2010-11 Annual Report

Grants Publications Education

Annual Report 2010/11 Victoria Law Foundation Helping Victorians understand the law and use it to improve their lives Contents From the Chair 2 From the Executive Director 4 About Us 6 Our Strategic Priorities in 2010/11 7 The Year at a Glance 8 Strategy One — Reaching out to our community 10 Strategy Two — Engaging students with the law 14 Strategy Three — Better legal information 18 Strategy Four — Best practice grants 22 Strategy Five — Excellence in management 28 Financial Report 31

1 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 From the Chair In the reporting year 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 three notable events occurred. First, in November 2010 there was a change in the office of Attorney-General. The previous Attorney-General, the Honourable Rob Hulls MP, was succeeded by the Honourable Robert Clark MP. I pay tribute to the support of the Foundation provided over more than a decade by Mr Hulls. The Foundation acknowledges it and warmly wishes Mr Hulls well. I acknowledge and welcome the support to and interest in the Foundation provided by Mr Clark, shown with readiness since his accession to office. I look forward to working with Mr Clark hereafter and warmly wish him well in the office of Attorney-General. Second, in June 2011, the Victoria Law Foundation Act 2011 came into operation. Essentially it amended the constitution and membership of the Foundation by providing that the Chairperson of the Foundation shall be the Chief Justice or her nominee, and the Foundation shall consist of six members (previously not less than six and not more than eight members). The reduction in Board members was effected by the Ministerial appointments being reduced from up to four (in 2010 in fact four) to two. This was I pay tribute to the members of the Board and the consistent with the Minister’s public statements Executive Director, Ms Joh Kirby, and staff of the that it was consonant with Board independence Foundation. The Foundation is fortunate to have that the quantum of Ministerial appointments to a talented and thoughtful Board and Executive the Board be reduced. By the transitional provisions Director and a committed and able staff. In 2010 of the 2011 Act, the terms of office of all the members Ms Kirby was awarded a Churchill Fellowship of the Board were preserved to their expiry date which she undertook in 2011 visiting Canada, of 30 June 2012. I wish to record that each of United States, Sweden and England to study the nominees under the 2009 Act always acted methods of delivery of community legal information. independently. In conclusion, I wish to record my thanks to the The third event is that the work of the Foundation Chief Justice of Victoria, the Honourable Marilyn has grown, matured and prospered during the Warren AC, for her continuing interest in and reporting year. This Report reveals, and is a record support of the Foundation. of, that development. I commend the Report to you.

The Honourable P.D. Cummins Chair August 2011

2 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Our Board Foundation Board Grant Subgroup Left to right Brendan Sydes The Foundation is governed by an eight-person Mick Hall Chair nominee of the Attorney-General Board with the Executive Director. Members Erin Dolan (resigned in October 2010) serve on a voluntary basis. Member James W.S. Peters SC Joh Kirby nominee of the Victorian Bar Four members are appointed by the Attorney- Member The Honourable P.D. Cummins General of Victoria with reference to their specialist Sophia Panagiotidis Chair skills in key areas of the Foundation’s work. The Member Victoria Law Foundation other four members are appointed on the nomination nominee of the Chief Justice Kim Webster of the following bodies respectively: the Chief of Victoria Member Justice of Victoria, the Victorian Bar (peak body for Joh Kirby Mark Woods barristers), the Law Institute of Victoria (peak body Executive Director Member for solicitors) and the Federation of Community Legal Victoria Law Foundation Centres (peak body for community legal centres). Brendan Sydes Audit, Finance nominee of the Federation and Investment As is stated in the Chair’s letter, on 23 June 2011 the of Community Legal Centres Victoria Law Foundation Amendment Act 2011 came Subgroup Sophia Panagiotidis Mark Woods into operation. It will reduce the number of Board nominee of the Chair members appointed by the Attorney-General Attorney-General Sally Finlay from four to two. Absent Member Mark Woods The Foundation is an independent statutory body. nominee of the Joh Kirby Law Institute of Victoria Member Its Annual Report is tabled in Parliament each year. Sally Finlay Sophia Panagiotidis nominee of the Member Attorney-General Brendan Sydes Kim Webster Member nominee of the Stephen Roche Attorney-General Co-opted Member

