As per a statement, the new funding includes: $39.3 million for Legal Aid NSW, community legal centres, and other service providers to assist vulnerable women, with a focus on victims of domestic and family violence; $16 million to support people with mental health conditions access the justice system; and $12.2 million to assist workers experiencing sexual harassment or discrimination.

Further, the funding includes $23.5 million for Legal Aid NSW to extend Family Advocacy and Support Services (FASS), including new court locations and increased mental health supports; and $2.4 million for providers to expand Domestic Violence Units (DVU) with dedicated mental health support and increased outreach to women in regional or remote areas.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put significant pressure on vulnerable people throughout NSW and highlighted the critical need for access to free legal services,” Mr Speakman said.

“I’m very thankful for the contribution of our dedicated legal assistance providers in delivering much-needed support for disadvantaged people when so many are doing it tough.

“I encourage providers to apply for funding to support victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence, people in need of mental health services, and other disadvantaged groups grappling with financial stress that’s often intensified by COVID-19.”

President of the Law Society of NSW, Juliana Warner, said the legal assistance sector would play a particularly critical role in assisting people recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has generated even greater demand for legal assistance resources, particularly in relation to domestic and family violence, credit matters, tenancy disputes, hardship applications and employment law,” Ms Warner said.

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“Publicly funded legal assistance services such as Legal Aid are vital to ensure that some of the most vulnerable people in our community have access to legal support. For many, it is the only way they can access legal support.

“The Law Society welcomes any initiatives to improve the availability of these services, including those that will be funded through the National Legal Assistance Partnership Agreement 2020-25 (NLAP). We particularly welcome any legally aided funding that support Indigenous people and those with mental health conditions, given their over-representation throughout the criminal justice system.”

Also commenting on the roll-out, Legal Aid NSW CEO Brendan Thomas said demand for DVU advice had more than “doubled” during the first wave of the pandemic in 2020, and that “while the unit usually fields around 1,000 calls annually, there’d been more than 6,000 calls in the 12 months to March 2021”.

“Lockdowns are about staying home to be protected from COVID-19. But for the women we work with, home is not always a safe place, a fact that may have been exacerbated due to mandatory lockdowns and other necessary health restrictions,” Mr Thomas said.

“Our DVU is critical in helping victim-survivors seek protection orders, navigate the family law system, access support and safe housing, and seek financial counselling.”