knowmore’s new Perth office

knowmore is an independent legal service giving free and confidential legal help to survivors of abuse by providing information and advice about the justice and redress options that may be available.

The service was established in 2013 to assist people who were engaging with or considering engaging with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

knowmore operates as a program of the National Association of Community Legal Centres (NACLC), and is funded by the Australian Government. It also receives some funding from the Financial Counselling Foundation.

knowmore uses a multidisciplinary model to provide trauma-informed, client-centered and culturally safe legal assistance to clients.

knowmore has lawyers, social workers, counsellors, Aboriginal engagement advisors and financial counsellors to provide coordinated support.

knowmore can help clients with possible claims under institutional redress schemes including the National Redress Scheme, access to assistance or compensation through victims of crime schemes or common law and civil claims, and other legal issues related to abuse such as accessing records from institutions and making complaints to police.

knowmore has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and now Perth. The Perth office first opened in July 2014 and closed in December 2016, after its work with the Royal Commission was completed.

With the National Redress Scheme underway, the knowmore Perth office reopened to the public in June 2019 (currently in temporary accommodation). NEW PERTH LOCATION (from 30 August 2019) knowmore Legal Service Level 5, 5 Mill Street Perth WA 6000 Free advice line: 1800-605-762 web: www.knowmore.org.au

Thanks to Greg Boland, Managing Lawyer with knowmore Perth office, for sending us the information above.

Readers may remember Greg from his previous role with Legal Aid, when he joined us in protesting the 2009 Redress WA payment cuts. In July 2019 Greg visited Tuart Place with Nick Hudson, knowmore’s Director of Strategic Engagement, and spoke to a gathering of participants about knowmore’s current work with the National Redress Scheme.

Our photo shows Greg with Senior Therapist Susy Vaughan at Tuart Place on 22 July.

The knowmore Perth team: Standing (L to R): Ginny Rabeling (Senior Lawyer), Aline Benkendorf (Lawyer), Elvis Yarran (ATSI Engagement Advisor), Michael Martin (Regional Client Services Manager), Marque Raymond (Support Services Worker), Steven Turner (Lawyer), Sadhini Wijesiri (Paralegal) and Erin Dalton (Lawyer). Seated (L to R): Greg Boland (Managing Lawyer), Leticia Marquez (Intake Officer), Danelle Shoulder (Office Administrator), Margaret Coyne (ATSI Engagement Advisor) and Taryn Ford (Intake Officer). 5