3 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 From the Executive Director In 2010/11 the Foundation cemented its role helping Victorians understand the law and their legal system. Our new strategic plan builds on the Foundation’s work in past years, focussing our programs on activities that reach out to the community, engage secondary and tertiary students with the law, and improve the quality of legal information available to Victorians. This year, the structure of the Annual Report reflects this new focus and demonstrates how each department within the Foundation has responsibilities for delivering on these strong themes. For a small organisation with a relatively modest budget of around $2 million, the reach of our work is considerable. In 2010/11 we distributed over 155,000 publications. The most widely distributed publication was once again the Law help guide, helping more Victorians than ever navigate their way to appropriate legal assistance. Publishing easy-to-understand information for the community continues to be a key area of our work. This year we launched the Better Information Handbook, a guide to plain language publishing for community organisations. I personally expanded my knowledge in this critical area through a Churchill Making the most of our funding is only possible Fellowship, travelling to Canada, the United States, through a continued dedication to maintaining Sweden and England to learn from the experiences the highest standards in financial management, of plain language experts overseas. This work will administration and planning. be built upon in 2011/12. Our significant achievements this year are due, in Our Grants Program continued to support a range large part, to the passion and dedication of our staff. of projects, and for the first time this year priority I thank them for their continued commitment to consideration was given to projects that supported making a difference to the lives of Victorians. our strategic direction. While many other factors Our staff are fortunate to be fully supported by our were considered in the grant-making process, the Board and Chair, the Honourable P.D. Cummins. addition of these new, strategic considerations has I would like to thank them for their exceptional sharpened the focus of the Grants Program. skills and hard work over the past 12 months. Law Week, a central feature of our Education I look forward to the year ahead. Program, was once again very successful with a more cohesive program of events designed to attract the public. Highlights included the Law Week Oration delivered by Mr George Brouwer, speaking on the topic of ‘Achieving integrity: do we judicialise too much?’, the Courts Open Day, and the inaugural Law Week launch event at The Wheeler Centre Joh Kirby (featuring speakers Alan Attwood, Debbie Mortimer SC, Julian Burnside QC, and Robert Stary in a Executive Director, Victoria Law Foundation spirited discussion of human rights). August 2011

4 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Left to right Absent Our Staff Emma Mellon Lorin Clarke The Foundation employs a dynamic staff with Publications Manager Projects Coordinator specialist skills across a range of areas including Jasmine Pettersen Melinda Crimp grant-making, education, publishing, communications, Publications Officer Acting Publications Manager plain language and management. Cherry Tunnock Erin Dolan Finance and Grants and Awards Manager Administration Officer Ian Elsum Cristina Gutierrez Finance Officer Officer Coordinator (seated) Kathy Hope Melanie Rygl Education Programs Manager Grants and Allyson Hose Administration Officer Publications Officer (Web) Joh Kirby Sally Johnston Executive Director Education Officer Paul Bateman Anna Murphy Communications and Teacher-in-Residence Media Coordinator David Thomson Jacinta Hanrahan Teacher-in-Residence Finance Manager Fiona Viney Projects Officer Stephanie Williams Publications Officer

5 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 — About Us

About us Victoria Law Foundation is a not-for-profit statutory All our programs offer services that support the body established under legislation in 1967. Our legal sector in providing for the Victorian public. mandate is to help Victorians understand the We offer specialist teaching advice, tailored law and ultimately use it to improve their lives. publishing support, and training for those developing community legal information. We connect with the Victorian public through our Grants, Education and Publications Programs. The Foundation is funded by the Legal Services Board Public Purpose Fund, whose funding source Our Grants Program enriches the important is the interest on solicitors’ trust accounts. relationship between the legal sector and the public by offering funding, support and advice for innovative Further information on Foundation programs community projects. These collaborations inject new and how to apply for our grants can be found skills and knowledge into the legal sector. at www.victorialawfoundation.org.au The Foundation’s Education Program inspires high school and university students – as well as members of the broader public – to engage and interact directly with the justice system. Our Publications Program develops resources to help Victorians navigate the legal sector, gain a greater understanding of the justice system, and help solve common legal problems. We provide essential legal information — when, where and how Victorians want it.

6 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Our strategic priorities in 2010/11 Our work in 2010/11 has revolved around the delivery of our five strategic objectives contained in our Strategic Plan for 2010 to 2012. Strategy One Strategy Four To improve Victorians’ experience of the law and To use our uniquely placed Grants Program to the legal system by providing the legal information build capacity across the sector and support they want, when, where and how they want it. effective and sustainable projects. Strategy Two Strategy Five To improve opportunities for Victorian secondary To manage the Foundation’s resources to ensure and tertiary students to understand and engage its long-term sustainability and effectiveness. with the law. Strategy Three To improve the quality of legal information across the sector so that it can be understood by the intended audience – first time, every time.

— One — Two Reaching Engaging out to our students with community the law

— Three — Four — Five Better legal Best practice Excellence in information grants management

7 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 The Year At A Glance

8 17 $2.1M Board members Staff members Total budget

Publications

29 155,123 11 Publications Publications New editions in print distributed produced

1 6 New publication Reprints launched produced

Education

89 1500 235 Law Week events Courts Open Day Students involved participants in Law Talks events

8 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Grants

$491,065 12 21 Worth of grants General Grants Small Grants funding awarded awarded awarded

General and Small Grants awarded by organisation type Courts 1%

Peak bodies 8%

Community legal centres 40%

Statutory bodies 9%

Community organisations 14%

Research institutions 13%

Registered professional associations 9%

Other 6% Total 100%

General and Small Grants awarded by focus area Community legal Total $491,065 education $113,256

Information Refugees/migrants management $15,744 $5,000 Older people Disability $46,260 Economic disadvantage Legal profession $4,656 Schools/legal studies $66,304 $9,944 $49,407 Human rights $33,905 Environment Children and $34,940 Rural, regional young people and remote $10,000 $58,201 Prisoners $29,566

