Annual Impact Report

Bridging the justice gap with technology

To meet the sheer scale of unmet legal need, the legal assistance ecosystem must be set up to identify, prevent, and respond to legal issues and deliver both maximum impact and reach.

Technology provides an immense opportunity to enhance and scale access to justice, both in improving the way we work, and connecting up the legal sector at large.

We harness technology where it makes sense to scale our reach, improve the experience of giving and getting legal help, and strengthen the entire access to justice ecosystem.

Our industry-leading innovation work has increased efficiencies in how people find and apply for our help, and how law firms around the world contribute to pro bono.

Helping not-for-profit organisations navigate the law

Not-for-profit organisations are the cornerstone of community resilience, providing essential services that uplift those most in need and strengthen society in times of adversity.

However, these vital organisations exist in a complex legal landscape, especially if they operate in multiple states. With their limited time and resources, this can make keeping up with compliance extremely difficult, let alone affording costly legal fees when they experience a legal issue.

By providing expert advice, training, and resources, we work to relieve community organisations of this burden. As a charity ourselves, we share the same experience and priorities as the organisations we help. Our specialist legal support aims to give not-for-profit organisations the skills, confidence, and information they need to run their organisation well, while focusing on what matters most: their communities.

Keeping people safely and securely housed

Safe, secure housing is a human right that lays the foundation to wellbeing. But as legal, housing, health, social, and financial needs increase in the housing and cost-of-living crises, many more Victorians are facing homelessness, and accessing community supports for the first time.

When people have complex or interconnected needs, our multidisciplinary team of lawyers and social workers are there to offer a higher intensity of support, such as providing ongoing casework or representation.

We also amplify this impact by developing digital tools that increase our help to more people, so renters can understand their legal rights and take early, preventative action to stay safely housed.

To break the cycle of homelessness, we use our frontline insights and service delivery data to advocate for better laws, policies, and practices to stop homelessness before it starts.

Safeguarding older people from financial abuse

Financial elder abuse can quietly strip away a person’s security, independence, and peace of mind. Abuse often comes from those who are most trusted, and the warning signs can be difficult to detect until serious harm has occurred.

We help older Australians protect their rights and make decisions that reflect their values. Through our Health Justice Partnerships, we meet people early, in safe and familiar spaces like hospitals, to provide clear legal guidance before a minor issue becomes a crisis.

We know that planning ahead can be one of the most powerful tools for prevention. Supporting older people to discuss their wishes, plan for the future, and take practical steps to safeguard their wellbeing reduces vulnerability and builds confidence.

By combining legal expertise with compassion, we help people maintain control over their affairs and strengthen the systems around them, creating safer pathways for older Australians to live with respect, security, and independence.

Responding to emerging legal need

Legal need doesn’t stand still. It evolves as the world changes, shaped by economic pressures, housing instability, digital disruption, and shifting social attitudes. At Justice Connect, we adapt alongside it, using evidence from our frontline services to understand where help is needed most and how to deliver it effectively.

Our work spans the realities of financial distress, insecure work, and consumer vulnerability – issues that can escalate quickly when people can’t find help early enough. By listening to people’s experiences, we identify where systems fall short and design timely, practical responses that make a difference.

Whether it’s sharing research that deepens understanding, providing clear information about rights and obligations, or partnering with pro bono lawyers to help people navigate complex challenges, our goal is the same: to ensure that when new legal problems emerge, no one is left to face them alone.