Women's legal centre (ACT)

We believe keeping women in safe and secure employment is crucial to their safety, independence and well-being.

We provide free legal assistance to women in low-paid and/or precarious employment who are experiencing problems at work. We can help clients enforce their rights and entitlements at work, including access to maternity leave and flexible work arrangements and the right to be free from discrimination and sexual harassment at work.

We aim to support women to stay connected to the paid workforce as the foundation of financial independence and security.

HOW WE HELP

We give legal assistance to women who have been treated unfairly at work including women who have been:

• fired from work unfairly;
• discriminated at work;
• underpaid or not paid properly;
• sexually harassed;
• denied access to leave or other entitlements;
• denied access to flexible working arrangements;
• bullied at work.

We can provide legal advice as well as practical assistance to support women negotiate directly with their employer.

Depending on a woman’s situation, we can also provide ongoing assistance, which can include:

• Negotiating with a client’s employer to progress and resolve the dispute;
• Representing clients with their employer, including in mediations, to try and resolve the dispute;
• Drafting court/ tribunal documents;
• Representing clients in the Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Ombudsman, ACT and Australian Human Rights Commission conciliations, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and Federal Court

Our practice is focussed on early intervention and early resolution. We try to intervene as early as possible to offer practical solutions so clients can resolve their employment issues without escalation. Going to court is a last resort, and we work with clients to explore all other options before going down this path.

We are able to do this work thanks to funding received from the Commonwealth and ACT Government.