Government must end uncertainty over crucial legal assistance program

The State Government has a responsibility to step in and provide funding certainty to ensure the crucial Just Healthy Families program can continue.

Just Healthy Families is Tasmania’s first health, justice and housing partnership, providing access to legal services and giving victim-survivors of family violence improved access to justice.

It is particularly important in the lives of women and children fleeing family violence, and plays a big role in ensuring their safety and wellbeing.

News that the pilot program has no funding beyond the end of this year is particularly concerning, given the positive difference it has made in the lives of thousands of Tasmanians.

Tasmania Legal Aid and Women’s Legal Services Tasmania do a fantastic job managing the program, in partnership with the Hobart Women’s Shelter, Child and Family Learning Centres and the Child Health and Parenting Service, and they deserve funding certainty.

The Attorney-General Guy Barnett needs to step in here and ensure that the program has ongoing funding so this incredibly important service can continue.

I urge Mr Barnett to recognise the importance of Just Healthy Families and urgently provide funding certainty so this program can keep on helping vulnerable Tasmanians.

November 17 2023