Indigenous Gender $5,000 $4,912 CALD $3,970

9 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 9 — One Reaching out to our community To improve Victorians’ experience of the law and the legal system by providing the legal information they want, when, where and how they want it 29 Publications We know from national and international research in print the important role that high-quality legal education and information can play in helping individuals resolve their legal problems before they escalate. The Foundation’s focus in 2010/11 has been to develop legal resources that enhance Victorians’ understanding of the law, strengthen legal literacy, and ultimately improve knowledge across the informal support networks upon which many people rely when faced with a legal problem. Our key areas of development in 2010/11 included 155,123 this year’s diverse Law Week program, the production and distribution of our new and updated publications Publications titles, and extensive research and development in distributed the area of plain language best practice.

89 Law Week events

10 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Law Week — Connecting with our justice system Helping people understand the law is not just about The PILCH Walk for Justice raised much-needed making information available to those who seek it money to help establish a pro bono disbursement out. The Foundation provides opportunities for all fund. There was even a dip into the funnier side Victorians to connect and engage with Victoria’s of the law with Liberty Victoria enlisting some of justice system. One of the major events we coordinate Melbourne’s finest comedians to ‘unravel, demystify is Law Week, run in May each year. The Law Week and debunk’ the concepts of order and reason. program gives Victorians the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the legal system by Law Week Oration 2011 participating in exciting and dynamic activities. Each year, the Law Week Oration – presented in partnership with Melbourne Law School – provides In 2011 these activities featured discussions and an opportunity for members of the public and the debates on legal issues including the inaugural legal sector to gain an insight into specialist legal Law Week launch event at The Wheeler Centre, topics presented by a distinguished public figure. ‘Injustice Anywhere: Human Rights in Practice’, This year, Victorian Ombudsman George Brouwer at which Alan Attwood, Julian Burnside AO QC, delivered a thought-provoking presentation entitled Debbie Mortimer SC and Rob Stary discussed ‘Achieving integrity: do we judicialise too much?’ human rights in practice. The event also saw the launch of the Better Information Handbook and attracted a full house of lively guests who joined in for refreshments afterwards.

Courts Open Day One of the highlights of Law Week in recent years has been the Courts Open Day program. Taking place in the Courts precinct, this year the program included the following highlights: The Supreme Court Dungeon Tour Not generally open to the public, the spooky and historically significant Supreme Court dungeons were a great attraction for families, who streamed into the venue from across Victoria. The inaugural Judicial Sausage Sizzle Chief Judge Rozenes from the County Court of Victoria and President of VCAT Justice Ross donned aprons and chefs’ hats to cook up a storm and chat with members of the public. County Court Sentencing Explained Session The vexed issue of sentencing – so often at the centre of media concerns about the legal system – was untangled by a real-life County Court — President of VCAT Justice Ross and Chief Judge Rozenes judge, who discussed the process openly with from the County Court of Victoria ordinary Victorians. This year, Courts Open Day was the subject of a featured news story on the Nine Network’s evening news bulletin, further engaging Victorians with the idea of an open and public Law Week program.

11 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Navigating the law and legal sector The legal sector can be overly complex and hard to In 2010/11 we also continued to develop publications navigate. Improving Victorians’ understanding of that answered the most common legal questions facing how the legal sector works and providing easy-to- Victorians in their everyday lives. These included understand answers to common legal problems is publications on pet ownership, neighbours and parking. key to the Foundation’s work. Producing great publications is merely the tip Navigating the legal sector is the focus of our law of the publications iceberg. Getting them to the help publications. The Law help guide, for the general people who need them is the biggest challenge. public, helps Victorians find their way to the services While most publications are available in hardcopy, they need. In 2010/11, 62,160 copies of the Law help all our publications can be found on our website guide were circulated across Victoria. Victoria Law, which provides the public with one-stop access to easy-to-understand legal While the general community finds the legal sector information produced by government and hard to navigate, so do many of the non-legal independent organisations across Victoria. professionals who act as advocates and advisors. www.victorialaw.org.au Our Law help directory helps this group identify the right services for clients as efficiently and accurately as possible. In 2010/11 we distributed 2,700 copies of the Law help directory across Victoria.

Parking, the law and you Parking, the law and you, now in its 7th edition, continues to be a sought-after publication for answering everyday legal questions associated with parking. This year, in developing the new edition, we worked once again with local councils to address common areas of public concern and confusion surrounding parking laws. The fully updated and redesigned Parking, the law and you explains parking rules and signs and tackles not just what to do when it all goes wrong, but how to prevent infringements in the first place. Our collaboration with councils has had the twofold effect of not only producing a better publication, but reaching more Victorians than ever before. As Graham McKinnon of Melbourne City Council (ANPSG Victorian Committee Member, VPSG Committee Member) says, “This brochure was excellent in assisting us to help educate the public on road rules and the processes associated with our legal system.” Melinda Crimp, the Foundation’s Acting Publications Manager, says that the new edition th is reaching more Victorians than ever before. “By — Parking, the law and you, now in its 7 edition working with councils we were able to increase the distribution of Parking, the law and you from 28,000 over the past three years to 45,000 in 2010/11.”

