The Working Women’s Centre Victoria (WWC Vic) launched its first Impact Report today in Melbourne, alongside Victoria’s Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams. The Report highlights the integral role of free and holistic workplace legal assistance, advocacy and training for women and non-binary people across the state.
The Deputy Premier joined WWC Vic to mark its first two years of operation and the outcomes made possible through investment from the Victorian Government through its Safe Workplaces for Women Initiative and by the Australian Government through the Working Women’s Centre Grant Program.
In its first two years of operation, Working Women’s Centre Victoria (WWC Vic):
- helped 1,762 people across the state
- delivered 2,739 legal services
- secured more than $1.3 million in wages, employment entitlements and compensation
- delivered 78 workplace rights sessions, reaching more than 1,767 people in the community
- supported employers to prevent workplace sexual harassment, with their free resources downloaded 344 times and an 11-part online training series watched 190 times its first three months alone
Unfair dismissal, pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment and wage theft were among the workplace problems driving demand for legal help, including 25% (678) unfair dismissal matters, 3% (70) pregnancy discrimination matters, 3% (84) sexual harassment matters and 4% (105) wage recovery matters.
Clear themes have emerged from WWC Vic’s work over its first two years. More than half of the people assisted were experiencing financial disadvantage. Many clients were also people born overseas or on temporary visas, people who can face additional barriers in the workplace, including limited knowledge of their workplace rights, language barriers and visa-related insecurity, which can be exploited by some employers.
Many of the people seeking help face barriers to accessing workplace advice and support, and may not have access to a union or other workplace protections. These barriers can make it harder to challenge unlawful treatment at work or seek help when problems arise. For some, WWC Vic is their first opportunity to access free, specialist legal advice, understand their rights and decide what to do next.
The Impact Report also shows that workplace problems rarely happen in isolation. Losing a job or wages can affect a person’s financial security, housing, visa status or safety. WWC Vic’s model means people can access coordinated legal and practical support for issues affecting their life, training to understand their rights, and advocacy to improve the system all in one place.
WWC Vic uses evidence from its casework to identify patterns of workplace harm and drive systemic change. This evidence informs community education, strengthens employer capability through training, and supports advocacy for stronger workplace laws and systems to prevent harm before it occurs.
Download and read our Impact Report 2024-26 [PDF 2.8 MB]
QUOTES
Ashleigh Newnham, CEO, South-East Monash Legal Service
“In just two years, we’ve helped thousands of women and non-binary people get free, specialist legal support when they’ve been unfairly dismissed, underpaid, discriminated against or sexually harassed at work.”
“For many, we are their first opportunity to understand what has happened, know their rights and take action.”
Tania McKenna, Deputy CEO, Northern Community Legal Centre
“This report shows we’re reaching people who are often under-represented in workplace systems and may not have access to a union or other workplace support.”
“That’s exactly why we exist – to make sure people who might otherwise miss out can understand their rights, access justice and stay safe.”
Melissa Hardham, CEO, Westjustice
“One of the strengths of what we’ve built is that we can respond to the whole situation a person is facing, not just the problem they are having at work.”
“Our integrated state-wide model means people can get coordinated legal and practical support when workplace harm affects their financial security, housing, visa situation or safety.”
Claudia Fatone, CEO, Women’s Legal Service Victoria
“This report shows what can be achieved when women and non-binary people have access to specialist workplace support.”
“Our impact goes beyond the individual people we help. What we see through our casework shapes our community education, our work with employers and our advocacy to improve workplace laws – so we can address the systemic problems driving workplace harm across the community, not just respond when it happens to one individual.”
About Working Women’s Centre Victoria
Working Women’s Centre Victoria (WWC Vic) is a partnership between South-East Monash Legal Service, Women’s Legal Service Victoria, Westjustice and Northern Community Legal Centre. WWC Vic provides free and confidential legal assistance, education, prevention initiatives and systemic advocacy for women and non-binary workers across Victoria.
The Working Women’s Centre Victoria is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, under the Working Women’s Centre Grant Program, and by the Victorian Government through the Office for Women at the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, as part of the Safe Workplaces for Women Initiative. We thank both governments for the investment that makes this work possible.
Media enquires: Tash Howson, e:media@womenslegal.org.au ph. 03 8622 0620