Fitzroy Legal Service

People are losing their homes for asking to have a leaky roof fixed. 🏠

Victoria banned no-grounds evictions in 2025, but renters are still being pushed out after asking for repairs or standing up for their rights. Anika Legal's new report, Evicted, found:

➡️ 69% of the renters they helped had asked for repairs, and 85% of them never got those repairs before being forced out
➡️ 57% of the eviction notices Anika assessed were invalid
➡️ 87% reporting impacts on their physical or mental health

One renter told them: "You just never know what might happen, it's kind of like being held to ransom."

In NSW, QLD, WA, and SA, renters can challenge a retaliatory eviction at a tribunal. In Victoria, they can't.

It's time to change that. Read the full report: https://anikalegal.org.au/blog/evicted/

Did you know you could face jail time for not paying a fine?

While recent changes have made Victoria's fines system a little bit fairer, prison remains as a potential penalty for unpaid fines.

Ahead of the Victorian Election, make sure you call on your state MPs and candidates to commit to righting this wrong.

Thank you to the Attorney-General sonyakilkennymp for her commitment towards these wins, building on the reforms achieved by former A-G Jaclyn Symes

Thank you to Rachel Payne MP and David Ettershank MP for fighting for amendments in Parliament, and Katherine Copsey, Georgie Purcell - Animal Justice Party MP and David Limbrick MP - Libertarian for your support!

Are you are our next Finance Manager?

Manager - Finance | Fitzroy | Part-time 0.6FTE

We are recruiting a Finance Manager to lead our financial operations and undertake a full range of financial activities in the organisation.

Learn more + apply: https://ow.ly/vSLe50ZQqHj

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Richmond public housing residents deserve answers.

The Victorian Government is proposing to replace 220 public housing homes with around 800 new homes. But it remains unclear whether any of those homes will be public housing.

There are also unanswered questions about residents’ right to return, rents and protections, who will own and operate the social housing, and what will happen to the green space, trees and community facilities residents rely on.

Before these plans move ahead, Richmond residents need transparency and certainty about their homes.

Applications for our Senior Civil Lawyer - Prison Legal Service Lead close THIS Sunday!

Apply via Ethical Jobs: https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/fitzroylegal/senior-civil-lawyer-prison-legal-service-lead-1

https://www.facebook.com/183627511523/posts/1516062820558255

Are you are our next Q+Law team member?

Q+Law Managing Lawyer | Fitzroy | Full-time or 0.8 FTE 12-month fixed term from around 1 December 2026 (parental leave cover)

Q+Law is recruiting a Managing Lawyer to lead our passionate, community-minded legal team. This is a rare chance to join Victoria’s only statewide LGBTIQA+SB legal service.

If you're a lawyer with management experience who’s committed to advancing LGBTIQA+SB rights, this could be the role for you!

Learn more + apply: https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/fitzroylegal/managing-lawyer-qlaw-1

Know someone great? Please share or tag them!

From today, Victorians will no longer be punished for asking for help when they need it most.

Last night, Parliament voted to abolish criminal punishment for people who need to beg to support themselves. Until now, Victoria was the only state where begging was a crime.

This is a monumental win for the communities we serve.

Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen!

Read our full statement here: https://fls.org.au/2026/09/11/decrim-begging

Join us to lead our Prison Legal Service!

Senior Civil Lawyer - Prison Legal Service Lead | Fitzroy | Full-time or part-time to September 2027

The role is responsible for leading the legal service component of Fitzroy Legal Service’s Prison Legal Service – a statewide service upholding the rights of people in prison by providing safe and inclusive legal advice and casework, delivering community legal education and undertaking systemic advocacy.

Learn more + apply: https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/fitzroylegal/senior-civil-lawyer-prison-legal-service-lead-1

Know someone great? Please share or tag them!

Prison time isn’t fine.

This week, the Victorian Parliament has a chance to right a historic wrong, and stop imprisonment for fines debt for good.

Parliament is voting on proposed legislation to abolish jail time for fines debt, but this needs the Government’s support to pass.

Ms Dhu’s story reminds us that jailing people for poverty can be a death sentence. We can’t bring her back, but we can ensure it doesn’t happen to anybody else.

There are more humane and cost-effective ways to recover fines debt than jail time.

Join us, and call on the Victorian Parliament to support this legislation and abolish imprisonment for fines debt.

Ben Carroll MP

Prison time isn’t fine, and the time is now to change it.

Legislation is before Victorian Parliament this week that would stop jailing people for fines debt, for good.

If the Parliament supports this legislation, they can focus on more effective and more humane ways to recover debt.

If Parliament supports this legislation, people who are struggling to afford necessities will not go to jail for a toll road fine.

Join us, and call on the Victorian Parliament to support this legislation, and abolish imprisonment for fines debt.

Ben Carroll MP