12 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Our publications Community New Law help guide 2011 Starting point for Victorians who need legal help Disaster Legal Help Website containing information on legal issues associated with disasters Dogs, cats, neighbours & you Guide to laws about owning a dog or cat Juror’s Handbook Guide to jury service for prospective jurors Neighbours, the law & you Guide to laws about neighbourhood disputes New Parking, the law and you Guide to parking law in Victoria Private Lives Guide to privacy law in Victoria Victoria Law Website containing legal information and services in Victoria Working it out Guide to dispute resolution services in Victoria General New About the County Court Overview of the Court's history and operations New Architecture of the Supreme Visual guide to the architecture of the Court of Victoria Supreme Court of Victoria Bendigo’s legal precinct Visual guide to Bendigo's legal precinct and history Melbourne’s legal precinct Visual guide to Melbourne's legal institutions and history Supreme Court of Victoria Overview of the Court's history and operations Wigs and Robes Historical account of court dress in Victoria Education New Case studies on human rights An aid to discussion in VCE legal studies classrooms New Danielle come to judgment Model hearing in the Magistrates’ Court (for VCE students) New Death at Blue Hills Model criminal trial in the Supreme Court (for VCE students) New Dr Grant and his underpants Model mediation (for VCE students) New Melbourne’s legal precinct Teacher notes and classroom race New Melbourne’s legal precinct Excursion activity We the Jury DVD A short film about jury service We the Jury Teacher notes for VCE students We the Jury Teacher notes for VELS students Advisors New Better Information Handbook Guide to producing easy-to-understand community information New Law help directory 2011 Directory of free and low-cost legal services Teachers, students & the law A quick reference guide for Australian teachers VCOSS Manuals for community Manual for members of management groups in community organisations - Community organisations management VCOSS Manuals for community Reference for policies and procedures in community organisations organisations - Policies and procedures

*New includes new editions and new publications

13 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 — Two Engaging students with the law To improve opportunities for Victorian secondary and tertiary students to understand and engage with the law

235 Students Truly engaging students and encouraging them to participating become interested in the law enables them to be in Law Talks more proactive in their dealings with the justice system and equips them to better understand their legal responsibilities as they venture into adulthood. In 2010/11 our Education Programs were designed to bring law to life for students at a secondary and tertiary level. 14 Schools involved in Law Talks programs

53 Legal sector interns placed

14 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Law Talks Law Talks schools program VCE legal studies students in rural and regional Victoria were offered the opportunity to meet expands members of the judiciary, lawyers and other In 2010/11 the Foundation added a new element representatives from Victoria’s legal sector as part to the Law Talks program. The ‘individual school of the Foundation’s 2010/11 Law Talks program. program’ is an initiative designed to connect The Law Talks program brings representatives with rural and regional schools who either from the judiciary, government, and legal sectors missed out on the Law Talks program in their to rural and regional Victoria to deliver a two-day region, or who wish to extend their Law Talks program for year 11 and 12 legal studies students. experience beyond the central program. The program is delivered to several schools at once, A truly tailor-made educational experience, offering students and teachers the opportunity to the individual school program invites teachers network with peers in their area. from each host school to nominate a legal topic. The program has been developed to reflect the VCE That topic then becomes the framework for curriculum while connecting with issues central a presentation at the school by the program’s to student life. In 2010/11 the program travelled to keynote speaker, The Honourable P.D. Cummins. Warrnambool and Wodonga, reaching nine schools Offering a unique perspective from 21 years on and 235 students in total. the bench of the Supreme Court of Victoria and many years prior to that in legal practice, The Something like this is Honourable P.D. Cummins leads informal half- fantastic for our kids. day discussions that offer a rare opportunity for students to discuss topics of their choosing They get very few with a retired Supreme Court judge in a opportunities to take relaxed, small-group environment. part in legal education In 2010/11 the program visited five schools in Sale, Bairnsdale, Warrnambool and Terang, and visits. We enjoyed spreading the reach of Law Talks well beyond hosting the program our central program. and meeting other local schools and local practitioners. — Robyn O’Shannessy, legal studies teacher at Wodonga Secondary College

