They joined a one-day training workshop presented by the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) and Legal Aid NSW. The Public Interest

Advocacy Centre is an independent, not-for -profit law and policy organisation.

“Workshop participants heard first-hand accounts of individual experiences of homelessness and the struggles these people go through to get back on their feet,” PIAC senior training officer, Sarah Ludovici said. “This workshop was also

about looking at emerging issues and addressing them early, so that clients or vulnerable people in the community don’t slide into homelessness.

“Frontline community workers are often the first point of contact for vulnerable people with any legal issues, for example the issue of fines.

“We heard today about some people travelling on trains to Sydney and back because they feel safer, but because they can’t afford a ticket or put their feet on seats, etc, they get fined.” Legal Aid NSW has a division called the Work and Development Order program, in order to expand the availability of work and development orders throughout NSW.

“It is an innovative way for vulnerable people with any unpaid fines in Goulburn, or anywhere in NSW, to be able to ‘work off’ their debts by undertaking some sort of activity, such as unpaid voluntary work or educational, vocational or life skills courses,” Legal Aid outreach solicitor Andrew Taylor said.

“It’s also very much about Legal Aid’s Outreach service based here in Goulburn. They educate the community about the services available to them, so that they can identify legal issues that may contribute to areas such as homelessness and work with us here at Legal Aid to resolve those issues.”

To find out more about PIAC, visit their website at www.piac.asn.au. They can also be reached on 8898 6500.

For any legal issues you may have in regards to this issue, you can contact Legal Aid NSW facilitator, Lynn Larkins on 4422 4351.

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