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Following last November's historic AGM vote in favour of integration with PILCH NSW, we've been working hard on the nuts and bolts of bringing the two organisations together. We've developed a draft strategic plan and are working on developing common processes across both offices, in particular for taking client inquiries and making referrals, and for rolling out the work of PilchConnect in NSW. There's a great deal of enthusiasm and energy among staff as everyone starts to see the potential of the new merged organisation. The two PILCHs share a common history and the passion for access to justice through pro bono is very strong in both offices. Over the coming months, some of the changes will start to become more visible, so stay tuned - there's a lot to look forward to.

We are also very happy to welcome Hugh de Kretser, former executive officer of the Federation of Community Legal Centres, to his new role as executive director of the Human Rights Law Centre. The HRLC, which has been co-located with PILCH since its establishment in 2006, is dedicated to promoting and protecting human rights in Australia and beyond. Hugh succeeds longtime friend of PILCH Phil Lynch, who has recently taken up the position of director of the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva.

We have recently added depth to our practice by welcoming our first volunteers completing practical legal training (PLT) as part of their Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice (GDLP). We are confident the PLT placements at PILCH will be valuable to our clients, students and the legal sector.

Our engagement with PLTs reflects the changed environment for practical legal training in Victoria. With the steady decline of the articles of clerkship model, students in Victoria are increasingly completing a GDLP as the final step before admission. Read more >>

In the last few months, our Seniors Rights Legal Clinic has achieved some great outcomes for vulnerable older clients. We assisted Jane* in relation to a claim by the ATO in respect of a tax debt allegedly owed by her recently deceased husband. SRLC lawyers from Holding Redlich advocated on Jane's behalf and the ATO agreed not to pursue the debt. "I am very happy with the result" Jane said, "for to be faced with the might of the ATO is a fearsome thing and I thought I would lose my home."

We also helped Joe* by ensuring that he has a secure income. We assisted Joe in relation to a decision made by Centrelink to decline his application for the aged pension. SRLC lawyers from Holding Redlich advised Joe not to appeal the decision but rather to lodge a new application, which was successful. Joe said that he appreciated being able to talk to someone about it: "I wasn't alone against the world... The advice I received not to appeal to the AAT and to make a new application was vital to the end outcome".

^{* Names have been changed}

On 20 March 2025 the Federal Government announced that the progress of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill would be delayed. This decision is extremely disappointing for PILCH and a range of community organisations who have been committed to developing more effective, efficient and accessible protections against unjustified discrimination in Australia. The Government has now introduced the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people from discrimination. While these protections are welcome and long overdue, Australia's legislative framework for protecting against discrimination will continue to be unclear and inconsistent in the absence of consolidated laws.

PilchConnect, our service for community organisations, has been busy with advice, training and referrals while working on a number of special projects since the start of the new year including:

• preparing submissions on:
  • the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 Exposure Draft
  • proposed Governance Standards for charities registered with the ACNC
  • COAG's Regulatory Impact Assessment on Potential Duplication of Governance and Reporting Standards for Charities, and
  • the ACNC Regulatory Approach Statement
• delivering training to not-for-profit groups across Melbourne and Victoria, including to groups with cultural and linguistic diversity
• providing evidence to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012
• engaging with the media about PilchConnect's amicus appearance in the Supreme Court, and
• creating resources for not-for-profits on new laws for incorporated associations and the commencement of the ACNC.

Read more - PilchConnect in the Media
Read more - PilchConnect submissions

PILCH amicus result out
Last October, PILCH, through the work of PilchConnect, was granted leave to make submissions and provide expert advice to the Supreme Court as amicus curiae in an appeal bought by the Melbourne City Council (the Council). An 'amicus curiae' means 'friend of the court'.

Recently, Justice John Dixon delivered his judgment, accepting Melbourne City Council's arguments. The effect of the successful appeal is far-reaching. It has put an end to the historic sentencing practice of court-ordered payments to charity which (anecdotally) distribute millions of dollars to charities each year. PilchConnect is now urging Parliament to reconsider Victoria's sentencing laws and re instate this sentencing practice in appropriate circumstances. The matter received extensive media coverage - see PilchConnect in the Media

Central City HPLC - holistic legal services
In February, our Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic and law firms DLA Piper and Clayton Utz commenced 2 weekly clinics at the Central City Community Health Service (Central City). The Central City mission is to 'develop an inter-agency service partnership that enables the provision of integrated health, housing and support services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the City of Melbourne'. We look forward to working with this new service to provide innovative and 'joined up' solutions to homelessness as well as better outcomes for our clients.

Dangerous and overcrowded housing
In 2008, three Indian students died in a rooming house fire in Footscray. Their deaths have raised key issues about overcrowded and unsafe housing. There are people living in conditions like this all over the state - it's a ticking time bomb. In a recent joint submission to the Coroner investigating the deaths, our Homeless Persons' Legal Clinic and the Tenants Union of Victoria (TUV) recommended necessary changes to improve the safety of housing for vulnerable tenants and rooming house residents. Read the submissions and media release here and The Age story (quoting the HPLC Manager & Principal Lawyer Chris Povey) here. 

Social status discrimination
The HPLC continues to campaign for social status (including homelessness, unemployment and receipt of social security) to be recognised as protected attributes in the Commonwealth legislation. Senior Lawyer Lucy Adams recently appeared before Senate Committee to give evidence about the benefits of consolidated human rights and anti discrimination laws. SBS reported Lucy's comments here and PILCH's submission is available here.