— Law Talks, Wodonga

15 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Legal Sector Internship Program A gateway to a fulfilling career The Foundation’s Legal Sector Internship Program offers law students from all Victorian university law In 2010 La Trobe University student Nadia schools the opportunity to gain an understanding of Stojanova undertook a 20-day placement at the the legal sector outside law firms. The program offers Victorian Bar office as part of the Foundation’s interns a 20-day placement at organisations that Legal Sector Internship Program. focus on policy development and related areas, and a seminar series that provides both practical advice Jacqueline Stone, Nadia’s supervisor, involved on issues like plain language writing and an insight Nadia in a range of research projects such as into the work of various legal bodies in Victoria. ‘How to green the Bar’, mapping the financial contribution of the Victorian Bar’s pro bono work In 2010/11 the program continued to attract growing in terms of its broader social value, and how interest, placing 53 students with 36 organisations lawyers should take instructions from people including five new partner organisations. with cognitive impairments. Nadia also created a work experience program for the Victorian New participating organisations this year included: Bar Student Engagement Committee. Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria, Office of Water, Law Institute of Victoria, Sentencing Ms Stojanova saw plenty of daily life at the Bar. Advisory Council and Mental Health Review Board. “I assisted duty barristers and attended a coronial inquest,” she says. “I also enjoyed hearing young The internship offers students the rare opportunity women barristers’ experiences first-hand at the to gain a behind-the-scenes understanding of internship seminar on life at the Bar.” key non-commercial legal bodies and to develop networks to assist them in their future careers. From Jacqueline Stone’s perspective, “the internship program offers us the chance to mentor a potential barrister as well as greater capacity to complete research and other projects.”

It’s an excellent program – every year I look forward to my interns arriving. — Jacqueline Stone from the Victorian Bar office.

— Legal sector intern Nadia Stojanova, La Trobe University

16 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 The Chief Justice’s Medal for Excellence and Community Service 2011 The Chief Justice’s Medal for Excellence and Community Service is awarded each year to an exceptional graduating Victorian law student whose record of academic excellence is complemented by a proven commitment to community service. The 2011 Chief Justice’s Medal was awarded to La Trobe University nominee Hugh Crosthwaite. While completing his studies, Mr Crosthwaite was involved in a range of community service activities including voluntary positions with an after-school music program and the St Vincent de Paul Society’s soup van. He was instrumental in the development of The Gist of It, a website designed to educate the community about Australia’s system of government, and Key of Sea, a music recording that raised funds for refugees and asylum seekers.

— Chief Justice’s Medal for Excellence and Community My concern for Service winner Hugh Crosthwaite maintaining human rights and my interests in music have led me to continue my engagement within the community and make a real difference for disadvantaged groups. — Hugh Crosthwaite, Chief Justice’s Medal winner

17 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 — Three Better legal information To improve the quality of legal information across the sector so that it can be understood by the intended audience – first time, every time 4 Legal Sector Good quality legal information needs to allow users: Publishing Forums — to find the information they need; — to understand it the first time; and — to then take action to fulfil their goals. Developing information that addresses these aims requires understanding your audience and providing content and a style of presentation that meets their needs. It is not as simple as stating legal principles but requires careful design, ordering of information and use of language – the key principles of plain language. Victoria Law Foundation is fast becoming 89 the leading voice in working to integrate these Attended Legal values into the legal sector’s approach to providing Sector Publishing information to the Victorian public. Forums In 2010/11, our work in this area concentrated on producing best-practice publications while keeping abreast of current national and international developments in plain language. To meet our greater aim of improving the quality of information across the sector, we shared our expertise through plain language training and Legal Sector Publishing Forums, giving grantees and the wider legal sector the tools to produce the highest quality publications. 10 Legal Reporting Awards

18 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Better Information Handbook Churchill Fellowship In 2010/11 we launched our new reference guide on all aspects of community publishing – the In 2010, our Executive Director, Joh Kirby, was Better Information Handbook. awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate current international practice relating to the Designed to work in conjunction with our other delivery of community legal information. training programs, the handbook was developed in partnership with the UK organisation AdviceNow. “It was a great opportunity to see what other The Better Information Handbook is a comprehensive organisations are doing and a confirmation that guide to producing easy-to-understand information the work of the Foundation is really world class,” for the community, drawing together principles of Ms Kirby reports. plain language and practical step-by-step publishing advice. The Fellowship took Ms Kirby to Canada, USA, Sweden and England, allowing her to share The publication is available in hardcopy from the the Australian experience, see first-hand the Foundation or online at the Foundation’s website, work in other countries and establish important www.victorialawfoundation.org.au networks. For a full list of our publications in 2010/11 see page 13. Ms Kirby also presented a paper at the Stockholm Plain Language Conference, PLAIN 2011, where she shared her experiences in developing our Law help guide. Ms Kirby, whose full report on the Fellowship will be released in 2011/12, says she learned a great deal. “The Fellowship has given me lots of ideas about how we can continue to improve our work and what steps could be taken across the sector to help improve Victorians’ understanding of their justice system.”

