CCCWHC calls for specialist legal partners as decades-long outreach service ends.
21 September 2026 – Women experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV) on the Central Coast are facing new barriers to accessing specialist legal advice following statewide funding changes that have seen Legal Aid NSW’s Domestic Violence Unit cease its longstanding face-to-face outreach service at the Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre (CCCWHC).
For close to four decades, women have been able to access free, specialist DFSV legal advice in a safe and trusted environment at CCCWHC, a service that has operated since 1988.
CCCWHC Head of Client Services, Sarah-Jane Hill, says the loss of face-to-face legal outreach creates a significant gap for women experiencing violence.
“Legal Aid exists because not everyone can afford private legal representation. Without it, many women simply cannot participate effectively in the justice system,” says Sarah-Jane.
“When people cannot get legal help, cases take longer, courts can become even more congested, and children can remain in conflict for longer periods of time.
“We know that responses need to be provided face-to-face, in safe spaces. For women who are already navigating fear, coercion and uncertainty, that safe connection can be critical. When face-to-face options in safe, specialist organisations are removed, we risk creating further barriers for women who are already facing significant obstacles to accessing support.”
Ms Hill says legal advice is not simply a pathway to navigating the justice system but can also be an important protective factor for women experiencing violence.
“Legal advice is a protective element for women who are experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence,” says Sarah-Jane.
“For many women, coming into a safe organisation like CCCWHC and sitting down face-to-face with a lawyer provides an opportunity to connect, tell their story and understand their options in a way that is simply not possible over the phone or online.
“We are also seeing increasing concerns around technology-facilitated abuse. Women may not trust their devices, may have their communications monitored or may not feel safe making an online booking or taking a telephone call from a lawyer.”
Legal Aid NSW confirmed the decision to cease its outreach services at CCCWHC earlier this year forms part of a broader service review affecting all six of its outreach locations and has acknowledged the value of its longstanding partnership with CCCWHC.
CCCWHC acknowledges the increasing pressure on the legal assistance sector but is concerned about what the loss of specialist, face-to-face outreach means for women on the Central Coast who cannot safely or effectively access alternative forms of legal assistance.
CCCWHC is now calling on local law firms, specialist legal services and other potential partners to work with the Centre to help address this gap.
“We are not prepared to simply accept that women experiencing violence should have fewer options for accessing legal help,” adds Sarah-Jane.
“We want to work with organisations that share our commitment to women’s safety and access to justice to explore how we can restore or strengthen face-to-face specialist legal support on the Central Coast.
“Women experiencing violence deserve access to legal advice in a way that is safe, accessible and responsive to their circumstances.”
CCCWHC is seeking expressions of interest from law firms and specialist legal services interested in partnering with the Centre to provide legal support to women experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence on the Central Coast.
To discuss partnership opportunities, please contact:
Sarah-Jane Hill, Head of Client Services
Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre
SarahJane.Hill@ccwh.org.au