Critical.
Authoritative.
Strategic.
Subscribe to CIO Magazine »

Legal services receive NBN funding

Legal centres across Australia will use government funding to connect lawyers in regional and city Australia

Four legal centres have received Federal Government funding to connect regional and city lawyers through the National Broadband Network (NBN).

A total of $400,000 has been granted to North West Community Legal Centre (Devonport) in Tasmania; Hobart Community Legal Service; Welfare Rights Centre in South Australia; and Redfern Legal Centre in Sydney.

The funding will be used to support NBN-based trials to increase access to legal assistance in regional areas of Australia.

North West Community Legal Centre will establish a remote legal assistance service in Smithton, Tasmania, in collaboration with Wyndarra Centre Inc and utilise the NBN to provide legal advice to far north west and west coast communities via Skype and other similar technologies.

Hobart Community Legal Service will use the NBN to facilitate lawyers providing pro bono advice to clients via video conferencing.

Welfare Rights Centre (SA) Inc will provide free legal services via NBN-enabled webcam communication. Meanwhile, Redfern Legal Centre will provide legal assistance for residents in Armidale by connecting lawyers in Sydney with community members via the NBN through video conferencing and the use of an NBN-ready case and file management system. “Through this program, the NBN will help to build a digital bridge over the legal divide between regional and metropolitan Australia, helping to provide better community legal services,” said Nicola Roxon, attorney-general.

“These grants will challenge applicants to identify innovative and collaborative ways of providing legal assistance and sharing knowledge more effectively with regional community legal services.”

The funding is part of a $4 million program announced in the 2011-12 budget to help improve legal services to regional Australia through the NBN and is a joint initiative with the attorney-general’s department and the minister for broadband, communications and the digital economy.

Follow Stephanie McDonald on Twitter: @stephmcdonald0

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU

Take part in the Computerworld conversation: LinkedIn: Computerworld Australia

Recommended

  1. eBay bids on big data challenge

  2. Profitable future for data centre services market: report

  3. Tapping into social experience: Tourism Australia

    CMO

Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.

References show all
Comments are now closed.
Related Whitepapers
Latest Stories
Community Comments
Latest Blog Posts
Whitepapers
  • Advanced Malware Exposed
    This handbook shines a light on the dark corners of advanced malware, both to educate as well as to spark renewed efforts against these stealthy and persistent threats. By understanding the tools being used by criminals, we can better defend our nations, our critical infrastructures and our citizens. This ebook will provide readers with a new understanding of the rapidly developing cyber threat landscape and practical insights into how they can protect their data and computing infrastructures. Download now.
    Learn more »
  • How the Cloud Changes the Game for Line of Business Managers in Midsize Companies
    It can be argued that what distinguishes midsize businesses most from large and small companies is not size, but attitude. While attitude alone cannot mitigate the challenges faced by midsize businesses, technology can help. And no technology offers more promise than the cloud. This paper, explores midsize business challenges from the perspective, not of the IT department, but of the line of business managers they support. Read on.
    Learn more »
  • Devising a Server Protection Strategy with Trend Micro
    With so many Information Technology solutions available to choose from today, many organizations put their trust in the experience, insight and advice of Gartner, and their industry-leading analysts. Trend Micro’s portfolio of solutions meets and exceeds Gartner’s recommendations on how to devise a server protection strategy. Precisely how Trend Micro does it is detailed in this whitepaper. Read now.
    Learn more »
All whitepapers
rhs_login_lockGet exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis.
Recent comments