— Better Information Handbook

— Joh Kirby, Executive Director

19 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Plain language publishing Legal Sector Publishing Forums In 2010/11 we continued our ongoing review of Once again our Legal Sector Publishing Forums Foundation publications to bring them up to brought publishers of community legal information current plain language standards. We did this in together to share ideas and knowledge and collaboration with Australian and international listen to experts. organisations and, later, with reference to lessons These forums are important for information-sharing learned from Ms Kirby’s Churchill Fellowship. and networking, bringing together government, the Plain language workshops community legal sector and community workers to With our partner Words & Beyond, the Foundation discuss issues and ideas. provided plain language training for grantees, partner organisations and interested members of 2010/11 Publishing Forums the legal sector. The intensive one-day workshop explained the fundamentals of plain language and The writing process – the benefits Sep 10 audience-focussed writing and how these can be of working with a writer used to explain complex legal concepts accurately to ensure that they are understood by the intended Editing Nov 10 audience. The success of this program can be seen in Translations – Easy English Feb 11 the steps taken by organisations attending our and LOTE training to integrate plain language into their own practice. Everything you need to know Jun 11 about printing (site visit)

— Legal Sector Publishing Forum underway

20 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Legal Reporting Awards 2010 The media plays a key role in explaining and demystifying the legal system for Victorians. Informed, accurate and clear journalism is critical in enhancing public confidence and an understanding of the workings of the Victorian justice system. The Legal Reporting Awards acknowledge excellence in Victorian legal reporting in ten categories across print, radio, television and online media. The 2011 awards, celebrating material published in 2010, were overseen by The Honourable Justice Whelan at a ceremony held in the Supreme Court Library. 2010 winners — The Honourable P.D. Cummins and The Honourable Justice Whelan with prize Reporter of the year on legal issues winners at the Legal Reporting Awards Liz Porter, The Age ‘DNA disaster’ Tony Smith Award for reporting which promotes an understanding of the work of the courts Steve Butcher, The Age Columb Brennan Award for excellence in court reporting Andrea Petrie, The Age Best report in print Liz Porter, The Age ‘DNA disaster’ Best report TV – same day Kate McGrath, Ten News, Network Ten ‘New assessment and referral court list’ Best online report Kate Osborn, Yahoo!7, Channel Seven ‘Why Gurshan lost his life’ Best report in community media Anthea Cannon, Maribyrnong Leader ‘The role of VCAT’ Best report in regional media Aleks Devic, Geelong Advertiser ‘Robert Farquharson’s dam deaths retrial’ Best camera work still/moving Michael Clayton-Jones, The Age ‘Farquharson guilty again’ Best illustration Pat Campbell, Law Institute Journal ‘Piracy suit sunk’

21 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 — Four Best practice grants To use our uniquely placed Grants Program to build capacity across the sector and support effective and sustainable projects

$491,065 Worth of grants In 2010/11 the Foundation awarded almost $500,000 funding awarded in General Grants and Small Grants to organisations undertaking legal projects that improve Victorians’ understanding of the law. The Foundation also awarded a Community Legal Centre Fellowship. In 2010/11, for the first time priority consideration was given to grant applications that supported the Foundation’s externally focussed strategic priorities, Strategies One to Three. Our Grants Program has always offered applicants high-level support in all aspects of their project 12 delivery, including: project and budget management, education, publishing and communications. The General Grants expansion of our training programs under Strategy awarded One was of direct benefit to our grantees, as 42% of our recipients’ projects involved the production of legal information. The launch of the Better Information Handbook also offered a desktop resource that applicants can use in combination with the one-on-one advice we offer. A considerable focus for the year was on the establishment of a communications strategy to assist with distinguishing the Foundation’s Grants Program from other, similar providers. This new plan will be fully implemented in 2011/12. 21 Small Grants awarded

22 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Community Legal Centre Fellowship Now in its eighth year, the annual Community Legal Centre (CLC) Fellowship enables one suitably qualified and experienced CLC worker to take time off from their regular job to conduct research into legal issues. The winner of the 2010/11 Victoria Law Foundation Community Legal Centre Fellowship was Gary Sullivan, Principal Solicitor at the West Heidelberg Community Legal Service. Gary has worked at West Heidelberg Community Legal Service for 28 years. During this time, he has championed a range of criminal law issues and represented thousands of clients. Mr Sullivan travelled to Canada and North America to visit community law centres specialising in issues surrounding poverty. He produced a report that proposed reforms to the operation of the courts and the infringements system, the conduct of police and — Gary Sullivan, CLC Fellowship recipient lawyers and the role of welfare and support agencies. Photograph © Newspix / Janine Eastgate. “If poverty as a defence can be adopted, then a The Foundation’s number of related problems could also be mitigated,” he said. support offered me the chance to reflect, research and think strategically about how poverty might be used as an effective defence. — Gary Sullivan, Community Legal Centre Fellow

23 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 General Grants Reaching out to school 2010/11 budget: $400,000 and tertiary students Our General Grants program is for large scale projects with an average budget of $50,000. Grantee Endangered Pictures Inc

