don’t secure funding, the clinic will shut,” she said.
“The state government hasn’t allocated any funds to legal services to international students as yet.
“Our general clinic is for people who live, work or study in the city of Hobsons Bay, whereas the international student clinic caters to students all over Victoria.”
College disputes and immigration issues accounted for the bulk of legal problems faced by international students in the 12 months to November last year.
Other issues included employment and tenancy disputes, family violence, debt, road crashes, injuries and family law complaints.
Most clients were from India (103), followed by China (52), Columbia (17), Pakistan (14), Japan and Vietnam (10 each), South Korea and Sri Lanka (8 each), Brazil (7) and Indonesia (6). Of the clients, 106 lived in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Lawyer Annette Au Yeung said securing funding was an ongoing battle for the Hall Street service – one of Victoria’s smallest but busiest services – as it struggled to fulfil its role. She said that with the equivalent of 2.8 full-time staff, a large number of clients had to be turned away. “We simply don’t have the staff … to do the case work.”
James Copsey, a spokesman for state Attorney-General Robert Clark, said decisions about the clinic’s future funding were up to Victoria Legal Aid.
He said VLA was assessing the pilot program and how to best serve international students.
Volunteers are being sought for the WSLS committee of management. Details: 9391 2244.
