Free Advice, Assistance and Referral

SCALES provides advice and assistance to residents of the Kwinana and Rockingham areas in Western Australia on legal problems. The advice is provided by law students under the supervision of solicitors.

SCALES can advise on matters such as:

• Family violence
• Tenancy
• Family law
• Immigration
• Criminal law
• Centrelink issues
• Consumer and Debt
• Criminal injuries compensation
• Equal Opportunity Claims
• Motor Vehicle Accidents
• Civil Law

Generally SCALES does not give advice in personal injuries, workers compensation or workcover, wills, probate and administration of estates, bankruptcy, commercial matters or town planning, real estate, conveyancing and mortgages, taxation; defamation or small business.

If the client can be assisted elsewhere SCALES will refer them on. If there is no other source of assistance SCALES may sometimes provide some initial advice and also provide ongoing assistance depending on some of the following matters:

• The client's financial situation
• The likelihood of success in the case
• The capacity of the service to provide assistance.

Appointments are made up to one week in advance by telephone (08) 9550 0400 from 9.00am each Monday morning (or Tuesday mornings in the case of a public holiday). If an interpreter is required SCALES will arrange for an interpreter to be present free of charge

Telephone advice is available in limited circumstances where clients are unable to come in for an appointment.
Family Law Forums

Family Law Information

Forums are held regularly in Kwinana and Rockingham. Areas covered include children’s issues, mediation and property settlement. The forums are designed to increase people’s awareness of the alternatives to taking court action, the services available and the court process itself if people do proceed to court. SCALES is accredited with the Family Court and our forums exempt you from attending a forum in Perth.

Family Violence

SCALES provides advice to people in situations of family violence and has a designated solicitor to assist clients. In some cases SCALES will also represent women at court who are trying to get a violence restraining order against a family member or boyfriend / girlfriend.

SCALES can also provide initial advice and referrals on other matters, which may arise when trying to escape domestic violence. These may include family law matters and criminal injury compensation.

SCALES is also active in law reform and education around the issues of domestic violence.

Emergency

In an emergency and if you fear for the safety of yourself or your children, telephone 000 and ask for the Police, or refer to the Police Domestic Violence Resource and Referral Centre.

If, at any time, you need urgent advice or information, telephone the Crisis Care Unit on 9325 1111 or, for country callers, telephone 1800 199 008. This is a 24 hour service.

Men can access the 24 hour Men's Domestic Violence Helpline for advice on 9223 1199 or, for country callers, Freecall 1800 000 599

Funding for our domestic violence services comes from the Department for Community Development and from the WA Attorney General’s Office.