In 2010/11 a total of 53 applications were received, Project Even Girls Play Footy which continues a pattern of increasing interest in the Grants Program year-to-year. A total of 12 Two – engaging Strategic priority General Grants was awarded in 2010/11 with a students with the law total value of $399,999. General Grant applications are considered by the Grants amount $24,182 Grants Subgroup with reference to the Foundation’s statutory functions contained in section 5 of the In 2010/11 the Foundation funded Endangered Victoria Law Foundation Act 2009 as well as our Films to produce a thirty-minute documentary strategic priorities and guiding principles. Full following the story of three girls who took details of the Foundation’s selection process Football Victoria to the Victoria Civil and and how to apply can be found at Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) after being www.victorialawfoundation.org.au told they could no longer play on their football teams because of their gender. As a result, While all grants were awarded on merit, consistent the minimum age limit for girls playing AFL with the Foundation’s new strategic focus, priority football was increased from 12 to 14. consideration was given to applications supporting the Foundation’s strategic priorities One to Three. “This is a real story, about real people enforcing Of the 12 grants awarded all but one grant fell their legal rights that we hope will engage within these strategies. All grants made a positive teenagers, empowering them to enforce their contribution to improving Victorians’ understanding own legal rights if they need to,” says Joh Kirby, of the law. Executive Director, Victoria Law Foundation. “The DVD explores cultural and social attitudes towards gender discrimination and how the process of taking the case to court enabled the girls to move forward in pursuit of a dream,” says the film’s producer Carmel McAloon. The DVD will be used as a community education tool, particularly for schools, with the aim of demystifying court processes and increasing awareness of legal rights and responsibilities and other issues relating to gender discrimination.

— Footballers in waiting Helen Taylor, Emily Stanyer and Penny Cula-Reid

24 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 General Grants awarded in 2010/11 Applicant Project Amount (exc GST)

Advocacy and Rights Keeping watch: enabling the families and friends of $27,256 Centre Ltd missing persons to effectively manage their affairs Association for Prevention Safer prisons project Victoria: investigating $24,266 and Harm Reduction legislative changes required for the introduction Programs Australia (Anex) of syringe programs in Victorian prisons Deakin University Victorian Centre for Rural Regional Law $58,201 & Justice: seed funding Eastern Community Clearer Steps 2 Safety: translation $34,267 Legal Centre Inc of the intervention order video Endangered Pictures Pty Ltd Even girls play footy: documentary $24,182 on Football Victoria VCAT case Environment Defenders Environmental justice project $30,000 Office (Vic) Ltd Footscray Community Local councils, debts & vulnerable debtors: $16,304 Legal Centre Inc a better way. Finding a better way to deal with clients who have not paid council rates Law Institute of Victoria Ltd Assessing the impact of the Charter of Human $31,405 Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 on legal practice in Victoria Moreland Community Understanding your rights: grandparents $46,260 Legal Centre Inc and the family law system Office of the Public Advocate Making good enduring powers of attorney: $37,633 interactive, personal and online Springvale Community Aid For youth information: youth-developed multimedia $20,225 and Advice Bureau Inc resources on stop and search laws West Heidelberg Community Bulk negotiation for disadvantaged people: $50,000 Legal Service Inc phase two Total $399,999

25 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Small Grants Enhancing Social Justice 2010/11 budget: $100,000 Our Small Grants offer organisations the opportunity National Pro Bono Grantee to act nimbly to meet immediate needs, deliver Resource Centre low-cost, high-impact projects, or scope larger potential projects. Social Justice Opportunities: A Career Small Grants are for projects with budgets up to Project $5,000 (exc GST) and are awarded by the Executive Guide for Law Students Director with reference to the Foundation’s statutory and New Lawyers functions contained in section 5 of the Victoria Two – engaging students Law Foundation Act 2009 as well as our strategic Strategic priority priorities and guiding principles. Full details of the with the law Foundation’s selection process and how to apply can be found at www.victorialawfoundation.org.au Grants amount $5,000

This year we continued to see a high level of This year, in collaboration with the Law and interest in this grants program, which awarded a Justice Foundation NSW, the Foundation total of 21 Small Grants. Projects were as diverse as funded the National Pro Bono Resource Centre developing targeted legal information for the Pasifika to produce a guide for current and future legal community, providing information to street sex workers practitioners on how to become involved in and improving law students’ understanding of social improving social justice. justice opportunities. The publication, Social Justice Opportunities, details the diversity of the legal sector for students undertaking their practical legal training or those already employed who would like to broaden their experience and develop skills that come from volunteering and internships. John Corker, Director of the National Pro Bono Resource Centre, said that the need for this guide was identified through visiting career fairs and by surveying law students at their national conference. “Together with the new website (www.sjopps. net.au) this resource provides a guide to why and how law students and young lawyers can get involved in social justice opportunities right throughout their legal career,” Corker says. — Geoffrey Robertson Q.C. and Weller Zheng at the launch of Social Justice Opportunities: A Career Guide for Law Students and New Lawyers The guide is available online and will be distributed in hard copy at careers fairs throughout Australia.

