Disasters cause legal problems and increase vulnerability
Everyone can play a role helping people and communities recover from disasters.
This resource hub has been designed to help frontline workers identify their clients’ legal problems and refer their clients for legal support before their problems escalate.
When disasters occur, we know that existing legal problems are exacerbated, and new legal needs emerge. People impacted by disaster are often dealing with multiple legal problems. Unresolved legal problems can affect people’s health, financial stability, and relationships. In these times of crisis, people need to be able to access legal help as quickly and seamlessly as possible.
Who are the resources for?
These resources are for people and organisations working on the frontline of disasters, including volunteers and paid workers. After a disaster, many different types of frontline workers are there to help.
- Support and social workers
- Health and Allied Health
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community services
- Law enforcement
- Government and local councils
- Disability workforces
- Emergency response staff
All frontline workers can benefit from resources about common legal issues that people, small businesses, and primary producers affected by disaster experience.
This hub will give you access to plain-language information so that you can better identify legal problems, help people take steps to resolve their legal problems, and look after yourself and your community while you
This resource hub also contains downloadable resources, including posters, flyers, and legal-information resources that you can share with your communities.
The Disaster Legal Support Resource Hub is designed to be responsive to your needs, both now and as they change. You can complete this survey to let us know what resources we should develop and how we can improve.
Are you a community legal worker?
We have a range of resources specifically for community lawyers on the disaster frontline across Australia.
The community workers hub is designed help you:
- Identify a legal issue your client might be struggling with
- Understand common legal processes
- Help your client understand their options
- Provide guidance on taking the first step in tackling a legal issue
- Connect your client to free legal help
Legal information resources
Printable resources
Download our poster for information on disaster legal help available from Justice Connect.
Webinars
This is a 15-minute webinar on disaster legal need and how to connect communities you’re supporting with help.
This is a 25-minute webinar on how Justice Connect can connect small business owners and farmers with free legal help.
Refer someone to Justice Connect
If you’re a professional working with communities affected by disasters, and you’d like to connect your client with pro bono legal help or seek assistance for your own organisation, please make a referral to Justice Connect.