26 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Small Grants awarded in 2010/11 Applicant Project Amount (exc GST)

Advocacy and Rights CLC4GV: promotion of a pilot community legal $4,739 Centre Ltd centre in the Goulburn Valley Arabic Welfare Inc Law and us: a program bridging the gap between Arabic $5,000 speaking youth and the legal system Auspicious Arts Projects Inc Rendition of the soul: a theatre performance based $2,500 on a conversation between Julian Burnside and Philip Gourevitch about the Abu Ghraib images Environment Defenders Office Environmental Law online extension project: $4,940 (Vic) Ltd transferring material from Rural Law Online to Environmental Law Online Flat Out Inc Publication of Centre for the Human Rights $2,937 of Imprisoned People (CHIRP) resources Flemington and Kensington Printing of Race or Reason? Police encounters $1,700 Community Legal Centre Inc with Young People in the Flemington Region and Surrounding Areas Hume Riverina Community Mapping the Migration Maze: attendance of four lawyers $4,400 Legal Service at the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre’s training session James Cook University Research project: Mediation and the gay, lesbian, bisexual, $4,912 transgender, intersex and queer (GLBTIQ) community LICAUSED (Victoria) Inc Research project: The Liberian community and the law $5,000 Magistrates’ Court Victoria Translation into six languages: $3,970 Magistrates’ Court Victoria client services brochure National Pro Bono Publication of Social Justice Opportunities: A Career Guide $5,000 Resource Centre for Law Students and New Lawyers Progressive Law Inaugural conference: Legal (r)Evolution 2011. $4,944 Network Inc Law reform conference for students, legal professionals and the community South West Alternative Life is a mesh: production of a patchwork wall hanging $4,926 Medium Project Inc reflecting individuals’ ideas and interpretations of the legal system, exhibited in a local community space St Kilda Legal Service Delivery of legal information to street sex workers $4,435 Cooperative Ltd Victorian Bar Inc Initial funding for the Criminal Bar Association $5,000 quarterly bulletin Victorian Bar Inc Social justice website: streamlining the $5,000 Bar Pro Bono Scheme for allocation of barristers Victorian Bar Inc Publication costs of The Mabo Litigation: A Memoir $5,000 Victoria Police Production of weapons information DVD $5,000 for young people Victorian Association Translation of leaflet into three Pasifika languages $2,363 for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders Victorian Deaf Society Training of AUSLAN interpreters for courts $4,656 Western Suburbs A legal education kit for communities $4,644 Legal Service Inc affected by anti-terror laws Total $91,066

27 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 — Five Excellence in management To manage the Foundation’s resources to ensure its long-term sustainability and effectiveness

$2.1m Good governance and management are key factors Budget in the success of the Foundation’s programs. In 2010/11 we have focussed on improving staff development programs, compliance, and our investment management — ensuring the long-term sustainability of the organisation.

17 Staff members

8 Board members

28 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Excellence in financial management In an uncertain funding environment we have taken measures to ensure the security of our investments with the completion of a mid-contract review of our investment managers. Improved communications In 2010/11 we completed a marketing and communications review to assist us in developing strategies for reaching our target audience in the future. The recommendations of the review will be implemented in 2011/12, subject to funding.

Stable staffing — The Honourable P.D. Cummins, Executive Director Joh Kirby We have seen an increase in staff satisfaction and and Attorney-General The Honourable Robert Clark MP significant reduction in staff turnover in 2010/11 assisted by better staff programs including a comprehensive staff development plan. Networking and ideas The Foundation further expanded our networks and established new connections across the sector in Victoria and beyond. The PLAIN 2011 plain language conference in Stockholm was a highlight, as were our plain language training sessions, the Community Legal Centre Conference, the National Rural Regional Law and Justice Conference, and Executive Director Joh Kirby’s Churchill Fellowship.

We also continued to connect directly with our — Education Programs Manager Kathy Hope mingles stakeholders and partner organisations through with guests at this year’s Legal Laneway Breakfast our work with organisations such as the Rural and Regional Reference Group and the Victorian Legal Assistance Forum (VLAF). Executive Director Joh Kirby recently stepped down as Chair of VLAF and now acts as Deputy Chair alongside representatives from seven other member organisations.

— Joh Kirby, Executive Director launching the Better Information Handbook

29 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11

Financial Report 2010/11

31 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Financial Report Income statement 33 Statement of comprehensive income 34

Statement of financial position 35 Statement of changes in equity 36 Statement of cash flows 37

Notes to financial statements 38

Foundation members’ declaration 47

Independent auditor’s report 48

32 Victoria Law Foundation Annual report 2010/11 Income statement For the year ended 30 June 2011 Note 2011 2010 $ $ Revenue Sales revenue 3 28,812 22,801 Managed funds distributions, dividends and other gains 3 182,076 471,603 Legal Services Board Public Purpose Fund 3 1,700,000 1,445,000 Other income 3 52,066 64,894 3 1,962,954 2,004,298 Less: expenses Unrealised impairment losses on investments 4 (13,659) (30,561) Depreciation and amortisation expense 4 (17,813) (18,559) Employee benefit expense 4 (928,598) (820,320) Occupancy expenses (72,685) (64,742) Realised losses on investments 4 (46,552) (123,259) Program expenses (752,496) (668,532) Administrative expenses (135,030) (153,595) Other expenses (43,526) (33,366) (2,010,359) (1,912,934) Surplus / (deficit) before income tax expense (47,405) 91,364 (income tax benefit) Income tax benefit (income tax expense) - - Surplus / (deficit) from continuing operations (47,405) 91,364